Wheel Question May 04, 2018, 07:32:18 am Are there options for wheels on a LD? These pictures show shiny stainless wheels and steel wheels. Looking at the order list it seems they should all be shiny stainless. Any comments on why the red one has steel?ThanksRon
Re: Wheel Question Reply #1 – May 04, 2018, 07:42:25 am 1.They were damaged and the owner removed them?2. To lighten the RV?3. May be they cut the tires at low tire pressures?
Re: Wheel Question Reply #2 – May 04, 2018, 08:31:59 am The photo may also be wheel 'simulators' that are essentially shiny whole-wheel hubcaps for appearance purposes. They do sometimes get scratched/ratty looking, fall off, interfere with valve stems (fixable), etc. You can pick some up to regain that camera-ready look. Mine came to me with Alcoa aluminum wheels, which look good and are ostensibly lighter than the steel ones. They're a common solution for full-size trucks, where aluminum wheels can save hundreds of pounds of weight when you add it up, which translates into payload.For campers, it does have a positive impact, but it's not a game-changer because it's unsprung weight.
Re: Wheel Question Reply #3 – May 04, 2018, 12:21:57 pm Hi Chip; In case you or others don't know, the Alcoa wheels were recalled. RonB CLEVELAND (Oct. 9, 2000) — Alcoa Wheel Products, a unit of Aluminum Co. of America (Alcoa), has voluntarily recalled a 16-inch aftermarket light-truck wheel it says is subject to cracking and potential failure. The forged aluminum wheel, Alcoa part number 167011, is an LTS-style (five-spoke) model, size 16x7J, with an 8 on 6.5-inch bolt pattern. It is used primarily on 3/4- and 1-ton pickups, Alcoa said, and approximately 25,000 have been sold to consumers. A crack can develop from hand hole to hand hole, the company said, and can result in additional cracks and potential failure over time, including the possible separation of the wheel from the vehicle. Alcoa said it is not aware of any injuries that have resulted from use of this wheel. To determine whether a wheel is the one being recalled, dealers and customers can check the part number in the wheel roll stamp, which is positioned on the outside of the rim near the hand hole and in line with the tire valve location. A cracked wheel should be removed from service immediately, Alcoa said; all others should be replaced as soon as practical. Alcoa will replace recalled wheels with an alternate style at no cost to consumers. A modified design of the LTS-style wheel should be available by April, the company said. Dealers must call the Alcoa Wheel Service Center — (888) 279-3055 — to obtain instructions and an authorization number before beginning any work on the wheel or vehicle, Alcoa advised. The authorization number is necessary to arrange for payment for service, as well as replacement and return of wheels.The company said authorized payment will include the reasonable costs of demounting, tire balancing, replacement wheels and remounting of the assembly. For additional information, contact the Alcoa Wheel Service Center, 106 N. First Ave., Clarion, Pa. 16214; (888) 279-3055. 1 Likes
Re: Wheel Question Reply #4 – May 04, 2018, 02:49:19 pm Certain date codes were recalled, according to Alcoa two weeks ago.
Re: Wheel Question Reply #5 – May 05, 2018, 06:43:13 am Any opinions on installing wheel simulators over steel wheels versus replace steel wheels with new aluminum wheels? For a 27 MB. ThanksRon
Re: Wheel Question Reply #6 – May 05, 2018, 11:03:39 am The wheel covers on many years of Ford-based LDs were from Kaperii.inc (Maybe they still are.) This chart from Kii's website lists the product numbers for model years:LED | Washington | Kaper IIAll of the currently available wheel covers from Kii are listed on their site; the "Wheel Cover" tab at the top of the home page brings up all the options.In general, wheel covers are simply cosmetic; a bare steel wheel isn't aesthetically pleasing to many people, hence the shiny wheel covers. The downsides of wheel covers are these:Wheel covers for 8-hole wheels can be a bit tedious to put on and remove. They should be removed (by the owner!) for any work that involves wheel removal because it's almost a sure thing that whoever tries to put the things back on will screw it up.Wheel covers for 8-hole wheels require use of lug extenders (also available from Kii), chrome acorn nuts (also available from Kii) and a special tool (a socket and Allen wrench) that came with the LD.The holes in the wheel covers for 8-hole wheels may not allow sufficient clearance for the long valves; the wheel cover holes on my 2003 where the valves pass through have been enlarged to allow plenty of space for the valves.Wheel covers for 2007 and beyond models (I don't know what wheel covers the newest LDs have) are the "snap on" type; their issue is that the covers can migrate around the wheel rim; if one has long valve stems from Tireman or Borg, the wheel cover can slice through the valve. A few have avoided the wheel cover issue altogether by either just going naked (which appears to be the case in the photos you attached), by painting the steel wheels, or by replacing the OEM steel wheels with aluminum. YMMV, as always. 2 Likes
Re: Wheel Question Reply #7 – May 05, 2018, 11:25:21 am JCTExcellent explanation. I learned a lot. ThanksRon
Re: Wheel Question Reply #8 – May 05, 2018, 11:51:58 am If someone wants to replace their steel wheels with the Alcoa aluminum wheels. Do you replace all six wheels or just the four visible wheels?
