New Wheels
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
I wanted to check different colour schemes for the new wheels (Range Rover Classic LSE and CSK, also used on the Defender 90SV), with the options of plain silver (like the 90SV), gloss black centres (like on black LSEs) or matt black centres. The photo-shop attempts didn’t all come out that well, but the plain silver worked well enough to give an idea. To be honest, it seems the best choice anyway; not only will it be cheapest and not show defects or water drying marks like black, but the matt black looks too rough and the gloss black a little to fussy and too much like the wheels on chav/drug dealer BMWs. It will also allow me to use the wheels as replacements for the Range Rover’s current TWR alloys should they ever be damaged or stolen. The only thing the photo doesn’t reflect properly is that the centre caps would have to be omitted from the rear wheels. I’d use black centres on the front (like on Range Rovers) to match the rear.
For the wheels to fit the Salisbury axle, I have had to use spacer rings (turned down scrap brake drums) and Wolf wheel studs. This is because the shape of the interior of the wheel is too shallow for the early style hubs (grinding the hubs is common practice, but it could seriously weaken the wheel and so was out of the question). The hubs had to be removed for the studs to be swapped, but it didn’t take long to do the job. The axle was test fitted with two of the alloy wheels and they fit perfectly. I left the wheels on just in case I knock the axle off its stands while I start work on the front axle. That will need slightly more parts than hoped; the right side swivel has a notch in its movement at the straight ahead position, and I will only be able to tell if it’s the CV joint or swivel bearings once the hub, stub axle and half shaft have been removed. At least the left side is smooth and free of play.
Subscribe by Email
