Lately I've had opportunity to work on some cars with knock-off wheels, both wire and alloy.

How do I know when I've hammered them on tightly enough? Or, too tightly? I've been spinning the knock-off on, tapping it lightly a few times to get everything nicely seated, and then giving a couple hefty whacks.

Is that about as good as it gets?

I *could* replace a "couple hefty whacks" with "a good and thorough whaling" but that doesn't seem right. Does it?

I am SO accustomed to tightening wheels with a torque wrench that the imprecision of "there, that oughta do it" leaves me a bit uneasy.

Thanks and cheers
DD

 

Your method for tightening is about right. At least that's what I used to do. Be sure you have the right kind of hammer, lead/brass faced so as not to damage the knock off ears and get a "dead blow" when you strike them.


I don't mean to get too basic for an old hand such as yourself but new boys may be watching.

 

I use one of these:

Welsh Enterprises, Inc - Jaguar Jaguar Wheels Parts - Thor Knockoff Hammer

As for being "an old hand", well....heh heh..... you know how that goes. The more you try to learn the more you realize how little you really know.

Cheers and thanks,
DD

 

Take the car out for a test drive & slam on the brakes a few times the wheels will be tight then. If the car has old spinners with the ears put a rag on the ear & use your largest dead blow hammer. This will assure you don't damage the spinner. If it is the later style with the tool just a big hammer.

 

Doug,

My E-Type had hexagon spinners for which there was a special wrench allowing them to be tightened by hand sufficiently and without damage.

My DB5 had three-eared spinners which were fairly soft brass discouraging any spirited hammering with the copper hammer in the tool kit!

In any event, being handed, they tighten as the wheels rotate in a forward direction of travel so the wheel isn't going to fall off.

Graham