TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:29 pm

There are tons of stock 16" Audi A4 wheels on Ebay. Aside from drilling the center hole larger for the rear drums, is there anything else that I need to know about? The offset is ET45 for these wheels and I'm not interested in these wheels if I need spacers. Can I still make a U-turn without them rubbing?
Anyone know if these wheels are strong enough for my van? It's not a Westy or even a Weekender.
Any input would really help me decide.

Thanks.

Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:34 am

Keep searching, from what I recall, the Audi need a spacer, and the center opened, Mercedes may need the lug holes opened from 12mm to 14mm. Finding the right width (6.5 -7) is difficult with the proper offset.
I'd like to hear about people redrilling the hubs to fit a wheel.
There are so many suvs there must be something.
How about Oddessy wheels, MPV, any heavy rig.

Tue Dec 28, 2004 8:17 am

I purchased a set of Audi DE wheels to mount on my syncro. Other than longer wheel studs which I purchased from www.fastforward.ca, they bolted right on. The ET is 45 and I have no interference problems at all. These rims would need some clearancing of the centre bore if they were to be mounted on a 2wd. I mounted 215/75 R15's too - they fill the wheel well nicely IMO.

Tue Dec 28, 2004 8:37 am

let's start a log of wheels then. ET must be stated with wheel width.

Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:09 am

Hey guys,

I've also a nice set of wheels under my bus. They're nice 16 inch Audi A6 wheels. I had to drill the centerhole and the ET is 45.

They fit nicely and they look great and almost nobody has these wheels on their ride.

I know, she needs a lowering and a paint job :?

I've been thinking to place some nice looking Omega 3000 Fuchs wheels, but the stud pattern is 5x110 and a bus is 5x112... so would drilling the stud holes be an option?

Aircooled greetz,

Humby 8)

Tue Dec 28, 2004 4:57 pm

ET is wheel offset /back spacing. 45 will work on most vans or buses to my knowledge.

Humby, those wheels look sweet on your bus. I have been keeping my eye on ebay for a set of those to mount on our T4.

Rob

Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:48 pm

Would a machine shop take care of enlarging the center hole. What would this cost? I have a set on ronals with et of 45 off a audi quatro. The car weighed more than my van so they should be strong. Nice pictures the 16s look good on the bus.

Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:40 am

Thanks for everyone's input which brings me to another question...
Would wheels from a EV bolt right on? Places like tirerack.com don't have any wheels listed for my van, but stick in a 1994 EV and there are several to choose from.

Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:12 am

EV centre bores are the same size as audi so they're too small to bolt right up to a vanagon.

Fri Dec 31, 2004 11:48 am

I have a set of A4 16" wheels on my '89 vanagon, I got a set of 25mm spacers (partly to hide the front hub) and machined the rears a wee bit and the fronts a HUGE ammount, if you have access to a lathe it is easy, otherwise you are paying someone. I also had to clearance the front wheels a bit to make them fit over the hub.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=6107934&uid=1677036

Fri Dec 31, 2004 7:28 pm

Some of my questions were answered from www.vanagon.com under the INFO tab. Augh! Maybe 16s with low profile tires would be too harsh with the H & R springs and Bilsteins anyway. The 14" alloys just look a little out of place.

Sat Jan 01, 2005 4:21 pm

I always felt the front springs were too soft so when I get H&Rs I hope to firm it up a bit so it dosn't bounce so much.

Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:47 am

Humby-

Those Fuchs look nice. If the original stud was the small diameter (12mm vs our 14mm) then a machine shop can offset ream the holes to the 112mm circle but it won't be cheap. It may be easier to have your hubs and rotors re-drilled and studded at the 110mm bolt circle.

If the original lug holes were 14mm then offset reaming "can" work but it is a gamble as you will end up with five ovals that can prove difficult to center on the hub (but theroetically possible).

Mike!

Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:09 pm

these are audi a 6 ,machine shop drilled the front holes for £20 /$40 longer bolts but they were no problem and they look good !!! germman

[img]http://muchos.co.uk/members/germman/e pics elle 036.jpg[/img]

Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:11 pm

[img]http://muchos.co.uk/members/germman/e pics elle 036.jpg[/img]

this works ...or not gm

Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:29 pm

after market from an Audi. Needed longer studs in back(volkscafe.com) longer(Volvo? lugs up front, and 1/4'' spacers in the front. No other mods needed.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=98909

Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:04 pm

I just got a '91 carrat and found some MBZ SLK stock wheels 16x7 et45. they look great and don't rub at all, even with some serious lowering springs(H&R..2in lower than Carrat springs) there is only about 1/4 inch of clearence between the lip of the rim and the spindle upright. the tire also comes close to the outer edge of the upper control arm, so I am going to cut it down a little. they don't rub when not moving, but the tire deforms under load, so I just want to be sure.. right now I am running 205/55/16's and it looks great.
as soon as I can figure out how to post pictures, i will put some up... Now a lug nut question... OK so the mercedes wheels use a 12mm ball seat lug... vanagon uses either 14mm ball seat for steel wheles(much larger than MBZ seat) or 14mm tapered seat on stock alloys. which lug nuts and bolts are you guys using..... right now I have stock bug lugbolts on the front , they are a perfect fit, and vanagon alloy lugs in back, not perfect ... I am converting to So. african brakes, so the bug lugs wont work anymore.... what lug nuts are you guys using, and where did you get them..... Maybe you should list that after offset. any info on tapered seat to ball seat adapter washers would also be nice... :D