15x7 wheel mod help, holes too deep

[snowblind]

Hi,

I just got 4 mercedes 15x7 alloys that I'm fixing to put on my 86 vanagon. They look just like the ones on Van-Cafe, but of course, that is no guarantee they will work. The seller said they have a 23mm offset but actually havent been able to find any markings on the wheel to verify. There is a "25" stamped on the back in the recesses of the mounting area but no "23".

I measured the backspacing (5in or 127 mm) and then inside flange to outside flange (8in or 203.2mm). The offset should then be 127-203.2/2 = 25.4mm right?

So that looks good.

I had already purchased new ball-type lug nuts and bolts from van-cafe, the bolts have about 1-1/4" of thread.

I found that the bolt holes are 12mm in diameter, so I got a 37/64" drill bit and bored out the rims.

I dropped a bolt down in the hole and now the diameter is right, but the lug bolt is too short. The hole depth is approx. 1-5/8".

So is the offset all messed up? or do I really just need longer bolts and studs to bit the rims?

thanks for any help
-brad

[Christopher Schimke]

The reason your wheels are giving you troubles is due to the fact that they are factory Mercedes wheels. The wheels that GoWesty sells are replicas made by AT Italia. The factory Mercedes wheels have a much deeper cross section between the base of the lug seat and the wheel mounting surface, as you found out. They also use a completely different lug style and size that is specific to the 12mm lugged Mercedes wheels and most Audi/VW 5x112 wheels.

You will have to do a couple of things in order to get these wheels to fit. The first will be to install longer rear wheel studs. I would suggest 50mm long stud as the Mercedes wheels usually have a 20mm cross section in the lug area.

You will also need longer front lug bolts (40mm) that have a small ball seat diameter (the stock Vanagon ball seat lugs are too large to fit into the Mercedes lug seat properly) and small ball set lug nuts for the rear.

Let me know if you need these lugs, I have plenty in stock.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

[snowblind]

I measure the lug holes (seat to back side of mounting face) to be 41-42 mm... should I go with 70mm studs and 60mm bolts ?

[Christopher Schimke]

Not to say that it's not possible, but i have never seen any quite that thick. Are you measuring from the base of the seat to the mounting face as depicted by the lighter blue arrow in the following illustration?

_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

[snowblind]

Yes just like the light blue arrow as best as I could. I took another measurement and got 1-3/4 (44mm), definitely hard to measure with my technique. Maybe I'll stick a lug-nut down in the hole to get a better stop for my depth gauge.

-brad

[Christopher Schimke]

[snowblind]

.....Never test strangers on the internet.....

haha

Yea the extra wide cross section is a pain... and now I need to find a 5th wheel for a spare with the similar wide cross section or the back studs might be too long for my closed-end lug nuts. I guess I can buy a set of open-ended lug-nuts if the spare has a narrow cross section.

I'm going to hit up NAPA / Pepboys tomorrow or tuesday; is there a reference number to start with or do I really need to go in with an old stud?

[Christopher Schimke]

Unfortunately, unless you plan on drilling your rear hubs for a different diameter stud, you won't find anything at NAPA that will work. I have spent HOURS pouring over the Dorman catalog as well as others and have never found a good alternative to the aftermarket Porsche studs.

Eshocks.com has Sway-a-Way studs in various lengths that are direct replacements for the Vanagon rear studs.

Also, none of the autoparts stores will have lug bolts or lug nuts that fit your Mercedes wheels properly.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

[Nikkoleto]

I found a set of Mercedes 8 hole OEM style 15x7 inch 5x112 ET 23 for sale. The owner said the lugs are 16mm. I always thought Mercedes wheels were 12mm. What would I need for these wheels to fit on my 87?
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1987 Vanagon GL