Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:33:18 -0800
Reply-To: Dick Wong <sailingfc@DSLEXTREME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dick Wong <sailingfc@DSLEXTREME.COM>
Subject: Re: Wheels for Vanagon Syncro
In-Reply-To: <57DCDCD6-1597-4D27-9448-44FD3390D4CA@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Ben,
Thanks for all the info. I will check the archives.
The wheels are available any time as my friend upgraded his wheels and the
old ones are just sitting around. I will fiddle with them and take some
more measurements.
I might take you up on your offer and come visit you. First thing is to fix
the fire issues. I'll contact you when the time comes.
Thanks.
-Dick-
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben T [mailto:syncro@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2012 12:06 AM
To: Dick Wong
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Wheels for Vanagon Syncro
Dick,
The Audi has a 57.1mm centerbore. Vanagons need at least 66mm. Best offset
is the factory ET30 on the alloy wheels. You can get away with ET45 on
Syncros but better if you correct the offset with spacers. As you probably
already discovered, adding spacers lets you fit the wheels without enlarging
the centerbore. The challenge comes in making sure your studs are long
enough. Front studs will be expensive to replace as you will likely have to
resort to using long Porsche studs.
The rears are more forgiving as they are normally inset 1/2 compared to the
front. You can't have a wheel stick out so far that it starts to interfere
with the sliding door. 7" should be ok. Just don't get tires that bulge out
too much. Since the wheels you are contemplating appear cast vs. forged,
they are likely to have thick mounting pads which like the front will
require longer studs. Rest studs can be replaced with relatively economical
long studs designed for aircooled VW's with 14mm 1.5 thread.
You can avoid the longer stud requirement, it you use bolt on spacers with
built in studs. Just make sure the studs are long enough on the adapters.
Another way would be to have a machineshop countersink the lugholes do they
can accept a conical seat lugnut. Those type of nuts can "reach in" further
to get the requisite 7.5 turns for safe attachment.
There's lots info on this in the archives. You can also make the 15 mile
trip north and I will be happy to let you try other combinations int pile of
wheels.
BenT
sent from my electronic leash
On Dec 29, 2012, at 10:56 PM, Dick Wong <sailingfc@DSLEXTREME.COM> wrote:
> I have an opportunity to get (4) wheels off my friend's Audi 2003 A6
> Quattro. They are 16x7, ET45. I have tried them on the front and
> they fit with a spacer. I did not have a chance to try them on the rear
yet.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/bnpzkoa
>
> Does anyone see a problem with this? I see that the original alloys
> have a "LT" (light truck?) designation on them. Will the Audi wheels
> be strong enough?
>
> If this works, I plan on buying 215/65x15 tires. This combination will
> give me an overall diameter pretty close to the 27x8.50-14 tires that
> I have right now, which is giving me correct speedo numbers (checked using
a GPS).
>
> Thanks.
>
> -Dick Wong-
> 78 Scirocco
> Original Owner
> 87 Syncro 2.5 (slightly crispy)
> Third Owner
> 12 Golf TDI
> Original Co-Owner
-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5995 - Release Date: 12/29/12