Date:    Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:15:31 -0500
From:    Stephen Edwards <welfarewrkr@IGC.ORG>
Subject: Re: ok lets talk about wheel vibration now (2wd)...

I have just bought a set of used VW Vanagon alloy rims on eBay.  Do the
10mm bolts need to be removed for them too?

Steve in Chicago, 91 GL 7-passenger.

Steve,

Maybe yes, maybe no...depends on the particular alloys. Many alloys will
indeed foul the two small bolts in the rear drums and their removal is a
necessity. Rims have been damaged in the past by owners attempting to
tighten up new wheels over the bolts with results they have since
regretted.

Some alloys however, just because of their shape and styling, do have
recesses in the back of the wheels that coincide with the positions of
the drum bolts making their removal unnecessary but....you may have to
careful that the wheel will fit over the bolts in some positions and not
others, so careful mounting and verifying that the bolts do not foul the
wheels in essential.

Other alloys are flatter on the backside so there is no question the
bolts should be removed.

If in doubt, just remove the two bolts per side. With the wheel in place
they are redundant anyhow and when the wheel is removed, they are there
to secure the drum in place, but the drum falling off after wheel
removal doesn't seem to happen very often. Drums usually take a little
more persuasion to come off than that...;-)

Cheers,
Steve O
NSW Australia
'92 Transporter WBX Kombi
'00 Transporter Double Cab
'03 Transporter Double Cab (work truck)
'78 Land Rover 109 Series 3 Soft top ute (ex-Aust.Army)