Backspacing for 15" wheels with HR front end?

[Cogburn]

I'm looking for some 15" wheels to suit my EK wagon with an HR front end, HQ stubs and rotors. I has standard height springs at the moment. What back space have people used that has worked for them?

I think 15 x 6 with 3.25" back spacing would be pretty close but I really want some confirmation before laying down some cash for new wheels!

[Harv]

G'day Cogburn,

The easiest way is to take the wagon into a wheel dealer, and have them run an adjustable wheel gauge over both front and back. This is a tool which bolts to the hub and simulates a rim. It will tell you exactly what you can get away with on your particular vehicle... nice insurance before laying out squillions on new wheels.

As a rough guide, I've had a play with Commodore 15" wheels in an EK wagon with HR front and Commodore disks. No way in the world to get the common 43mm positive offset ("43P") wheels on without tierod spacers (turning circle is bad enough already!) or 12mm of hub spacers (just slightly illegal...). 26mm positive offset ("26P") steel chaser rims (from a VP Berlina, VP and VR with ABS/IRS, VT Aclaim V6 and VQ Statey Series 1) work with 10mm clearance to the tierod ends.

Note however that if you are fitting Commodore rims to HQ hubs that there is a difference in PCD that will require correcting, usually by offset drilling the hubs and using oversized studs.

Cheers,
Harv

[Cogburn]

Thanks Harv. I don't want to use Commodore wheels. It's a bit hard for me to take it into a wheel shop when it has no wheels!

Will a standard 14" HQ steel wheel work?

[Trev]

I would go 14's.
PM sent.

[Cogburn]

Thanks Trev. I ad your PM before I saw this post.

[Harv]

No drama.

The tool I was thinking of is similar to this one:


The WheelRite is available from the US for around $75 + freight. I've also seen local ones (albeit at the $250 mark). Wouldn't be too hard to knock one up though.

Cheers,
Harv