[b]Alloy weel crisis!!![/b]please please help!

Post by **smethdog** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:11 pm

After seeing the pimp my minor add i dicided that the alloys they featured looked soo good i would go for something like that, but of course its never that easy! ferst i thryed to fit them with standard studs wich off course were to short and half a mile later i was riding along on three weels! realising my mistake i visited the morris minor center in bath wre they helped me to organise some longer studs and i also diceded to add some spacers. All was well for a good 50 miles when for the first time having only just pased my test i would venture out on the motorway for a ride, and wat a ride when once again one of the rear weels dicided to part company midway pased a huge lorry!
I am desperate now! what can be done to keep these weels on???
They seem to have managed ok on the one featured in the magazine.
I am righting to plee for the help of anyone who was ether involved or has any bright ideas of what i can do??

my e-mail is baz_hodges@hotmail.com if any one has any ideas!

Please please help!!!
thanks baz

Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:24 pm

Hi Baz, welcome to the board. I can't really help with your problem, but this should be in the mechanical forum! (not the but for reporting website problems!)

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:03 pm

smethdog,
What failed the second time??

If I had to guess, I'd expect that the longer studs have broken.
The problem with long studs is that if they are twice as long, they will stretch twice as much - this makes them a lot less reliable when you hit a pothole! The Minor stud diameter is very small by modern standards anyway.
The wheel should be securely supported on the centre hole. If it relies just on the studs (to take impact load of potholes etc..) then it is highly likely to fail.
Your best bet is to go to a specialist wheel place that does proper adaptors.

For huge alloys, you need to consider thicker studs and accurate centre hole adapters (adaptors?).

Once you've got the wheels to stay on, you will have made a real mess of the cars handling, although it will look nice ;-)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:08 pm

The question is - did you get wheels with the correct 4" pcd - or are you trying to make 100mm pcd wheels fit ? If so - it's a NO NO !! If you did get proper 4" pcd wheels - please tell me where ! The only ones I know of are made-to-order Minilites - or of course wheels designed for use on Minis - but they are only 13" diameter.
Spacers are also a very bad idea - don't use them - get wheels with the correct offset and no spacers. Then if the studs are the correct length - and the nuts are fitted and torqued up correctly - all should be well. Wheels coming off on the mway is really not a good idea.

Post by **smethdog** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:21 pm

Firstly, when the weel had come of the starge thing wa that nether the nuts nor the studs had sheard of, nether had the studs snaped. It looked as if they had somehow managed to undo themselves.
My only idea was that i fited the new studs at home using nothing more then blocks of wood and a large malet! The only thing that i thought that may have gone wrong was that maybe i hadnt quite pushed the new studs in far enough and the force of the weel puled them through leaving the nuts loos (ish) and giving then room to eventually work loose?? (just a theory)

Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:25 pm

wheels designed for use on Minis - but they are only 13" diameter

13" mini wheels - where can I get a set? mini wheels are normally 10" or 12", surley you mean midget wheels/vauxhall viva ones!!!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:30 pm

Firstly, when the wheel had come off, the strange thing was that neither the nuts nor the studs had sheared off. Nor had the studs snapped. It looked as if they had somehow managed to undo themselves.
My only idea was that I fitted the new studs at home using nothing more then blocks of wood and a large malet! The only thing that I thought that may have gone wrong was that maybe I hadnt quite pushed the new studs in far enough, and the force of the weel pulled them through leaving the nuts loose(ish) and giving then room to eventually work loose?? (just a theory)

It sounds plausible, however did you use the correct nuts? Most alloys need special nuts (different shape - usually top hat and not tapered) and therefore you shouldn't use the standard nuts.

Post by SR » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:37 pm

MATT,check out ebay"13" mini wheels

Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:46 pm

do all minis up to the BMW(including the K minis ) have a 4" PCD?

Post by **Packedup** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:03 pm

Matt wrote:do all minis up to the BMW(including the K minis ) have a 4" PCD?

"K Minis"?

Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:11 pm

Minis with a K series engine

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:18 pm

Minilites are available in upto 15" diameter , we have supplied loads of these with the correct center bore and PCD to fit Minor,Ital and Ford.
The usual problem with alloy fitting is that people seldom concider the center bore, as Ray correctly states this is of utmost importance as its the only correct way in which the wheel can be centered. You must not rely on the studs pluuing the wheel into the correct position. PCD must be correct and anything over 13" rims should really have a larger diameter stud or at least a sleaved nut.
I think the method of fitting the studs should be revised, as they should be drawn into the hub and not hammered, it reall is worth getting a professional to do this type of work if you are not experienced in this field as not only is your life in danger but other road users also.
What diameter, offset, width,PCd and center bore did you specify when you ordered your wheels?

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:21 pm

Mini's did not come with the K series motor, the metro or Rover 100 did and the BMW Mini has a Yamaha based unit. The PCD is not the same unfortunately.

Post by **Matt** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:46 pm

so what did the new old style minis use after 1990 when the metro got the K, did they keep the A series? I was sure they used K after 91/92

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:51 pm

They kept the o'l A series lump and attempted to inject it, with dire results.

Post by **Cam** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:53 pm

The mini used a twin-port injected A-series (well, A+

) up until the end of production. It also had 13" alloys. The BMW "mini" is not a mini at all and shares none of the mechanicals.

Post by dp » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:05 am

I thought the BMW Mini used a Chrysler engine? On the other hand people have been retro-fitting Yamaha R1 and Hayabusa bike engines in original Minis to dramatic effect.

Post by **Packedup** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:12 am

Cam wrote:The mini used a twin-port injected A-series (well, A+ ) up until the end of production. It also had 13" alloys. The BMW "mini" is not a mini at all and shares none of the mechanicals.

Indeed. Had the real Mini got the K series (either the actual K, or the 70s project K) it may well have lasted a bit longer and sold better. The A is a cracking engine, but it must have been getting tricky with emissions laws by the end.

You forgot to mention the Mini not only had 13" alloys, but also softer suspension, expensive interiors, and a gutless 63hp 1275 even in the Coopers (but not the S or Sportpack cars as far as I know). By the end it seemed to me to be marketed as a bit of a pricey retro niche thing, although it still wasn't the travesty the BMW thing is. I don't doubt the BMW Mini is a good car, but I always thought the Mini was about maximum internal space for minimal external "footprint", at as low a price as possible.

Back to Minors, is the Mini center bore the same as a Minor? And I take it the (non-K) Metro would be too if it is.

Post by **Cam** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:25 am

Not sure if it's the same centre bore, but 10" Mini wheels fit a Minor as I had one on my traveller when I got her. I would not like to drive with it on though!

Yeah, the late Minis were just a retro thing. A concept that I don't much agree with. If you like 'old' then go 'old' don't do things by half. Also the really late Minis don't drive like the earlier ones in my opinion.

Minis reached perfection in my opinion in around 1976 (P reg) with a mustard yellow 850 or 1000.

Post by **Multiphonikks** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:55 am

If you're using standard minor hubs you may want to consider an upgrade to disc brakes. Of course, if you're using a disc brake kit based on sierra hubs then can't you get some cutom-made to keep the studs in original position - meaning more wheel choice.... Can't they???? (Asks question and looks hopeful

)