Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I had my roadster up at the shop last week for some much needed service/repair (new ball joints, installation of new M.Y. springs, new stainless brake lines, new kyb's, new grease boots, pinion seal, rear brake shoes, repair of leaky rear axel and new soft top - not installed yet). What an improvement!

Anyway, when I picked it up yesterday, they were putting the new Superlites back on that I had recently purchased. Ooops. They showed me that the fronts wouldn't quite clear the bottom of the hub assembly. The hub assembly is tapered and the hub hole in the wheels wasn't quite large enough to clear the very bottom of the assembly, so the back of the wheel wouldn't quite sit flush against the hub. The result was front wheels that weren't true - when spun, it created a wobble effect.

Crap! I just bought these wheels and had already run them about 20 miles. I never noticed that they were out of true when I was driving because my other suspension components were in such dire need of replacement (you should've seen the play in the old ball joints when they were removed and I won't even mention how bad the old shocks were). And I suppose my 'newbieness' was in play as well.

Well, my wife had dropped me off there, so I needed a quick solution. Get the grinder! The inner portion of the wheels hub hole was beveled down a bit to allow it to clear the tappered hub assembly and mount flush to the hub. Problem solved.

I'll send an email to Pack Racing Products to let them know of the problem. I haven't checked, but I suspect their 15" wheels may not have this issue. Mine are 14x6x114.3mm, 4.5"x12mm offset and 3.94" backspace. These are the ones on Ebay.

BTW, mine is a 68. Do the earlier ones have the same size hub assembly or are they smaller?

Note: I was informed that there is another way to take care of this type of problem and that would be to put the hub assembly on a lathe and take down some of that taper. I was in a hurry though and time didn't allow for that.


Shannon

This is good information. I was/am considering buying a set of these wheels. Let us know what, if anything, the folks at Pack Racing say.
Has anyone else had this problem?

Yeah, thanks for the heads-up, Avidtest. I have been watching the threads on these wheels. If I get them, I will report back on how they fit on early cars.

I'm not aware of anyone having that problem in Australia.

I think I recall my wheels having a bevelled edge on the inside of the hub centre hole (but I'm just going from memory).

Mine are the same size - 14x6 with 12mm offset.

Mike

I ordered the same ones, so hopefully I dont run into the same problem when they are installed

Ray B.

I was at Les's shop tracking down a front yoke for my Roadster 4.88 detroit locker and saw the amount of material that had to be removed. It was a beveled edge of about 3/16" (5mm) or so to get the wheel to spin true on the hubs.

I had this problem with my Panasports. I bought a thin spacer & longer lug studs. Problem solved. Although, when she is finally on the road and racing around, I will want to loose the spacer. That means grinding the hub, or the wheels.

Kyle

Had some correspondance w/ Terry @ Pack Racing. So far, none of their other customers have reported this problem. So, I still wonder if there are differences in hub assembly sizes in the roadsters.

Also, the Superlite 15" wheels have the same size center hub-bore so if you have the problem w/ the 14's, you'll have it w/ the 15's.

I'm waiting to hear back from them to find out if they'll offer to machine open the hub-bore bevel a bit for their new Datsun customers. I'll post if they agree.


Shannon

Just got a reply back from Pack Racing. They will open it up for all Datsun owners going forward, but unfortunately, if you want them to do it, "definitely means the end of the special pricing".

Shannon

What is the front hub diameter on your roadster?
I measured several and they were stepped .150" and at 2.930" diameter to locate onto a stock rim.

Ray B.

Hi Guys...Just back from business out of town (Been in Houston...)

Bummer to hear there might be a problem. Like Shannon, I've only done about 20 Miles on the roadster since installing the rims. I also didn't notice the problem (so far).

My car is still in the shop getting some TLC, so I'll have them double check to ensure the wheels clear the hubs. I was told previously told they did clear, without issue.

Will let you know what I find out....

Dan

Dan post some pictures ASAP!

Panasports RULE

After very close examination of my 66 1600, the shop found the same issue. Not a big problem...Looks to be only about 2 or 3mm off.

Will take a similar approach as Shannon and just shave a bit off the front rims.

Thanks for catching this Shannon!!

Had the shop grind a little on the wheels and everything fits nice and snug. About 30 minutes of work for all 4 wheels.

Really happy with the wheels set-up now. Looks like with the slight modification brought in the front wheels about 3mm. Now the front wheels don't stick out as much past the lip of the early flared fender.

I also installed a new set of comp springs up front. The car used to have 175/70 Wide White Walls and stock springs. Now with the new set-up it is a very different car. Quite sporty & aggresive....

I know I need pictures...but she is still receiving some TLC at the shop

This thread is worthless without pics. Post some before I stop by that shop and snap some pics of some ill-fitting Superlite wheels on a roadster that should have Panasports