Balancing Mk2 wheels

[Dieter H. Marschall]

Hello,

After having removed the wheels when servicing the brakes, I put the wheels back on - only to find out that at a speed of about 70mph the front wheels start shaking.

When I took the wheels off again, I found that the holes in the rims were slightly too wide for the shafts of the nuts. So there was "play" and the wheels could not be centered properly, as they are not centered by a central hole in the rims.

Then I used a "trick": I fastened the wheels with conical nuts first hoping that those nuts would centre the rims. Then I replaced the nuts by the original ones - one by one. The result was better, but not really good.

I am already thinking of milling 60° conical recesses into the rim holes and have corresponding conical washers fabricated to solve the problem. I did this with the faked "Minilite" ("Minator") rims, which were sold to me by a German dealer. Unlike the proper KN Wheels (with conical recesses in the rim holes) the fakes have cylindrical holes. So I reworked the rims as described above and added conical washers - it helped.

Kind regards, Dieter.

[mjheathcote]

imported post

I know there has been some nuts on the market that have a slightly smaller diameter on the shank that locates in the hole of the alloy wheels.

This possibly could be your problem?

Its a shame the wheels are not hub-centric really but there is nothing we can do about that

[Dieter H. Marschall]

imported post

Hello,

How do I know which is which? What should be the exact measurements of the shanks?

Kind regards, Dieter.

[mjheathcote]

imported post

Don't know!

Someone with an original metal alloy nut (as opposed to the steel ones available now, incase they are undersize) is needed!

[Kevin Garrod]

imported post

Hi Dieter,

You may remember this earlier thread.

http://stagownersclub.mywowbb.com/vi...hlight=chamfer

I measured the nuts with a vernier guage, exactly 18.5mm diameter. I 've just measured the length of the shanks as 13mm, hope it helps.

[Dieter H. Marschall]

imported post

Hello,

I am sorry to say, this method worked last time. This time it didn't. But I will try again.

Kind regards, Dieter.

[V Mad]

imported post

When the tyre fitter balances the wheels, what does he use to centre them, does he use the nut holes or the wheel (hub) centres?

Its worth asking the question, because if he doesnt use the nut holes then its not balanced when you fit the wheel to the car.

[Dieter H. Marschall]

imported post

Hello,

I usually make sure that they use the nut holes - although most fitters would rather use the "centre hole method", because it is easier.

This is even worse when balancing wire wheels. Most fitters do not have the appropriate equipment, but keep telling you that using the inner flange of a wire wheel is the correct method. So I had my own adapters made, which I carry with me when balancing the wire wheels on my TR6.

Kind regards, Dieter.