987.2 19" wheel refurb

[911hillclimber]

Thought this tale may be of interest, a positive tail no less!

At 83K miles my 19" wheels were starting to show some corrosion which needed to be nipped in the bud.
Found a local refurbisher in Telford, Amazing Alloys, and they do the lot, tyres off, full strip to metal, repair, powder coat/top clear, remount tyres ans balance, all for about £100 per wheel.
They needed the wheels for 5 working days to complete which sounded about right for this process.

Wheels off and the car on axle stands looking like the wheels have been stolen.

Realised the rear tyres were looking a bit low, about 1K miles left I think, so arranged for 2 new Bridgestones for just over £500 (!)

Wheels all done on the 4th day and managed to squeeze them into the Skoda and back home.

As I had come this far, coated them with the special wheel quality ceramic fluid and left for 12 hours to dry/harden. £47

Original caps were discarded for a set off ebay for £22 and they too were coated.

All back on the car after some weight lifting, the rears are so heavy, but made easier by the stud extension shaft shown. An essential bit of kit.

All on and looking god, and the bolts checked for torque after 300 miles.
Bolts caps and locking bolt covers finished it all off.

Quite an outlay, but will smarten the car no end, certainly until I come to sell.

 

[Motorhead]

Good job done Graham. And yes, the rear wheels in particular are very heavy [probably I’m just getting weaker with age!], but agreed that the extended stud is an essential piece of kit.

Jeff

 

[malarcy]

Agree on the stud - but suggest get a second one - that makes it a complete piece of cake for removal and replacement - means you can effectively let go and the wheel lines up for the "proper" bolts. - Porsche specify using 2 for cars equipped with Carbon discs

 

[911hillclimber]

Take your point.
I turn the hub so the long extension is at '12.00 o'clock' and so the wheel hangs off it and this brings the center of the wheel to the hub and then slides to locate. Get a bolt into the wheel @ 5 or 7 o'clock so to speak.

When 4 bolts are snug I remove the long pin and screw the locking bolts in that final position.
Serious back pain without the long pin if working on the car on a drive way!

 

[Motorhead]

I’m with you on this one Graham, and use the same procedure with just the single pin. I found using the 2-pin method more awkward and cumbersome, but each to their own.

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

It is hard (work) to 'aim' the rear wheels in particular to the long pin and as the wheels were all in fresh paint i was keen to avoid a good scrape or chip to the powder coating and allowing corrosion to recommence.
I'm too old now (72) to be mauling these lumps about the car, infact almost any car.
You need to work smarter not harder.....at any age. Excessive effort will catch you up as you get older!

The 7" wide x 15" Cookie Cutter wheels on my '73 911 are soooo much more user friendly, flyweight by comparison and real wheel studs so wheel location much easier.

The 911 has a 3.2 engine, 220 bhp and weight in ar 1005Kg.
The Boxster is 250 bhp and about 1300Kg

Very similar power to weight but the tread contact area must be 4 times the 185 section 911 tyres, so we carry a lot more weight in the unsprung suspension area and the Boxster keeps the 'fashionable' looks!

The 911 steers and corners rather well.

 

[Motorhead]

I accept that I’m getting progressively weaker in my dotage Graham, but the 19” rear wheels on my Cayman are really heavy!

On a Club visit to an official Porsche dealership a while ago I noted that one of the techs was using a wheel lift to assist in removal and fitment. A Health & Safety requirement no doubt, but a boon when they’re having to do it all day, every day.

Jeff