stoopid question . spacers ?

[rob/d]

I would like to go for a vectra brake set up but have 15 inch rims .
I know i need 16 inch rims with +60 offset .
i can find all sorts of rims with +40,+50 offset .
Stupid question but can't i go for example , a +50 offset rim and put a 10mm spacer plate between wheel and hub to achieve +60 ?
Flame at will comrades .

[dapinky]

Hi Rob, no flame from me - it's a perfectly sensible question to answer a common thought process.......

....unfortunately, whoever decided to do the numbering system on the wheel ofset thought like an engineer and not a commoner, so wrote it properly, but not logically....

...hence, it works the other way round

As such, a +50 offset with a 10mm spacer will end up as a +40, NOT a +60, so it will make things worse, not better.

[rob/d]

doh.

Stupidier question , has anyone found a rim that 5 to 10mm could be safely removed from face plate on a lathe ?

[dapinky]

Not stoopider at all - you're just trying to think through a way to get what you (we?) all need in a practical/cost effective way.

I'm sure there may be wheels with enough meat on them to do as you suggest, but then there will be other issues - one of the main reasons that bigger discs can't be easily fitted isn't directly to do with the diameter of the wheels, but the sweeping angle that the spokes make between the hub and the rim. Now, if 10mm were machined from the hub bit, then the wheel will sit 10mm further inboard (so the +60 offset is re-acquired), but the spokes will also be 10mm further inboard and thus more likely to foul the caliper/disc.

To be honest, i think if the brakes are the main consideration in your quest, then there are a fair few 17" aftermarket rims designed for Vauxhalls which will accomodate bigger discs/calipers as they are, but you will have to accept that they will 'only' have an offset of ~+42-45mm.
Conventional wisdom says a change of approx 20% is 'acceptable', so it isn't actually a lot out of that range. (When i got my red car it had 17" wheels on, which look better in the arches (fills them out a bit more due to the decreased offset) and could have accomodated the bigger brakes. However, I didn't actually like them as the profile of the tyres was lower - to keep the right circumference - and it was a tad too bumpy for my old bones. I didn't ever think the handling was 'bad', but i definately prefer it with standard size parts.

[rob/d]

That's it then . Arghh .
So many pretty rims in the world , it's a shame we can't use em .

[HJ2]

Yup!
Unfortunately one of the very few downsides on Elanning

[DavidEJM]

Rob, I went for the vectra brakes and I use a set of BMW mini 17" wheels with a 48mm offset (you do have to watch which ones as the spoke shape can cause problems with some wheels).I have to say I dont find the ride to be a problem at all with the lower profile tyres. In fact I'd say it is better than many of the supermini hot hatches on the market.

The wheels were quite cheap too.

[JIMBO]

Hi Rob, speak to Bob Brown , I know he is working on a way round this problem.
Jim

[rob/d]

If bob is looking at a solution i can definitely wait till next year to sort out as winter is near .
I don't mind the 15's fitted so if i could keep em then win win .
Off to trawl ebay for mini rims now ..

B.T.W. which ones you running DavidEJM ?

[andy123]

Another stupid question - is there no brake upgrade for the SE with standard wheels ?

[ashm]

Bob's Hi-Spec kit with the smaller disc option - very good braking with standard wheels. Not much room for balancing weights, but enough!
Ad

[rob/d]

It's all about the price ash .
I would rather have new rims and a vectra set up than old rims with posh calipers and disks , for roughly similar price .
A budgeting exercise really .

[DavidEJM]

B.T.W. which ones you running DavidEJM ?

The 8 spoke 'minilite' style from the first incarnation of the BINI. Best to get them without tyres as the profile is too high for us.

[bobbrown]

Having had another look at the Vectra/Saab upgrade it may be possible to get it in on a 15" rim will need to see if it can be done.
It will mean modifying the caliper carrier which I have done before and machining the disc back so that it is 286 mm diameter.

As for machining a wheel to get to 60mm off set, not as straight forward as one may think as you would be removing material from below the bolts and weakening the wheel. The only way I can see is to fit the wheel with steel inserts similar to the group 4 inserts on rally cars.

[JIMBO]

Hi Rob/d
I went direct to Rimstock who supply Lotus with wheels, as the first set of their wheels supplied through a retail outlet didn't fit!!
It turns out that they had worked from drawings of our hubs and brakes which were from an Opel (German Vauxhall),
and these were different to the brakes actually fitted to our cars.
The nearest offset they could get in a production 16" wheel was 50mm. They then removed 5mm from the inside wheel face
making the offset (should really be called inset!!) 55mm. I have not noticed any difference between the OE wheel
and these when driving.
The type of wheel is a Monza R 7x16 e50 4x100-73.1
I would post a picture but I have never managed to post one on here.

[RayD]

I would post a picture but I have never managed to post one on here.

Jim,

Have a look here regarding posting pictures

Ray

[JIMBO]

030.JPG

Thanks Ray,
with any luck this should show a picture of my Monza R wheels from Rimstock.
Not everyones cup of tea, but I like them.
Regards
Jim

[RayD]

Looks great,

Ray

[HJ2]

Very nice indeed, suits the car well!

[rob/d]

Very nice indeed .
I'm still thinking mini rims .But .....