I drive an '82 rabbit 1.6D. A previous owner had installed coilover struts and lowered the car significantly, with smaller tires in front and larger in back. They had also installed after-market wheels that have a special patterned lug head, which I have a special socket to remove.
I blew a tire last week and decided it was time to replace all four, and while the tires were off I threaded up the coilover struts to raise the car (sick of scraping my oil pan..). I got the new tires and opted for 4 of the same size instead of having the front/rear be different.
Everything was looking good and I got the tires back on, but when I tried to spin the rear tires (parking break not engaged) they rotate about 3/4ths of the way around and stop abruptly. Puzzled, I pulled them off and try spinning the drum and it spins fine. So I put one of the rear tires back on and again it stops after only 3/4ths of a turn.
When the lug bolts are not fully tightened it spins fine, but once I tighten them, it is as if they are too long and are hitting something inside the brake drum. This is especially puzzling because nothing has changed as far as I know, the rear tires are the same size as before and there was no spacer in between the wheel and drum that I know of. Am I missing something?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Everything was looking good and I got the tires back on, but when I tried to spin the rear tires (parking break not engaged) they rotate about 3/4ths of the way around and stop abruptly. Puzzled, I pulled them off and try spinning the drum and it spins fine. So I put one of the rear tires back on and again it stops after only 3/4ths of a turn.
When the lug bolts are not fully tightened it spins fine, but once I tighten them, it is as if they are too long and are hitting something inside the brake drum. This is especially puzzling because nothing has changed as far as I know, the rear tires are the same size as before and there was no spacer in between the wheel and drum that I know of. Am I missing something?
I'd check the lug bolts - some may be longer than the others. Did some front bolts get swapped with rears?
Are the wheels the same as before, and same size all four?
Thanks for the reply!
You were right that the lug bolts for front tires were longer than the back. I swapped them and its working normally now. Thanks! #imanoob
Personally, I'd get the right length bolts. If your car goes to a shop, they might get mixed up and someone could try to drive the car out of the service bay.
Stuff happens, even when you warn the shop. (BTDT)
^even so,
2 different lengths for wheel bolts? do you have steel rims, or aluminum rims? steel can take the shorter 22mm bolts, al rims take (min) 24mm length bolts (actually 23.5mm i guess). there is a strong 27mm bolt available.