Alloy Problems on Cavalier .. Advice Appreciated

[Sexysamoyed]

Hi All, I Hope you will give me some help and advice on my new alloys (not specifically bought for a Cavalier)

I have gone from my 195/60/15x6 Vauxhall fanblades to 195/45/16x7 Ace 112 Alloys.

They are not a perfect fit but they are on.

First of all the offset is different 40 instead of the original 49
So I think the wheels are already sitting out by about 22mm.

Secondly I can't fit the centre caps on because the hub only just fits through the centre bore of the wheel, anyone else had this problem ?

The easiest solution I can think off would be to fit some spacers (around 5mm) between the disc and the wheel as that should give the clearance to fit the caps on.

Would this be OK to do or would the wheels be out too far.

The steering feels only slightly heavier and I can feel the bumps a bit more but that's probably down to lower profile tyres.

And does anyone have a spare set of spigot rings or can advise wher to get a cheap set from.

[Tom Williams]

is it just the front wheels that the caps done fit on? i hacked off some of the thread inthe shaft so they wouldfit on an old car of mine

[Sexysamoyed]

Hi Tom
It's not just the front's. The centre tube of the hub comes right out to the wheel so there is no space for the cap to clip on, the rears are much the same.

I don't think the drive shaft is a problem, I think the cap is deep enough.
I wondered if it would be possible to machine of about 5mm from the tube, although the centre of the rears are a little different. But I think that would involve too much work.

I'm not sure if you could make the bore in the wheel a bit bigger and get bigger caps, that might weaken the wheels though and I don't know how easy it would be to get other caps.

[johnsastra16v]

edited. just read it properly. sorry

[Sexysamoyed]

Basically I suppose by fitting 5mm spacers to these alloys the offset would change to 35.

Do you think that will put the wheels out too much ?

Also has anyone used these universal spacers ?
Do they centre up OK ?
And do the affect the ballance on the wheels ?

[Sexysamoyed]

I've had another think - do you think it is possible to grind down the tube on the hub by around 4-5mm as this will give enough of a gap to refit the centre caps.

and still keep an offset of et40 !

[Sexysamoyed]

And what about the rear hubs - the centre is part of the disc I presume.
Can this be ground back at all ?