disco turning circle / offset wheels

Most of the modulars, eight-spokes etc are 1" offeset.

Richard

Thanks Richard. Is that one inch more than the standard LR steel wheels please? I suppose I should pull a wheel off and measure up a std wheel. Oh, and do you "do" them? Cheers Graham

It is - LR "standard" ones that is.

'Fraid not, you can get them from most of the on-line wheel and tyre places very cheaply usually, though persuading them you don't want a set of tyres at the same time can be hard work.

Richard

This sounds interesting to me, too. Is it possible to reduce the turning radius only by changing wheels? Abutoma

Can't see how, you'd have to change the steering max angle too shirley? A higher offset wheel might allow that (higher as in making the wheel further from the chassis rails).

Hmm, just tried my local LR bits shop (15 miles). Yes, he had them in stock but wasn't sure of the offset so I went over armed with measuring sticks and they were 30mm more than the originals. Game on! I'll have two, thanks. Oh, I only sell them in fours.........

In theory, but (there's always one!) allowing the swivel to turn more causes the swivel ball seal to travel too far and hit the casting where the flange bolts to the axle tube. This doesn't allow much more lock than standard. Also, it potentially over-loads the swivel pins and damages the seal, and may make the CV joint work at too steep an angle. That probably doesn't matter on a trialer, but could be Bad News on a road-going motor. On Series motors the gain could be quite good, as the swivels turn less of the ball circumference in standard trim than coil sprung motors.

Richard

The same effect can be achieved by adding spacers to move the wheels outboard. In both cases the aim is to generate clearance between the tyres and radius arms so the steering stops can be backed off. Spacers are criticized as being technically poor as they do increase the loads on wheel studs etc, but without doing the calcs (if I still can) or seeing the strain gauge results I have no idea if the increased loads are actually bad. Graham

Good point. I lost turning circle when I fitted knobbly tyres and had to reduce the steering lock 'cos the tyres clouted the radius arms. I need to be careful I don't cause the damage you outline above by going too far past the original lock. Graham