MB wheels-mounting, again!

[[email protected]]

I got some MB wheels to try and it looks like theya re going to work:

These are 16x7.5" et 46, I don't have any longer studs/lugs to work with right now so I just did a fitment test. I was able to hold them tight to the rear drum thanks to the studs and it looks as though they clear all suspension parts. The fronts another story as I could not hold the wheel flush and correct and look behind, a spacer will probably bee in order to clear the upper control arm, but I need to get a bolt or something in there to hold the wheel up and flush to really see where I am at.

I went through the previous postings about mounting and I am still a little confused about up front. I think Eric had stated something about using 4 lug bug lugbolts. I dug some out that I have that came off a 79 vert, they are the same as the vanagons as near as I can tell. Obviously too short but even the ball visually looks the same to me.
Also, the widening of the MB holes, why couldn't I just use those stepped threaded studs for the front and just smaller press in's in the rear?

It'll be nice If I can get these on the westy, The wheels are wrapped in good year eagle LS's 225/60's max load 1653lbs so they should fit the bill other than being a touch taller than my 195x14 coopers that are on there now. the tire/wheel also weighed in at only 1lb heavier than my stocker so thats also a good thing!
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Markus

[Crankey]

looks great man...I'd like to here a ride report when theyre on for real !

[atarasi]

I installed the same size wheels, but with a 35mm offset. I had to use 1/2" spacers in the front with longer lug bolts. I was able to fit them to the rear with no modifications whatsoever, but eventually I'll install spacers to bring them out so they match a little closer to the way the front wheels look.

[Ericthenorse]

If you are refering to those thread in stud conversions... I guess that would work, but you will have to find nuts with the right ball size in the smaller 12mm size. I don't know of anyone who sells them. You should be able to get some longer lug bolts from EMPI.. You will probably need about 1/2 inch of spacer to make them work. The vanagon has a wider front track than rear(15mm) so don't worry if you can't get the front and rear even.. I would also check the rears with the weight on the wheels to make sure that they don't rub on the upper spring pearches...
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'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

[andreasvj]

I have a line on similar wheels, the offset is 40mm on my pair.

I'm curious if you got it to work, what you had to do about spacing, lug extensions etc., and what did you do about the VW nuts not having the right seat for the MB wheels? ( my guess is just get MB nuts)

Hope it works.

Do you need to bore the centers at all?

What do you think about spacing for a VW big brake set up? Would there be enough room?

[levi]

If you do anything else to bring the rear wheel out, like a spacer, I don't think you'll be able to use that 225 wide tire....the sliding door will hit the tire when you try to open it all the way..

[Crankey]

you can get an extedned slider thingy, I see 'em on german ebay

[andreasvj]

The offset on this pair I'm keen about is 46mm not 40mm as I stated. so I'm assuming I'm looking at the same wheel as you are working with here.

Please let me know about your progress or success.[/b]

[r39o]

What are nice used MB wheel sets going for? I am finding I may not want to use the 2 sets of VW factory alloys I got. I can only get skinny tires in the right load range.......But, I do not want theGoWesty's pricing either, especially since they only come with a load index of 94.
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[Crankey]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-16-MERCEDES-ML320...dZViewItem

not too bad if you ask me...searched 5x112 title and description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/16-inch-chevy-Camar...dZViewItem
8" is kinda wide, but it might work with a spacer

[[email protected]]

Heres my progress so far, I borrowed a couple of MBZ lug bolts off a customers S500 to try and fit the fronts. They definitely need a spacer! I had a 7/16 set here and with those, the tire just barely touches the top A arm. I think a skinner set of skins on these wheels woudl take car of that.

A 1/2" spacer would probably fit the bill, but I'd feel better using like a 15mm +(about 5/8"). I didn't take a pic but with it bolted to the front and off the jack the tire sits right at the lip line (width wise) and looks bad ass with the 225's on it!

The ball seat of a MBZ and VW are the same (at least for these wheels) The center hole doesn't need to bored out for either front or rear, and these particular wheels use 14mm lugs so not drilling needs to be done there either. (so for you thieves out there jacking front curttains and what not, grab at least 10 of the lug bolts off that MBZ when your swapping out their wheels for cinder blocks )

I bought some studs for the rear yesterday, but I did not get around to doing anything with them as of yet, maybe this afternoon. And yes even the test fit proved that I was getting close to the slider door, but there was still some room to play-but not too much.

Pardon my French, but why the F**K did vw choose to run studs in the back and lugs in the front! Its not like that on baywindows and proving to make things a bit more of a PITA! Napa couldn't supply me with screw in studs for the front, that would be the way to go in my opinion. And I have not as of yet found any online other than conversion studs (I should have checked at Napa yesterday but I'm betting that you can't get ball seat lugs in 1/4-20 thread size). If anyone gets a lead on those let me know.
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Markus

[andreasvj]

So let me see if I have this right.

The rears work fine. You are just playing around with spacers for front to rear width allignment? And it sounds like that is just cosmetic from what an earlier post had said.

As far as the fronts, I agree with you, why did they ever think it was a great idea to have two different sets of wheel fastners on one bus.
But it doesn't sound like you have it rolling down the road yet. I guess I'm looking for something more concrete that it will work before I buy these rims.

What about if you put one of the S. African big brake kits on the front, they have studs on the hubs in the kit. Wouldn't that solve things a bit if one was to make that upgrade?

I appreciate your assistance I'm just a shade tree mechanic kneeling in the gravel in my back alley working on mine and my wifes daily drivers

[Ericthenorse]

They use studs in back so they could use a separate hub and rotor. makes it cheaper to replace, and easier to do a brake job. Just get yourself a South African disk kit, then you will have studs all the way around.
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'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

[levi]

Not mercedes wheels, but I think these are pretty nice, for $1100 new wheels and tires, 225r55 16's.......no mods
http://community.webshots.com/user/levi1109

[[email protected]]

Levi, are those Ronal's? the wheel I was looking at were the R-36's (hauler) and then I got my hands on these particular MBZ wheels. I MAY still in fact go for them and just use the tires off the MBZ wheels on them instead ( I like the looks of the Ronal better). I don't mind having to use spcers etc.. to make these MBZ wheels fit, but the one thing I want to do is make sure I can easily plop the spare on either front or rear if I blow a tire.

Also, tru to form I got the wrong studs for the rear yesterday they won't press in, I broke my favorite bench vise proving it!. They were however long enough to rig something up for a tight test fit for the rear and yes it looks like they will also need a spacer allbeit a thin one will do. the widest part of the tire does barely come in contact with the upper spring perch. I did check door fitment and I have an easy 3/4" leeway so spacing should'nt be a problem there. And again, those 225 look really baddass under there
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Markus

[levi]

Yeah....ronal r28 from ronalusa.com in L.A. area