15 inch bbs

[gooner1]

Recently changed my wheels from original 14 bottletops to a set of 15 bbs.Gave car a run today and noticed a clunking noise from left rear wheel.Have heard that locking wheel nuts can cause a problem but all four bolts are same size.Jacked rear up and removed wheel but cant see anything obvious but when i tried ti spin hub it moved a bit then locked.Should i be able to freely move the hub and should i be using spacers for these wheels?tyre size is 205/ 50r 15.Car is 86 325i cab.
Thanks for any help.

[Ant]

repaet the test with both wheel off the ground dude, you may have an LSD, which wil prevent you from turning one rear wheel on its own, regardless of being in/out of gear or H/brake position

gen 15" BBS require no mods to fit any e30( or golf )

[gooner1]

Cheers Ant, both sides jacked up now and hub turns,Take it thats an lsd then, but does,nt solve the clunking noise.Done a quick search and spotted something about the hand brake shoe retaining screw/clip, also noticed the disc retaining screw was loose.,which might have something to do with it.

[gooner1]

Ooops think ive got that wrong,when i turn one wheel ,with both rear wheels off ground, it turns independenley. That means i aint got an lsd does,nt it. Took the wheel off where the noise was coming from and turned the disc by hand and there is no noise.Will tighten the disc retaing screw and put wheel back on tomorrow see what happens, but if anyone has any thoughts i would be grateful.

[panesar_e30]

hows it going rob, ive had the same problem when i was running 17's, imo i think the bolts that your using may be too long.

[gooner1]

Hi mate,how you doing.Re bolts,sureley if that was the case id be getting the nise from all 4 wheels not just the rearL/H side.Thought id cured it when i tightened the disc retaing screw but after driving round block its just as bad.Going to strip whole assemebly down.If im in afit state after England game.

[Brianmoooore]

Count the number of turns it takes to tighten a wheel bolt, just after the thread catches. Remove the wheel, screw the bolt back in the same number of turns and turn the hub then. Screw the bolt in two more turns and try again.

[gooner1]

Thanks Brian, will try that first.

[gooner1]

Convinced problem lies with brakes,trying to get caliper off.Bottom bolt
was no problem but the top one,s a b*****d. tried everything including spraying a stuff used on the railway to free seized nuts but it aint having it.Cant get a decent socket or a bar on it because of lack of room in wheel arch.Begging to wish id stuck with the bottletops.

[AndyTouring]

Are you using the same bolts as the 14"?

I fitted 15" BBS & they just went straight on.

If it doesn't make a noise with the 14"s then it isn't the brake (unless the caliper is fouling the rim. Is there any sign of that?

Jack & support both sides of the car on stands. Get someone to run the car in gear & see if you can detect where the noise is coming from.

[gooner1]

Andy, yes using same bolts as the 14,s and no sign of caliper fouling rims.
Noise is coming from passenger side wheel hub area.Thing is new wheels
seemed fine first 2 days they were on and then noise suddenly developed.
May just be coincidence but sure the fault lies with brakes,have car jacked up both sides so will try your suggestion but as i have one caliper bolt off anyway i might as get the other one as well.Save me grief at a later stage.

[gooner1]

Andy, yes using same bolts as the 14,s and no sign of caliper fouling rims.
Noise is coming from passenger side wheel hub area.Thing is new wheels
seemed fine first 2 days they were on and then noise suddenly developed.
May just be coincidence but sure the fault lies with brakes,have car jacked up both sides so will try your suggestion but as i have one caliper bolt off anyway i might as get the other one as well.Save me grief at a later stage.

[AndyTouring]

Could well be the handbrake linkage then so yes, you'd have to take the caliper off first. Try spraying brake cleaner through the wheel bolt hole onto the adjuster. Makes backing it off a lot easier when you can see it.

Adjuster is at 11 o'clock o/s (drivers side) & 1 o'clock n/s. Back off the handbrake cables at the handbrake first then back off the adjuster. I cleaned the adjuster & lubed it with coppaslip so it turns easily.

When it's all back together, turn the adjuster until the wheels start to lock then take up the slack at the hand brake (3 clicks) until the wheels are locked.

BTW, I 'm sure tyre size should be 205/55 x 15, but I may be wrong?

Good luck!

[gooner1]

Well finaly got the caliper nut off.Lying git i bought car off told me he had fitted new mitex all round,turns out there from halfords.Too late to see much now,so will have good look w/end.Meanwhile here you go Panesar ,
pics of car withh wheels fitted.Anyone got any idea what the centrecaps are?.

[Bob_S]

caps look aftermarket, get down to BM and get some new badges will be about £11

[gooner1]

Had a good look with disc off and cant see anything out of place.No loose springs etc,but just had a thought would the fact that i havent had wheels balanced on car cause a noise.Just cant think of anything else.

[AndyTouring]

Swap the wheels front to rear. Is the noise still there?

Maybe the wheel wasn't fitting flush to the hub.

[gooner1]

Will do first thing in morning,have to work to night,but just had a look at wheels and noticed balancing weights on rear ones and none on front.So got to be worth a try.Going to give up and try garage next,cant stand all this sunshine and car stuck on drive.

[gooner1]

Sort of admitted defeat here.After moving front wheels to the back hubs it seemed a bit better but not much.So stuck the old bottle tops back and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no noise.Beats me,no marks in wheel arches or on rims.No sign of calipers being fouled and why did noise develop two days after fitting bbs and not straight away?.Whats the best looking wheels in 14 inch in your opinions?.Thanks to all of you who have helped and suggested cures.

[Chris-W]

14" BBS X-Spokes don't look too bad.

[gooner1]

They look good mate, is that your car?