Any ideas on how to fix a lug hole that's wallered out on an aluminum wheel(like a old Americam) ? Fill with weld or drill out fill with plug that's welded in and then redrill fresh lug holes/Thanks...
Are you sure it is not a unilug hole? For a hole that is really damaged, TIG welding and machine is about the only way to do it properly. Larger studs could work, but by the time you get done re-drilling the wheels, axles/hubs, discs/drums, re-chamfering the holes in the wheels, and buying and installing all new hardware, you will have spent way more money, time and effort.
Properly done, TIG welding should not reduce the strength of your aluminum wheels. A number of shops specialize in aluminum wheel repair. You can find someone in your area with a Google or Yahoo search.
Maybe you could machine a stepped insert and bore that hole oversize and press/loctite the insert in?
Welding on heat treated aluminum weakens it. But, wheels aren't normally heat treated, so a properly done weld on a weldable alloy isn't a problem.
What were these wheels on? Even the mounting surface has a 1/4 inch difference in thickness.With one hole that bad how the heck did the others remain perfect.
i have a set of that style of wheels, on mine i plan to use the round washer with the offset hole and run them with a 5 on 4-1/2" pattern, they now are 5 on 4-3/4", the washer fits snug in the recessed part of the hole, i have to ob-long the holes a little to get the nuts to fit, looking at yours i say you could get the same washers with the hole in the center, the nut will center on the washer and the washer will fit snug in the recess, it could be a good idea to make a locating ring to have the rim center on the hub as well.
those all look pretty uniform. Id just run them for awhile and see what happens, haha. Just get an acorn style lug and see if it will snug down in the holes a bit
With the better pic looks like somebody ran the wheels without the washers,but I would clean out the washer stepdowns,get the right washers and lugs.
Have the holes drilled on a Bridgeport indicating for the bolt circle you want and have steel top hat inserts made. Just my way.
looks to me that some one didnt use the washers, and made another boo boo on the lip just outside the grease cap !
i say your wheels can be fixed, the first step would be to find the right washers, then have your wheels machined to except them. do your wheels have American Racing cast into the back?
would it be posible to have a locating ring machined to fit snuggly between the hub and the center of the wheel to serve as the locator and then just run them as is?, i've seen the ricers use these I think they are called hub centrics.
That sounds like the most viable solution. The Enkie 32 wheels on my 48 came new with steel inserts and it shouldn't be too hard for a machine shop to turn out a batch of inserts that would work and maybe even use tapered lug nuts in the process along with doing the machine work on the wheels. It won't be inexpensive but it will save the wheels. Otherwise Tig welding them holes up and having them remachined would work with the original style lug nuts and washers.
Stockton wheel can correctly drill them and put in a steel insert and then you can use the same lug nuts that are used on steel wheels.
An insert with a washer would solve the problem and done properly they won't need to be welded. Drill them out then machine inserts and press in-Problem solved!
An easy way would be to insert the wheel and change it to accept acorn style lug nuts. Do that kind of stuff all the time at work. Pm if you have any questions.
sound like a good way to not see that wheel for a few years. Do a search for stockton wheel before contemplating this little adventure.
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