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Hub Centric Rings revisited

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Crowndog, Aug 27, 2011.

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  1. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    #1 Crowndog, Aug 27, 2011
    Concerning hub centric rings. It was suggested that it is better to have some metal rings made rather than using the polycarbonate ones supplied with the aftermarket 16" wheels. I did some browsing on the difference:

    Q: Which ring should I use, those hi-tech looking
    aluminum rings or the composite Polycarbonate
    plastic?
    A: While aluminum rings look Hi-Tech, they actually are not as
    good as the composite Polycarbonate plastic rings.
    The drum or rotor snout of most vehicles are made of cast
    iron, so when a raw aluminum ring is placed directly against
    it and even a small amount of moisture gets in, corrosion
    occurs almost immediately, making it very difficult to get the
    wheel off of the car.
    The composite Polycarbonate material acts like an "O"-ring,
    eliminating this common problem.

    One opinion
     
  2. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,055
    USA
    #2 f355spider, Aug 27, 2011
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2011
    Aluminum spacer are commonly used by many enthusiasts to widen the track on their cars. Most people would simply apply a thin coat of anti-seize grease on each side of the spacer.

    I would just do the same with the aluminum ring.

    Even without spacers or a concentric ring, aluminum wheels need a thin coat of anti-seize grease applied to the mating surface with the hub, or rust can form, seizing the wheel to the hub.
     
  3. Martin308GTB

    Martin308GTB F1 Rookie

    Jan 22, 2003
    4,286
    Black Forest Germany
    Full Name:
    Martin N.
    #3 Martin308GTB, Aug 27, 2011
    the corrosion you are talking about is even more of a problem with the original magnesium wheels. They need no center rings but fit perfectly on the hub.
    But once I had so much corrosion there, that it needed some significant force to take off the wheel.
    Since I smear a small amount of ceramic paste onto the hub and into mating wheel area I had no more problems.
    I would avoid plastic rings, because it's the hub, which has to bear most load and NOT the wheel bolts.
    I would go for the aluminium rings, but always wonder why they don't simply make the aftermarket wheels fitting without adapters.

    Best Regards from Germany

    Martin
     

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