Merc wheels finally fitted

[Titus A Duxass]

This is mine with 27 ET (20mm spacer on each wheel).

[austen smith]

Thanks guys.
The most informative thread on bloody alloys I have seen so far.
brickwerks comments didn't assist with their contradictions. "Less than 23mm will create problems and kill you or your van". "Hell we have to sell 25mm spacers to our customers - oh that'll be OK let's make some money"
I am looking at some alloys and have got an A4 page of notes and theory's on the different offsets and ET so as not to get trapped. So to get accurate info from someone who has actually done the deed is brill.
Van looks good and I actually feel now that a lower ET will look better with the wheels close to the wheel arch, rather than tucked inside as you would with an ET of 35mm+. Caps for the hub's is the next big question to finish the project off.
Have a good summer.

[g60steve]

brickwerks comments didn't assist with their contradictions. "Less than 23mm will create problems and kill you or your van". "Hell we have to sell 25mm spacers to our customers - oh that'll be OK let's make some money"

That comment is delivered by someone who obviously hasn't met Simon or dealt with Brickwerks!!!
Do you honestly think Simon would spend money on developing the spacers(and other useful products) without making sure they are "fit for purpose" just to "make some money"?......no he wouldn't and never would...fact!

It's upto you,the buyer to work out the maths on wether a set of alloys will fit when using the 25mm spacers....not Brickwerks!
They also sell smaller size spacers so working out a suitable offset isn't rocket science!

Please read what it says on the webshop regarding the spacers they sell...here I'll cut "n" paste it as it appears you've chosen not to read that info!

We've set the size at 25mm for a number of reasons...

One being that the most common wheel fitted to a T3 comes from VW/Audi models and generally these have an offset of around 50mm. Adding a 25mm spacer puts these into the acceptable range for a T3.

Also, at 25mm you wont need to get the wheels machined to fit them onto the front of 2WD models. The combination of the thickness of the spacer and the dome of the grease cap will allow the wheel to clear.

I am looking at some alloys and have got an A4 page of notes and theory's on the different offsets and ET so as not to get trapped. So to get accurate info from someone who has actually done the deed is brill.

There's more than enough info on here and the Brick-Yard to show what alloys actually fit and what's needed to fit them....there's even photos as well if you struggle with reading the info.

Van looks good and I actually feel now that a lower ET will look better with the wheels close to the wheel arch, rather than tucked inside as you would with an ET of 35mm+..

Running a lower ET than what's regarded as acceptable(ET23) will increase stress on suspension components and wheel bearings.
Also fitting wide alloys with a low ET also increases the chances of tyre/arch contact....especially on a lowered van.

[Titus A Duxass]

Well put!

[pionte]

Ok it's 1mm less than the accepted minimum ET but it won't kill you're wheel bearings any quicker than ET23.
Here's a photo of a P2 Bus with ET23 alloys fitted.



You're main concern with ET22/23 alloys would be the brand and quality of lowering kit you intend to use because some,depending on the weight of the van,may end up lowering the front more than the advertised drop....if so you will get arch/tyre contact when turning over rough ground/going up kerbs etc.

I'd personally say go for -30mm springs on a camper with ET22/23.
If you're intent on going -50mm then I'd say change the front spacers for 20mm ones.

I would only buy from Brickwerks, these guys seem to know there stuff ! Thats why I have emailed asking for clarification , im guessing that the original info about not going lower than ET 30 was correct at the time and since then with new info especially from P2 etc things have moved on... they may not realise that the original info is still on the site.

I dont doubt the quality and most importantly the safety of these 25mm adapters, I would not put my children in a van that I wasnt totally confidant it.... I would just like to be sure in my mind that I am not going to wreck the bearings every few thousand miles ! if so I would drop down to 15mm spacers on the front.

I think I will go -30 with the new springs and dampers, probably the bilstein b4's and avo springs.... although I am kinda liking the hi stance... oh decisions decisions...

[pionte]

Titus, do you keep your van inside your house !! looks really nice by the way, love the colour

[g60steve]

Yes there's a couple of parts of the Brick-Yard information section that hasn't been updated for ages(years) but Simon's a bit busy these days mending vans and sourcing/remanufacturing obsolete parts(oh and selling stuff just to make money! ) so I doubt it's high up on his "need to do list".

