I had nothing to lose on this one as the entire top half had let go. So after a bit of thought I drilled a series of 3mm holes in the back of the rubber, right down to the metal rim inside (count the dimples and start in the middle)
Then cleaned them out and injected superglue into each hole and left it to set. One or two right at the top took a couple of goes, I think because the rubber has stretched/relaxed a bit and the superglue wouldn't fill the gap. Maybe a glue with a bit more bulk would have been better, but it's turned out OK. I'll see how it lasts and report back.
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
For what its worth I think you may be treading water on this one.
Most flexible rubber/plastics tend to have a finite lifespan (30 years at best) and unless VW can supply new wheels, we'll all eventually be forced to fit aftermarket or wheels from other newer vehicles. Steel/wood wheels fare much better in this respect. Any repair in this situation is only ever likely to be temporary, if it actually works at all as the ageing process will just continue. I couldn't say whether newer materials last any longer but then modern cars tend to have a 7-10 year life expectancy anyway.
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I know it's only a stop-gap but if it wrings a few more years out of an otherwise good wheel (which it is: not going rough on the back due to UV degredation, unlike the one in our works 54 plate Vito which has already gone loose at 2-o'clock...)
I'm not a fan of aftermarket wheels in the T3, they all look and feel either "boy racer" or too "classic car" and nothing seems to be the right size. The smallest wheel is in the SA: it's the same as the early T4 2-spoke wheel and for PAS is bang on IMHO
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
Yup, you're right there. Very difficult to find anything that actually looks right or indeed the right size. Have seen several solutions but nothing that really grabbed me. I did have a JAG wheel that would have looked ok and was right size but sadly the horn push assembly which contained an airbag was completely missing.
If I remember rightly, theres a new generation of super glues that leave the ordinary locktite standing. Caught a glimpse on a shopping channel once - would stick metal to wood and even brick to brick which was impressive.
I tried making a pinhole but the method was flawed as the glue nozzle won't get far enough into the rim. I had thought of using a tube of polyurethane in a skeleton gun but realized that the adhesive is too thick; it needs to be something that will flow but still have some gap-filling ability.
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