Re: Wheel Question Reply #9 – May 05, 2018, 12:11:35 pm Kii is not the only vendor of wheel covers; this company sells covers (also through Amazon):Wheel SimulatorsThere are other vendors also; just be sure to choose the correct application for the wheel type/hole number and configuration.
Re: Wheel Question Reply #10 – May 05, 2018, 12:37:48 pm Quote from: Duro - May 05, 2018, 11:51:58 amIf someone wants to replace their steel wheels with the Alcoa aluminum wheels. Do you replace all six wheels or just the four visible wheels? The inside duallies remain steel - the Alcoa ones cannot be installed that way due to the thickness. Furthermore, there has been a problem with lugnuts seizing to aluminum wheels. The bare steel rims in the photo were painted white - they are normally black. Many prefer not to deal with the stainless covers, which are purely cosmetic.******************"For campers, it does have a positive impact, but it's not a game-changer because it's unsprung weight. "Actually it is the reduction in unsprung weight which improves the ride. However, probably not noticeable since any percentage change would be miniscule...Steve 1 Likes
Re: Wheel Question Reply #11 – May 05, 2018, 01:19:26 pm Steve, can you explain what unsprung weight is?
Re: Wheel Question Reply #12 – May 05, 2018, 04:39:10 pm "The bare steel rims in the photo were painted white - they are normally black."----The OEM steel Ford wheels on my 2003 are light grey; was there a wheel color change in later model years?
Re: Wheel Question Reply #13 – May 05, 2018, 06:04:41 pm Not Steve, but here's the explanation of "sprung" vs. "unsprung" weight:What Is the Difference Between Sprung Weight and Unsprung Weight? | YourMecha... 3 Likes
Re: Wheel Question Reply #14 – May 05, 2018, 07:10:04 pm Quote from: Steve - May 05, 2018, 12:37:48 pmFurthermore, there has been a problem with lugnuts seizing to aluminum wheels. I have heard of aluminum wheels corroding into position and being a bear to remove.They can seize on the front hubs or to the rear steel wheels. This what you get when mixing dissimilar metals.It's a lot of money to spend for just the cosmetic appearance and potential seizing issues.If aluminum wheels are installed, I would want to remove them periodically, to clean any corrosion.Part of the problem is that RV tires and wheels, especially the rears, are not rotate often, if at all.Sitting in the same position for 5 or 6 years provides plenty of time for them to corrode in place.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Wheel Question Reply #15 – May 05, 2018, 08:05:37 pm Here’s an interesting and informative YouTube on alloy wheels seizing to the steel hubs.https://youtu.be/ooLgdGEOOWoSeize the moment... or not.Kent 2 Likes
Re: Wheel Question Reply #17 – May 05, 2018, 08:43:12 pm In my VW days, anti seize was a must have on the spark plug threads. One of those, “Don’t leave home without” things.
Re: Wheel Question Reply #18 – May 05, 2018, 08:48:51 pm Quote from: Steve - May 05, 2018, 12:37:48 pm(snippage)******************"For campers, it does have a positive impact, but it's not a game-changer because it's unsprung weight. "Actually it is the reduction in unsprung weight which improves the ride. However, probably not noticeable since any percentage change would be miniscule...SteveIndeed. I was coming to it more from the trucking perspective, where lighter wheels means more allowable cargo. With just four aluminum wheels replacing steel, the amount of weight saved probably amounts to another suitcase.
Re: Wheel Question Reply #19 – May 05, 2018, 08:58:03 pm Quote from: JCT - May 05, 2018, 04:39:10 pm"The bare steel rims in the photo were painted white - they are normally black."----The OEM steel Ford wheels on my 2003 are light grey; was there a wheel color change in later model years?Picky, picky - I referred to 'black' simply to indicate a dull, low visibility tint, such as primer. I'm sure mine are 'gray' too, but I can't see them from my keyboard... Nice link for 'unsprung' weight. Actually, I'm not certain the Alcoa wheels are lighter than the steel rims. I have found in the past that only the most spidery and delicate looking alloy wheels are significantly lighter than similar basic steel rims. This certainly is not the Alcoa breed.Steve
Re: Wheel Question Reply #20 – May 05, 2018, 09:14:59 pm I learned the hard way that even steel wheels can seize. When we had a blowout on the rear dual I did everything I could to change the tire. Wouldn’t budge so call a semi tire emergency service. Took the pros an hour to get it off. The service guy said it was a common problem on ford duals to get seized. He also recommended pretty much what the video shows.
Re: Wheel Question Reply #21 – May 06, 2018, 12:53:06 am Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - May 05, 2018, 08:05:37 pmHere’s an interesting and informative YouTube on alloy wheels seizing to the steel hubs.FYI, Removing the stock front steel wheels can sometimes be a challenge. The stock wheels and hubs have a very tight fit (hub centric) and can stick, preventing the wheel from being removed. The cure is to leave the rig on the ground and loosen the lugs nuts a few turns each.With the engine running, rock the steering wheel back and forth a few time, the to break hub's grip on the center of the wheelSometimes you can hear a pop when the wheel breaks free of the hub.The front end can then be jacked up and the lug nuts and wheels removed . Make sure to use jack stands.Larry
Re: Wheel Question Reply #23 – May 06, 2018, 09:10:24 am All this talk of steel wheels getting stuck got me thinking of this song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DohRa9lsx0Q
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