I doubt very much that ET22 will destroy your front wheels bearings every few thousand miles but if it concerns you enough to worry I'd suggest using either 15 or 20mm spacers on the front.

[pionte]

Thanks Steve, I only do 1500 miles a year so I doubt it would be a huge problem

Yep people forget that the whole purpose of Brickwerks is to earn money ( kinda have to pay the bills ! ) I guess that lots of people use it as a reference library too and very grateful we are too !

must just ask, do you have a g60 supercharged engine in your van ?

[g60steve]

No,no g60 motor....just a very old username from my g60 Golf,Corrado and Passat days that I never got round to changing on here and a few other forums.

[Titus A Duxass]

Titus, do you keep your van inside your house !! looks really nice by the way, love the colour

Not inside the house but inside the work's carpark.
It's not that colour anymore.....orange is so yesterday.



Now in toffee brown.

[austen smith]

Well that was a lively reply G60steve & Titus.
Did you sleep OK that night. Feels like your blood pressure was running a bit high??????????????
Your absolutley correct on all counts. Once you buy a part and fit it yourself to your vehicle its your problem - no elses. That's why it is imperative that you read the small print and understand the complexities what you are doing is correct. You are changing the design of what was seen to be manufactured in good engineering practice 30 years ago. And yes things are updated and products change.
But change it yourself and get it wrong, as we have seen no one will give you any sympathy be it Brickwerks ( and no doubt they are nice guys earning a honest living, as we all are) the garage, the insurance people, the police. No one.
So I have done my calcs got some info, many thanks pionte, and touched on a special subject close to peoples heart's. And now I go off in my direction and hopefully I won't be the one putting up a subject on this forum- help wheel has come off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats me finished on this subject, have a good summer.

[pionte]

So I have done my calcs got some info, many thanks pionte, and touched on a special subject close to peoples heart's. And now I go off in my direction and hopefully I won't be the one putting up a subject on this forum- help wheel has come off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats me finished on this subject, have a good summer.

You are welcome mate, I hope I helped a little ?

It is a mine field.... if you think that this discussion got a little heated, I remember reading a post once about fitting electric power steering .... jesus that got heated !

Dont take anything too personally, every one has their own opinions and expreses them as best as they can, I would rather someone gave me an opinion even if it did come across a tad harsh than didnt bother at all . I can then decide how to act upon it.

I hope that you decided what was best for you re the wheels ? I did lots of research before opting for the Merc alloys.... way more than 1 x A4 piece of paper lol...

Thet do meet all of MY requirements, minimum/max weight capabilities , PCD , no need to machine the centre bore and usable offset. Personally I think I am on the edge of the Offset with the 25 mm spacers, but am happy to run it for a while and see what happens re wheel bearing wear. Untill I hear back from Brickwerks re their contradictory advice anyhow.... If they say that these adapters arent suited to these wheels with this particular offset of 47 , then I will change them to bring inline with what they do recommend.


Have fun

martin

[pionte]

Titus... another quick question!

I have decided to go either 16mm or maybe 20mm on the fronts.... ( to get the 16 I would use a 10mm and a 6 mm from Brickwerks ) I just dont like the look of the van with the 25's on ! And worry about when I lower it.
what stud length did you go for ? can you remember the depth of the wheel bolt hole in the ML wheels ? I would take them off and measure but its been raining here for a week and I am in danger of drowning !

This is the maths im working too

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/support/17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Thanks in advance

Martin

[g60steve]

I'm not a fan of using 2 spacers together.....simply because they will not sit flush with each other unless you bond them together.

The 20mm spacers from Brickwerks would be sufficient.
However if you do want 15mm....there's plenty of Mercedes 15mm spacers out there.

You're choice though.

[pionte]

Thanks for the advice,

I wasnt sure about the two spacers together either.... I will have a google around for some 15mm ones aswell.

what I dont want to happen is to buy 20mm ones lower it -50 or -30 and bend the arches ! and end up with a spare set of 20mm ones to sell, I already have these 25mm adapters that need to be moved on .... they where expensive too