New Alloys Sorted (nearly)

Post by **Mark S** » 15 Jun 2007, 15:08

I bought some Carlsson 18'' alloys last week with low-profile tyres that maintain the same rolling radius as my previous 14'' set-up. They are designed for a Merc with a 5 x 112 pcd, and the hubs fit into the bores with room to spare. Only modifications required were 5mm spacers on the front to increase the offset and avoid fouling the suspension. Result!

Only problem remaining is that the centre caps will not push all the way home. Presumably the VW hub sticks out more than those on a Merc. I am told that you can buy sticking-out caps. Anybody any ideas?

Post by **OLD ONE** » 15 Jun 2007, 15:28

Don't know the size of your Merc caps. But what I did was to get hold of some Golf caps drill out the Mercs, cut down the Golf ones to fit the hole, and glue them in. If you know what I mean??

Post by **jamesc76** » 15 Jun 2007, 15:43

i'll post you a pic of mine done like that cant post them till tommorow afternoon ish tho !!!

Post by **OLD ONE** » 15 Jun 2007, 15:50

jamesc76...Well done that Man...Got no pics of my ones, even if I had dont know how to post pics. Bit fik in me old age

Post by **kevtherev** » 15 Jun 2007, 16:32

But what I did was to get hold of some Golf caps drill out the Mercs, cut down the Golf ones to fit the hole, and glue them in. If you know what I mean??

All that is on the wiki with pictures!

Post by **Mark S** » 16 Jun 2007, 16:24

Oh yes, so it is on the Wiki! In fact I have just prototyped something similar without seeing that page (honest). I used some shiny dome-type things that the tyre place gifted me stuck to the drilled-out Merc caps. I just tried my first one, though, but it wouldn't stay in the hole because the lugs didn't seem to go in deep enough to click. I'm guessing that if I file away around the edge enough it should fit into the recess more and hopefully stay.

It's all a bit of a faff. Does anybody know if there is anywhere these can be bought? May as well throw some money at the problem!

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 16 Jun 2007, 18:22

Pull the VW hub grease caps off, cut 10mm off the length and hammer `em back on, should give you what you want. Worked for me

Post by **Mark S** » 09 Jul 2007, 20:46

Westy.Club.Joker wrote:Pull the VW hub grease caps off, cut 10mm off the length and hammer `em back on, should give you what you want. Worked for me

Bejaysus, you're a brave man! I can fry an egg on my hubs after normal motoring as they are! I'm leaving well alone - that sort of job is out of my league!

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 09 Jul 2007, 21:03

It`s only a tin cap mate

Supposed to get hot, it`s attached to a big fat disc that stops 2 tons of flying brick

Post by **Mark S** » 10 Jul 2007, 17:31

So what did you do about the back axle? Saw 10mm off the castellated nut?

Post by **shepster** » 11 Jul 2007, 15:31

Mark S wrote:So what did you do about the back axle? Saw 10mm off the castellated nut?

No, he used an angle grinder on them!

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