13 replies to this topic

[Huddley_Clubby]

Im putting on some 13x7 wheels on my clubman saloon, do i need to to anything to the car to accommodate them?
And if so what and how??

[Jackmorton]

Yes. You need to cut your wings so that wheels can turn full lock without catching

[grumpy2]

I think (but don't know for certain) you may have some issues with the steering fouling the rack on full lock too. I have an mpi with 13 inch wheels and is has a different rack with reduced lock for this reason

G

[mike.]

As above some of the wing needs to be trimmed with pretty much all wider/larger offset wheels on a mini.

Its a daunting task but really not that bad. I put some pics up of how I did it in this FAQ:http://www.theminifo...ork-and-wheels/

You'll be able to make a better job of it if you can weld, as you'll be able to weld together a stronger lip on the wing.

Essentially all your doing is snipping into the lip on the wing, and up the wing itself. Bend the wing up and old lip up, trimming off the excess and reforming a lip.


P.S - No doubt this thread will turn into a debate of which size wheels are best for a mini. Your mini is your mini, if you want 13x7 wheels, don't be put off by daft comments about the negatives of 13x7 wheels.

[Huddley_Clubby]

As above some of the wing needs to be trimmed with pretty much all wider/larger offset wheels on a mini.

Its a daunting task but really not that bad. I put some pics up of how I did it in this FAQ:http://www.theminifo...ork-and-wheels/

You'll be able to make a better job of it if you can weld, as you'll be able to weld together a stronger lip on the wing.

Essentially all your doing is snipping into the lip on the wing, and up the wing itself. Bend the wing up and old lip up, trimming off the excess and reforming a lip.


P.S - No doubt this thread will turn into a debate of which size wheels are best for a mini. Your mini is your mini, if you want 13x7 wheels, don't be put off by daft comments about the negatives of 13x7 wheels.

Thanks for the message at the end plenty of people try put me off doing it hahaa, i think ive seen it done before and that link was helpful thanks!

[Bungle]

you will also need to fit a sports pack steering rack or KAD lock stops to reduce the turning circle

[Guess-Works.com]

As above some of the wing needs to be trimmed with pretty much all wider/larger offset wheels on a mini.

Its a daunting task but really not that bad. I put some pics up of how I did it in this FAQ:http://www.theminifo...ork-and-wheels/

You'll be able to make a better job of it if you can weld, as you'll be able to weld together a stronger lip on the wing.

Essentially all your doing is snipping into the lip on the wing, and up the wing itself. Bend the wing up and old lip up, trimming off the excess and reforming a lip.


P.S - No doubt this thread will turn into a debate of which size wheels are best for a mini. Your mini is your mini, if you want 13x7 wheels, don't be put off by daft comments about the negatives of 13x7 wheels.

Don't even need to do that...

mark the cut line where you need the edge of the arch to be, templates are available from the minispares website, cut along creating a strip of metal with the lip still on, clean up this strip of metal, and weld it to the inside of the wing with the lip now where your cut line is... It's a whole lot easier than trying to reform the lip, does not deform the panel and believe it or not, how the original sportpack wings were done in the factory.

[mike.]

That'd be the best way of doing it, i've ever heard you can do it with no cutting at all with the use of some bodyshop dollys and other wizardry.

But if you can't weld, cutting and bending is the only way really, even if its not as neat.

[Huddley_Clubby]

Ya'see i can weld but i'd rather cut and bend it being its just so much easier lol and im not too bothered about the kad things cause im gonna cut the arches that bit more to accomodate the wheels. oh and cover them up with sportpack arches.

[samsfern]

Wahey tractor wheels!

[Bungle]

im not too bothered about the kad things cause im gonna cut the arches that bit more to accomodate the wheels. oh and cover them up with sportpack arches.

cutting the inner wing out of the way will be a very big job and will result in the peddles being relocated

[Huddley_Clubby]

im not too bothered about the kad things cause im gonna cut the arches that bit more to accomodate the wheels. oh and cover them up with sportpack arches.

cutting the inner wing out of the way will be a very big job and will result in the peddles being relocated

Ok fair point, kad spacers then.

[Bungle]

lock stops not wheel spacers

[mike.]

My 13x7's cleared the inner wings by a big margin at full lock. I think the reason the sportpack minis had the limited steering rack was because their wheels don't have any sort of dish and have a large positive offset. The on full lock, the wheel sits much closer to the inner wing.

If your fitting the usual deep dish 13x7 wheels, the wheels will clear the inner wings easily and spacers won't be needed.

Also the KAD steering rack limiters don't seem to fit all steering racks, i've had real problems getting mine to fit, went through about 3 sets of them before giving up. Even KAD said they'd never seen a steering rack like mine...