Confused by offset and its uses

[mumbo]

Nearly ready to try this off-road stuff but confused with the wheels and tyres etc. Many posts about offset and reverse wheels but not sure why. Is it just to get wider track? If so can anyone explain why? maybe there's an article or thread somewhere.
I have a 2003 D2 and have started the hunt for spare wheels to fit off road tyres...... Not many out there at the moment!!!

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Loyd

[Bush65]

When larger dia tyres are fitted, the steering lock is deminished because the tyres rub on the radius arms before full lock is reached.

By offsetting the rims outward you can achieve normal turning radius and the tyres don't rub on the radius arms.

A popular method with disco steel wheels, is:

cut the welds joining the wheel centre to the rim - a lathe is best.
weld up the hole in the rim for the valve stem - optional but best.
reverse the rim on the centre (so the old inside is now the outside)
true up the rim at the required offset - best checked in a lathe but can be done on the rear axle
re-weld centre to rim
drill a new hole for the valve stem

Edit: I just noticed that you have a disco II - my experience is with disco I so what I said about modifying wheels may not apply.

[mumbo]

Thanks John,

I currently have the 18" alloys. Which are only for show as far as I can see. The turning circle is rubbish..hmm....I wonder if they would benefit from spacers too.

Loyd

[Blknight.aus]

if your doing it for onroad reasons thats been covered. if your doing it for offroad reasons it gives you better stability.

[mumbo]

if your doing it for onroad reasons thats been covered. if your doing it for offroad reasons it gives you better stability.

Definitely for off road but started to get carried away!! Still looking for the second set of wheels. It seems like there are many opinions on tyres too so I have a a bit of fun ahead.....

[Urban Panzer]

The reason the turnign circle is rubbish (or worse) is because you have 18" wheels, even if you fit 16" wheels you will have the same issue as the vehicles fitted with factory 18" rims have larger lock stops. Land Rover in their "wisdom" also fitted a massive number of 16" fitted vehicles with the larger lockstops. These can be changed for the smaller ones and your turning circle will improve loads.

Im not a lover of increasing the offset as the stresses ect on the axles / hubs / driveshafts goes up by quite a lot when you widen the "track" of the vehicle

[andymach23]

Land Rover in their "wisdom" also fitted a massive number of 16" fitted vehicles with the larger lockstops. These can be changed for the smaller ones and your turning circle will improve loads.


Hi Urban Panzer

That's interesting. Do you have any info on how to spot if you have the larger lockstops? My D2 has 16" wheels and I think my turning circle isn't great.

Cheers

Andy

[mumbo]

The reason the turnign circle is rubbish (or worse) is because you have 18" wheels, even if you fit 16" wheels you will have the same issue as the vehicles fitted with factory 18" rims have larger lock stops. Land Rover in their "wisdom" also fitted a massive number of 16" fitted vehicles with the larger lockstops. These can be changed for the smaller ones and your turning circle will improve loads.

Im not a lover of increasing the offset as the stresses ect on the axles / hubs / driveshafts goes up by quite a lot when you widen the "track" of the vehicle

That is a welcome summary of the problem. They tell me I have the updated stop fitted but I wouldn't know how to tell. Good point about the stresses

[andyrover]

Back to the wheels: I just discovered BMW wheels will fit a D2! This may sound ridiculously obvious since BMW owned LR for a few years but... it opens up new possibilities for the scrounger of slightly used rims to fit the D2. Everything from steel rims from a 3 series to 18" alloys from an X5 will fit. There are a couple of complications: lug nuts for the 14mm studs (chrome acorns from Jax fit) and offset (only about 10mm extra?) neither are show-stoppers unless you are a purist, and you can save heaps...

[mumbo]

What a great find "Andyrover"..... there must be loads of BMer drivers who have dumped good wheels for fancy ones. I'm on to it

Loyd

[pohm66]

Urban Panzer, do you know the 2 different lengths of the lock stops???

Would be handy so we can check if our D2s are being short changed on the turning circles.......

Cheers......

[mcrover]

Just a small point,

Offset has to be pretty wild before it will effect wheel bearings all that much.

It also depends on tyre construction and size as to weather or not it will effect the bearings.

If the rim is dished on the inside then with a rover you can go the same on the outside by flipping rims with no negative at all until you go to bigger tyres as your not changing anything other than moving load from 1 bearing to the other which are the same bearing anyway so are designed to take the load.

The other thing I will just state is that with fully floating axels there is very little if any vertical load on the axel unless the bearing craps it self.

I have had a lot to do with calculating offset loads on wheel bearings for tractors etc as in the Golf industry we dont run Ag tyres so we have to work out the propper offsets etc to fit low compaction tyres to our tractors.

The sets you can get from OEM are not always the best thing for the job.

[PhilipA]

Just be careful that the BMW rims have a load rating as heavy as a D2.
Of course Commodore wheels will also fit. Ditto.
Regards Philip A

[Urban Panzer]

Heres where they are, they are either 23mm or 29mm, if you have 16" wheels and 29mm lockstops, then you can change them for the smaller ones to improve the turning circle.

The bulletin refers to a VIN range, how ever it seems somes vehicles escape this and still have the issue so its def worth checking.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Part numbers for lockstops :-
23mm FTC 5151
You can if needed put washers behind it to make it the size YOU want, so if you need 25 mm for example, you can add 2 x 1mm thick washers.
Part number for washers WDL112081L

[HAK]

OK if your after a second set of wheels for off roading I think your question hasnt been answered mmmm depending what type off roading you plan on doing

width caused by off set rims = stability and it does make a big difference believe it or not my Disco is much better behaved

there are two option one is buy a set of king wheels which have very little off set difference or by a set of procomps which have +35 or -35 how ever you read it but they stick out 30mm or more then the standar rim this will obviously reduce your max tyre width though 290mm in my case is on the boader

11666

[andyrover]

Heres where they are, they are either 23mm or 29mm, if you have 16" wheels and 29mm lockstops, then you can change them for the smaller ones to improve the turning circle.

The bulletin refers to a VIN range, how ever it seems somes vehicles escape this and still have the issue so its def worth checking.

http://www.discovery2.co.uk/images/lockstop_web.JPG

http://www.discovery2.co.uk/images/lockstop_info.JPG

Part numbers for lockstops :-
23mm FTC 5151
You can if needed put washers behind it to make it the size YOU want, so if you need 25 mm for example, you can add 2 x 1mm thick washers.
Part number for washers WDL112081L[/B][/I]

You little beauty! I wondered why my D2 had the turning circle of an ocean going tanker! Is this LR Service Bulletin a freebie?? I notice p2 and 3 may have the rectification procedure...

[Urban Panzer]

I only keep page 1 handy as its self explanitory, and coz I could not find page 2 lol

Searched my PC for an hour!!!:eek:......found it:D............ page 3 contains no info at all.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/456.jpg