Weld spacer to a rim - Solved.

[Gibbon]

Hi

Took the car over the ACT pits today and it failed. I've been running 5mm spacers on the front to stop the rim rubbing on the strut, and I took them off to get past rego. Didn't work

Now I need to move the wheel about 5mm off the disc and strut. The wheels are single piece so can't be adjusted.

I've read somewhere that you can use a spacer if it's fixed to the rim - is that right, and if so, can you just weld a spacer to the inside of a wheel?

This thread covers the uses of spacers - but not about fixing to a rim.

http://www.toymods.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7230

Thanks

[Hydra]

Just quietly, I don't think you want to go off welding things to rims for road use!!

You can't legally use a spacer, according to the NCOP. Can you borrow rims that will work?

[Ben Wilson]

I wouldn't be happy about welding it, but how about drilling and tapping the back of the rim and using counter sunk screws to hold the spacer on?

[jeffro ra28]

I wouldn't be happy about welding it, but how about drilling and tapping the back of the rim and using counter sunk screws to hold the spacer on?

sounds like the right idea to me.

[Jorrs]

i reckon they would make you get it engineered if you welded it to the rim as you have modded it,
spacers FTL, the easiest thing would be to try borrow a set of rims that will pass, even stockies from the wreckers or somewhere ?
i went through this a while back with rims and passing blue slip, i eventually had to get the rims engineered cos the offest was wrong.. and i couldnt find any other rims to fit cos the brakes are to big !

[Hydra]

Time to get an engineer involved! I like Ben's idea. See what your engineer thinks (it may just be seen as a spacer )

[Gibbon]

Yeap - it's all engineered already. Funny thing is the engineer was in the lane next to me at the same time. He came over and had a word, and I said I would be giving him a call shortly.

Does anyone in the ACT have a set of 17x7 5 stud wheels I could borrow ??

I'm off to see the wheel place and see if they have any suggestions - I'm leaning towards the tap and screw suggestion - I could get a plate laser cut to match the exact shape of the wheel.

Tah.

[TooF]

before you go doing anything id be speaking to your engineer as he'll tell you whats legit and what isnt. but of all the solutions i dont like a spacer tapped on is the one i dislike the least

one thought....

is the centre bore in your wheel hubcentric ?

if not how about making a "spacer" that sits into the larger bore of the wheel and has a smaller ID that locates it to the hub but also spreads out and spaces it a alittle. kind of like a mini disc rotor shape if you get what i mean ?

that way it'll be hub centric and wheel centric and you might be able to argue that it is a centre bore locator not a spacer ? (oh and if your engineer will allow it alos affix it to the rim)

[Gibbon]

I had that exact same thought as well. Shouldn't be too hard to have something machined up.

"No Inspector sir, it's not a spacer, it's a ring locater to help position the rim. The spacer flange is to prevent the ring from working it's way off "

[TooF]

but again.. speak to engineer first

[Billzilla]

<pedant>
FWIW you would weld them to the hub, not the rim.

Wheels have rims, rims do not have wheels.



But to answer the question, yes, I'd be happy to weld spacers to the wheels, just make sure they blend in so they can't be seen.

[SillyCarS]

Just quietly, I don't think you want to go off welding things to rims for road use!!

You can't legally use a spacer, according to the NCOP. Can you borrow rims that will work?

yeah dude fully, everytime i rego my celica the dude looks at the cheesecutters on it laughs cos just by the look of the car he knows im gunna go straight out and put 16's on it

stick some corona or corrola wheels on for rego, will cost you nicks from a wrecker with barely legal treads, then when your done you can go out and have some fun

[Cuzzo]

Spacers welded to anything will make baby jesus cry. I thinks either get some bolt on spacers (but this maybe too far out) or change the rims.

[Ben Wilson]

Welding = Localised heating, distortion, internal stresses and destruction of factory heat treatment*. Just not a good thing to do to a wheel..

* - I've read about wheels bending more easily after powder coating...

[Hydra]

What brakes are you using Gibbon? I should really become a member

[Sam_Q]

what about after you bolt the spacers on you cover the ridge with body filler to make it look like part of the wheel

[Gibbon]

Hoppers Stoppers kit - pre AU Falcon discs and calipers. Awesome brakes - stops on a dime

What brakes are you using Gibbon? I should really become a member

[Javal]

The question remains to be asked:

Why not buy wheels that fit your car in the first place?!?!

Do It Right The First Time YO.

["Z" UTE]

Gibbon, John Wilson engineered my 1JZ-GTE '23 with spacers. I drilled and tapped 4 small holes into the rim. Used countersunk head machine screws, and countersunk the new holes in the spacers. Loctite was applied to the threads on assembly.

Went over Dickson with no probs.


cheers Chuck.

[mrshin]

Go to a decent alloy wheel repair place, and they should be able to alter the rims to suit just fine...