Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

[David C.]

I just purchased a set of YJ8 aluminum wheels from eBay to put on my 1973.
Only problem is that when I removed the center cap on one of the wheels, I could see the center bore is damaged such that the mounting surface is diminished on about a third of the circumference. I have attached a picture below.

Is this a problem, or am I overreacting? Would really appreciate some input on this. Thanks.
Dave

[Russ S.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

It isn't a problem.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

I just purchased a set of YJ8 aluminum wheels from eBay to put on my 1973.
Only problem is that when I removed the center cap on one of the wheels, I could see the center bore is damaged such that the mounting surface is diminished on about a third of the circumference. I have attached a picture below.

Is this a problem, or am I overreacting? Would really appreciate some input on this. Thanks.
Dave

Dave-------

It's hard to tell, for sure, from the picture. What you need to do is to accurately measure the bore ID at several points. The bore should measure 2.783" at every measuring point. If it doesn't, that's a problem. Here's why: Corvette wheels are hub-centric. That means that the center orifice is what centers the wheel on the hub. Having the wheel perfectly centered on the hub is necessary or the wheel will rotate in an eccentric pattern.

[David C.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Russ, thank you.
Is there enough material there, is the center bore load bearing?

[David C.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Thanks Joe.
I don't think the center bore is out of round but I will confirm. The issue I can see is that the bearing surface is cut back on one side. I am not sure if that presents a problem in bearing the weight of the car without failing.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Thanks Joe.
I don't think the center bore is out of round but I will confirm. The issue I can see is that the bearing surface is cut back on one side. I am not sure if that presents a problem in bearing the weight of the car without failing.

David-------

From that standpoint, it will not be a problem. Once the lug nuts are torqued to spec, there will be little "load" on the hub. The primary purpose of the hub is to center the wheel with the spindle. As far as the wheel goes and assuming the hole turns out to be round, the wheel was probably machined the way you see it. The casting could have been slightly "off-center" but when the machining was done, it was precisely on-center.

[Russ S.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

There is plenty of material left but also the wheel is centered and carried by the lug bolts and nuts.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

There is plenty of material left but also the wheel is centered and carried by the lug bolts and nuts.

Russ------


I've heard this before but I don't buy it. The center hole in the wheels is 2.783" OD. I measure the spindle hub center, both front and rear, at 2.781" or 0.002" clearance between the hub center and the wheel orifice. In fact, even visually, if one inspects a wheel mounted on the car, either front or rear, one will note a VERY close fit between the spindle hub center and the wheel orifice. Consequently, the fitment of the hub to the wheel orifice is going to "override" any centering effect of the wheel lug bolts---there is much more clearance between the wheel studs and the wheel bolt holes. Plus, the wheel lug bolt holes usually enlarge by wear over time and the cone on the lug bolts also wears over time. The fitment between the wheel orifice and the spindle hub never wears or changes over time.

[Michael W.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Neither the lug nuts nor the wheels for C3 aluminum wheels have mating tapered surfaces to center the assembly.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-aluminum-wheel-lug-nut-set-1976-1982.html

Steel wheels are lugcentric

Aluminum wheels are hubcentric

[Russ S.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Alum wheels have snug fitting lug nuts. There is no play in the diameters That makes them lugcentric as well.

Neither the lug nuts nor the wheels for C3 aluminum wheels have mating tapered surfaces to center the assembly.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-aluminum-wheel-lug-nut-set-1976-1982.html

Steel wheels are lugcentric

Aluminum wheels are hubcentric

[Joe L.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Alum wheels have snug fitting lug nuts. There is no play in the diameters That makes them lugcentric as well.

Russ and Mike------

I don't understand how the lugs could center the wheel of either steel or aluminum wheels. Due to the tight fit between the spindle hubs and the wheel center hole, the wheel would be centered even if there were no lug bolts on the car (although, of course, no one would want to drive it this way). There is no way the wheel could deviate from center once the wheel was installed over the hub. In other words, once the wheel is installed on the hub, it cannot be "further centered" by installation of the lug nuts. The lug bolts and nuts do center the wheel with respect to the lug bolts but that's not a critical matter, at all.

[Russ S.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

OK, If we want to be real technical about it the center hub may be tighter but it is irrelevant. You could technically cut out the center hole and never have any issues as the lug nuts would also center the wheel. There are applications out there that are just that way, much larger center rim hole than hub hole.

Russ------


I've heard this before but I don't buy it. The center hole in the wheels is 2.783" OD. I measure the spindle hub center, both front and rear, at 2.781" or 0.002" clearance between the hub center and the wheel orifice. In fact, even visually, if one inspects a wheel mounted on the car, either front or rear, one will note a VERY close fit between the spindle hub center and the wheel orifice. Consequently, the fitment of the hub to the wheel orifice is going to "override" any centering effect of the wheel lug bolts---there is much more clearance between the wheel studs and the wheel bolt holes. Plus, the wheel lug bolt holes usually enlarge by wear over time and the cone on the lug bolts also wears over time. The fitment between the wheel orifice and the spindle hub never wears or changes over time.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

OK, If we want to be real technical about it the center hub may be tighter but it is irrelevant. You could technically cut out the center hole and never have any issues as the lug nuts would also center the wheel. There are applications out there that are just that way, much larger center rim hole than hub hole.

Russ------


Yes, the lug nuts would likely center the wheel even if there were no center hub. However, the lug bolt holes in the wheel wear and enlarge over time. The lug nut cone also wears over time. So, if centering were entirely effected by the lug bolts/nuts, there would be a lot of Corvettes out there with off-centered wheels. With wheel centering on the hub, there is never any uncertainty that the wheel will be properly centered. And, as I mentioned, after centering on the hub, further centering is irrelevant.

I also agree that there are many applications in the automotive world in which the wheel center hole is much larger than the hub. Those applications definitely depend on the lugs to center the wheel.

[David C.]

Re: Need advice on YJ8 aluminum wheels

Thanks everyone!
Based on all of your helpful inputs, I will go ahead, clean up the wheel and mount on the car.