Re-drilling Wheels

[zd3bx]

I really like the look of 16x8 BBS style 5's on E30's, but they are 5x120, so unless I change the hubs (which is not an option for me) or run adaptors (the wheels will stick out too much due to offset), so the only thing that's left is to re-drill them?

Am I being silly or there's actually a "safe" way of re-drilling wheels to 4x100? The VW boys seem to be doing this all the time...

[jmc330i]

It's been done on those wheels - a guy in the US has them on his moordoor, I think its on stanceworks.

Fill and redrill is possible, but as with anything, some will say its fine and safe, others will say the exact opposite. I believe there's a member on here with filled and redrilled alloys but I can't remember who.

18 months ago I contacted Voodoo Motorsport (iirc) about doing this to the style 5s I've got, but they said they weren't offering the service due to their main man having an accident. I've not followed up since.
I spoke to a few VW lads who would only use Voodoo, but as above they weren't doing it when I asked.

Fwiw, the car in your pic above I think is running an E36 5 stud conversion.

[kam-325i]

gotta agree with jmc here.....

youve gotta get the original holes welded up first, by a decent welder.....

[jmc330i]

It'll be a bloody expensive welder to weld alloy to any decent standard! Something only for a pro to attempt.
From memory, Voodoo did say they couldn't guarantee how the wheel would react to being welded.

[kam-325i]

ill weld'em up @ £50 a wheel......

its not the welding thats important, its the prepwork.......the orignal holes would have to be contersunk both sides to create a double V, then super dooper cleaned to remove all the crap from around the HAZ... the hub of the wheel would then be slowy pre-heated to around 160-200C.

[SilverShadow]

I've been thinking of getting this done on a set I been looking at.

Would be interested in companies and costs for the work.

[zd3bx]

Yeah, I thought that re-drilling was a bit ghetto...I asked one good welder at work about this and he said he wouldn't mess around with wheels doing stuff like that, i.e. filling/re-drilling.

I'm sure it can be done professionally, but it would probably cost 2-3x price of the wheels.

[zd3bx]

Warning: old thread bump

Didn't want to create a new thread, as I thought I've spoken about these wheels before...and I was right!

So anyway, I've come to the conclusion that wheel adaptors would be the best way to get these wheels fitted.

The only question I have is, how safe are they? Read many forums with mixed opinions, so just wanted to know what zoners think about adaptors?

I'm particularly concerned about the extra "stress" on wheel bearings and other suspension components due to the wheels being pushed quite far out. The offset will be ET3 with adaptors...

There's a set on eBay (4x100 to 5x120) and it's 300 quid...Not exactly cheap, tbh.

[Sambe30]

I'm at exactly the same place as you, I have been through thinking about redrilling, adaptors etc. I have just come to the conclusion to buy some 4x100 57.1 cb wheels that are ment for the car and fit properly. Although the selection of wheels that are half decent in this size is scarce, I'd rather get it right. Messing about adapting and redrilling is just another thing that can go wrong, I'm just going to go for the safer option

[ross_jsy]

If the weld is good it will be just as strong as the surrounding metal. But how do you know the welder is good? At the end of the day, is it really worth the risk?

I'm not a fan of 4x100 to 5x120 adapters as there is an overlap on one of the studs. Personally all the adapters I have seen don't seem like a good solution but many run them and they work fine.

Have a look in the thread about stronger drive shafts. Possible solution on the horizon

[Andyboy]

The VW boys seem to be doing this all the time...

That's a very good reason why you shouldn't be doing it. I'm just waiting for a Dub clown to lighten a brake pedal by drilling lots of holes in it - it's just the sort of thing they'd do.

The answer is no. It's not even remotely safe or acceptable.

[HairyScreech]

It is very very hard to know the full effect on the casting from welding. There are too many materials to know what you welding/what filler to use and it will screw up the heat treatment.
Powder coated wheels that have had the previous paint burnt off have been know to have brittle cracks because of the effect on the heat treat.

Forged wheels are less of a problem in terms of material composition but the heat treatment will still be fucked.

It is far safer to go to 5 stud.

The only modifications that should be done to wheels are machining of the hub to increase offset or machining of the centre bore. Heat (over 200 degC) should never be applied to critical aluminium castings.

[dave525]

Dubtards do lots of dodgy stuff,notched chassis rails etc

[DanThe]

The VW boys seem to be doing this all the time...

This group of people are mostly made up of ignorant teenagers that do things because it looks good in a picture

I wouldnt want to ruin a perfectly good set of wheels TBH.
Forum member Tomcresswell is drawing up some 5 stud hubs/bearings to fit an E30 at the moment, I dont think it will be long before he comes back with prices, its the only way I would do it

[aze30]

One other method ive heard of but never seen it done or know of a set is by pressing in blanks the exact size of the holes already there.
basically you get studs same size as the void you want to fill and press them in with a bench press and then redrill the holes....again it depends what you consider safe...?
Azzy

[zd3bx]

Alright guys, thanks for the comments.

It seems like too much hassle for a pair of wheels...I'll look elsewhere

[Andyboy]

One other method ive heard of but never seen it done or know of a set is by pressing in blanks the exact size of the holes already there.
basically you get studs same size as the void you want to fill and press them in with a bench press and then redrill the holes....again it depends what you consider safe...?
Azzy

Jesus.

To think I share the same roads with these morons.

[aze30]

One other method ive heard of but never seen it done or know of a set is by pressing in blanks the exact size of the holes already there.
basically you get studs same size as the void you want to fill and press them in with a bench press and then redrill the holes....again it depends what you consider safe...?
Azzy

Jesus.

To think I share the same roads with these morons.

yup ....shocking!
in anycase the safest way would be to go 5stud.
i would regard safety top of the priority list.
azzy

[buster]

I also do not like these adapters as the overlap is definitely a suspect area. The better way to change to 5x120 using adapters is to have the hubs redrilled to 5x100 and then use 5x100-5x120 adapters. 5 to 5 stud adapters can also be made thinner than the 4 to 5 stud ones due to not having to deal with the stud overlap.

I came up with that idea ages ago. It needs doing properly though. Not with your black and decker and Chinese tap set !

[sweep]

will wobil boltz work and leave a bolt off?

[buster]

will wobil boltz work and leave a bolt off?

Your joking right ?

[DanThe]

[e30topless]

will wobil boltz work and leave a bolt off?

my Renault 4 only used to have 3 wheel bolts per wheel innit

[pacerpete]

will wobil boltz work and leave a bolt off?

my Renault 4 only used to have 3 wheel bolts per wheel innit

Steve, was that the GTL with the gnarly 1108cc 5 bearing mill ?

[DanThe]

will wobil boltz work and leave a bolt off?

my Renault 4 only used to have 3 wheel bolts per wheel innit

Jeezus,,,, why would you even admit to such depravity