Minilite Wheels for Elan +2

[CBUEB1771]

Has anyone installed the 13X5.5 peg drive wheels from Minilite on a +2? What back space options are available? I noticed in the baby Elan area that the 13X5 wheels are available with 95mm and 100mm backspaces but none of this information is available on Minilite's UK web site. I bought a set of 13X6 Minilites many years ago when that was the only width they offered. I got them with the minimum backspace dimension but still have problems with essentially no clearance to the outboard ends of the wishbones at the rear. Yes, grinding and shimming are options but I am not enthusiastic about either. The older versions also came with steel thrust rings shaped like a venturi rather than having a conical surface to mate with the knock-on nut. I wasn't too happy with the prospect of "line" contact between the knock-on nut and thrust ring. (Yes, I have considered that you have the same situation if the included angles on the nut and thrust ring are not identical, it is just not so obvious.) Has this issue been resolved?

[Dave_Newcastle]

Hi

I fitted the 14x6 Minilite sport knock ons this year to my plus 2 and am very pleased with them. It was evident to me that talking to Tech-Del prior to the purchase, although nice to deal with, they do not want to take responsibility for specifying the backspace so ..........

Useful info from measuring my old wheels:

width of lotus original 13x 5.5 steel wheel 165mm edge to edge with backspace of 119mm

width of lotus original 13x5.5 alloy wheel 168mm edge to edge with backspace of 118mm

I wasnt sure what the internal profile and thickness (hence internal diameter) of the new wheels would be so specified a backspace of 115 mm knowing that there was space outwards - not inwards because of the wishbones like you say. This puts the outer edge of my wheels (6 inch width) some 15.5 mm further out than on the lotus alloys and this causes no problems with the wheel arches in terms of sitting outside the arch or contact with the arches. The larger radius of the 14 inch wheels takes them further away from the wishbone nuts in any event of course than compared to 13".

It also puts the centre line of the wheel some 9.25mm further out which I dont feel has been detrimental to the handling at all. I am running on 175/70 r 14 tyres which keeps the outside radius nearly identical to the 13 inch wheels with 165 r13 tyres (82% aspect ratio).

I know it would be useful to you to have an idea of clearance between wheels and wishbones such that you could then take off 12.5 mm for the fiiting of 13" wheels and see how close to interference they are. I will try and measure that on the car tomorrow if you like.

They come with a machined stainless steel insert - I will look at my spare tomorrow and let you know what shape the internal mating surface is. Hope this is of some help. I can remember the angst I felt that I might get the backspace wrong and end up up with the same problems that you want to avoid

Dave

[tower of strength]

I spoke to minilite about thier wheels, and I to found that they were a tad vague on the back spacing, however they told me that the steel insert was designed for the 3 eared spinner as fitted to steels normally.
I also tried Supalite Wheels, (I prefer the look over trad minilites) They too are available to fit our peg drive, but they havent come back to me with back space options as of yet.

hope this is of interest

mark

[CBUEB1771]

Mark and Dave,
Thanks for your information. Dave, don't bother the check the clearance between wheel and rear wishbone. I've a good idea of what is needed from trying to fit my 13X6 wheels. However the thrust ring configuration is of great interest. Thanks again.

[Dave_Newcastle]

Russ

The thrust rings are outside diameter 3 5/16" 84mm, inside diameter 2 3/8" 60mm. They are very similar in internal profile to the lotus alloy ones. ie they have a curved surface with an ever tightening radius toward the centre circumferences. My wheels have been on for 2000 miles and the spinners havent moved at all. I had heard that some users had had problems with spinner bottoming out on the hub thread before it had tightened down on the thrust ring and that minilite were aware of this and have increased the ring thickness to stop this happening.

Dave

[CBUEB1771]

Dave,

Thanks for this information. The Lotus alloy wheels are not common on this side of the pond. Hence I didn't realize the Minilite thrust rings mimic the Lotus items. Again, many thanks.

Russ