trouble fitting '96 mags on defender

[Craigb]

I wanted to fit this set of landrover mags, common 5 spoke most commonly seen on Disco, with a casting date of 96, on my 96 defender. Seller said "absolutely positively will fit your defender" although he didn't know what they were off (disco?). Anyway, they do fit the front but on the rear you can't get the plastic centre cap on and the metal cap on the end of the axle protrudes (hope that makes sense). I tried searching for answers, and sounds like there is some possibility of aftermarket rear axles that maybe protrude a little more.

Mainly interested if anyone has come across this problem and solved it. It is only a few mm. I do like the car but having done extensive work on it, once again I find myself scratching my head and asking ' why would you cast a wheel that misses fitting another model by only mm, when one casting could fit all (assuming it is not aftermarket axles causing the problem!)

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Dopey]

G'day mate,
I had the same problem with trying to fit late model mags to one of my 90's,
The drive flanges on some of the models are as you say, too big.
Some aftermarket drive flanges have been machined out or manufactured to allow fitment of mags to the hubs.
Also is your defender a 90 or a 110?
Early 90's had a one piece axle/drive flange on either side, different to the two piece axle/drive flange of the 110's.
I can fit saw tooth wheels to the left back hub on one of my early model 90's, but not to the right back hub, because of very slight differences in the drive flanges.
Anyways, might help also if you post a picture of the hubs/flanges and the wheels.
Mike.

[holly]

Hi mate,same thing happened to me.I changed axles and drive flanges yesterday and found that the stock flanges don't pertrude out as much,so the landrover caps now fit in.Maybe your flanges are not stock.
Hope this helps.

[landy]

The flanges are thicker and the half shafts longer on the 96MY Defender. I think from memory they changed to the current flange around the 99MY. As the Discovery has the one piece axle/flange the wheel casting is shallower. I'm assuming that you have a 110 as the 90 also has the one piece half shaft design.

You are presented with two choices.
1. Replace the rear half shafts and flanges (Gen or Aftermarket) with later axles and flanges, or
2. Fit wheel spacers. Bearing in mind that they are illegal in all states of Australia.
Cheers

Nino

[Craigb]

Thanks, that all makes sense (except that in '96 when they were turning out defenders and discos out of the same factory that for the sake of a few mm they didn't cast a universal mag! ) and it is a 110 300tdi wagon.

For the record have attached some pics. For now I am not that hung up on the cosmetics and will just leave the caps off. Not keen on spacer idea or the hassle of replacing shafts that are working perfectly well. Almost seems easier to turn up a couple of ally spacers to bring the cap out a little, groove so the standard cap clips in, machined to diameter that sits in that shoulder and then maybe 3 screws threaded in from behind with washer that just bites in a little from behind. Only cosmetic and with a bit of silver paint probably looks like belongs? Anybody got access to a CNC lathe that can record the measure and could possibly sell a few? I am guessing that there is not a big market but have done that before with parts, get a group buy going and then use a place that can record the dimensions and can always get more done easily.

But thanks for the help everyone - makes life a lot easier than researching all this.

[jimr1]

I've got some rangie mags on my 110 very simmler to the ones you show , only I've got Maxi Drive axles , and It's just the same as yours , fronts OK. but had to take them off on the fear , jim.

[Dopey]

This thread has a little bit of info on flanges if you're interested.


MAXI DRIVE FLANGES


Mike.

[Craigb]

Did a search on tyres on here and got confused! In context of this thread thought i would ask those that have been down this road. Have got used to the rears without the caps on so not too worried about that. So now i have worked out to use these wheels, trying to work out the right tyres.

On there it has 265/70/16 and 235/70/16. When on the front the 265 rubs on the suspension arms and 235 on rear is too small and speedo reads wrong. Would appear that 235/85/16 is the right diameter by all accounts and that the 265 might actually be the right diameter (tyre placard refers to the 7.50/16 on the 6 inch rims. The car came with 6.5 inch 130 wheels with 235/85/16 but if anything look a bit narrow, so putting them on the 7 inch mag I would have thought would be more so. And i assume i can adjust the lock to stop the 265 rubbing. With these mags on a defender, what have you guys used. I am thinking something like 255 or even 245 might be the go with appropriate wall height to get to that rolling diameter.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

[DeeJay]

Just looking at the offset on those rims, it looks like they are offset too much "inboard"
Have a look at this recent thread where offset has been discussed at length...
Lift Kit Requirements to fit 255/85's


Also you want to fit tyres that have around 31" height, ie 265x75x16 or 235x85x16 or even 7.50x16

[dullbird]

I thought all offsets for Land Rover Disco Alloys were the same +33 I think...