Date:         Wed, 24 Nov 1999 09:54:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Ezra Hall <ehall@BTV.IBM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ezra Hall <ehall@BTV.IBM.COM>
Subject:      Machining Audi wheels for use on Vanagon
Comments: cc: ehall@together.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

--
Folks,
 After a thrilling adventure recently with the Westy on a snowy pass, we have
decided winter tires are a must. I have always liked the performance of Nokian
tires, and  195/70 R15 Hakkapeliitta 10C's have the correct load ratings
(8PLY, D Load Rating) see http://www.nokiantyres.com/ under light truck
commercial. Finding a second set of wheels is proving challenging. Local
salvage yards want ~$40 each for very used steel Vanagon wheels, so I searched
the archives, and tried a friends Audi wheels for fit. I have located a set of
15inch Audi 5000 Turbo Quattro wheels, 1986 vintage, lug pattern 5x112, ET45
offset, for $150. However, they will require machining of the center hole to
fit the front hubs on our '88 westy. Local machine shops don't have a lath
large enough, so they would use a milling machine and charge for 3hrs labour,
~$150, which seems excessive to me. How have folks on this list machined such
wheels? The stock steel wheels don't appear to be hub-centric (ie the hub
doesn't center the wheel, the lug nuts/bolts do). Could I somehow use my drill
press and a large drill bit or some sort of self centering cutting tool to
perform this surgery at home? I found a picture of similar wheels on a Vanagon
at:

http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/turner/alloy1.jpg

Thanks for your assistance, please copy all responses to my home e-mail
account, ehall@together.net, as I will be soon be leaving work for the next
few days...

Thanks!
 Ezra Hall
 '88 Westy, still a few minor items to fix