[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by lancer_rit

Are you sure they were ET+40 ?

..... That is surprising. What was the variation like ?

Mystery solved !!

The aftermarket NEO wheels that I initially purchased (and still lying in the boot) are marked as 6J / ET+40 but they are actually +45 !!! This is how I found out ....
Attachment 990616

Looking at the wheel on the right, if the ET had really been +40 then the backspace should have measured 129 mm. But the NEOs backspace measures 135 mm (left side) - this is proof of bad QC and the accessory shops sell it blindly.

I visited the A*S*S again today, the works manager at the A*S*S explained another reason why the 6J alloys won't foul with the suspension on some Lancer models. Mine happens to be the SLXi special edition model of 2001. HM had substituted the original Japanese KYB front strut with Gabriel. The Gabriel strut base is wider and projects more to the outside. Also, HM put a 3 mm plate on the wheel hub (where the wheel is mounted) since the 13" 3-spoke alloys of the SLX were fouling with the brake disk assembly. Later, there were many complaints for the Indian strut so they reverted back to KYB struts. So I guess yours is the original Japanese strut assembly.

While at the A*S*S there was a SFX model raised on the ramp with the wheels removed. I grabbed one of the OE alloy wheel and looked at the specs. It was marked 14*5.5J in bold but the offset marking was nowhere to be seen. Maybe the marking was buried under layers of dust so I washed it from inside .... imagine me washing a wheel of somebody else's car and the workers watching me with amusement !!!
After the wash I found another marking +46 this has to be the ET !!
I quickly measured the backspace and cross verified it using the above tool (yeah, I was carrying my laptop too) It matched ditto 129mm

Armed with this new knowledge and confidence, I went to MASS to check the OE alloys of Swift. There were 3 designs available. WOW !! It was like .... I asked for bread and they were offering me cake.

IIRC, 2 designs were for the Swift/Dzire old/new model and another for the Ritz. I checked 2 of them and both were +45 ET. This is well within acceptable limits and the remaining specs were the same. Finally finally things were looking bright. I am gonna put a Maruti next to the Ganapati on my dash.

I will have to wait to get the OE Swift/Ritz alloys. Maruti's policy prevents them from selling these to non-Maruti car owners.

[lancer_rit]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Mystery solved !!

The aftermarket NEO wheels that I initially purchased (and still lying in the boot) are marked as 6J / ET+40 but they are actually +45 !!! This is how I found out ....
Attachment 990616

Somehow, the attachment link does not work. But, this is more plausible that the wheel offset was incorrect. With the wider wheel (6J vs 5J), it caused the issue you faced. So one mystery solved :-)

Looking at the wheel on the right, if the ET had really been +40 then the backspace should have measured 129 mm. But the NEOs backspace measures 135 mm (left side) - this is proof of bad QC and the accessory shops sell it blindly.

Looks like it was a blessing in disguise that I couldn't locate any Neo alloy wheels when I was hunting for alloys. I had a good mind to go for Neo or Aura due to warranty.

I visited the A*S*S again today, the works manager at the A*S*S explained another reason why the 6J alloys won't foul with the suspension on some Lancer models. Mine happens to be the SLXi special edition model of 2001. HM had substituted the original Japanese KYB front strut with Gabriel. The Gabriel strut base is wider and projects more to the outside.

Yes I am aware of these changes. Since my Lancer is 2003 year model, it also has Gabriel oil filled struts - so, this cant be the reason for the wheel fouling the suspension.

Also, HM put a 3 mm plate on the wheel hub (where the wheel is mounted) since the 13" 3-spoke alloys of the SLX were fouling with the brake disk assembly. Later, there were many complaints for the Indian strut so they reverted back to KYB struts. So I guess yours is the original Japanese strut assembly.

Well I was not aware of the SLXi 13" alloy wheel issue. I have a GLXi which had steel rims to start with. But I am quite sure my shocks are Gabriel oil filled. Infact, even today, A.S.S. only has oil filled shocks for replacement. Please see this thread on how I went about replacing my rear shocks
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-work-90k.html

imagine me washing a wheel of somebody else's car and the workers watching me with amusement !!!

lol

I will have to wait to get the OE Swift/Ritz alloys. Maruti's policy prevents them from selling these to non-Maruti car owners.

Hope you get the alloys soon. Since you had the fouling with Neo alloys with ET45, I guess its better to go for ET40 if it came close to suspension arm on the inside before.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by lancer_rit

I am thinking if the smaller dia of 14" is the problem for your case ?

Absolutely. You had guessed it right earlier and I forgot to quote.
But the important thing for others to remember is NOT to exceed 5.5J when upgrading to 14" on the Lancer.

For 15 inchers and above, even the 6.5J won't possibly hurt since the rim edge goes beyond the strut base where the metal folds like a ear.

On 25th I would get the Swift's alloys and will post an update. And thanks for the link to your strut upgrade thread. You have given me food for thought till then

[lancer_rit]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Absolutely. You had guessed it right earlier and I forgot to quote.
But the important thing for others to remember is NOT to exceed 5.5J when upgrading to 14" on the Lancer. For 15 inchers and above, even the 6.5J won't possibly hurt since the rim edge goes beyond the strut base where the metal folds like a ear.

Hmmm, I see. Maybe you can take some photos and post when you get the wheels replaced. I must say I wouldn't have thought there could be any such issues with 14" wheels...

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by lancer_rit

Hmmm, I see. Maybe you can take some photos and post when you get the wheels replaced. I must say I wouldn't have thought there could be any such issues with 14" wheels...

Forward facing picture of OE 13*5J alloy. If I put the 14*6J +45 then it fouls with the suspension. And with +40 (havn't tried) it may leave a gap of 5 mm only.



For 15 inchers and above, the rim edge goes beyond (higher up) and thus no fouling.

It may seem that the metal is chipped (above) within the oval but it is not. That's the area where the metal fold ends.

(below is the reverse facing picture of the right wheel)



Note: Higher the offset, closer is the wheel to the suspension. Many people think the opposite.


The above tool is available at http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp?

[lancer_rit]

^^ Good photos to illustrate the suspension arm issue. I guess ET40 helps, and 15" instead of 14" helps too!
Good luck with the Swift alloys.

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

Now, take the case of 114.3 PCD cars. Esteem and Zen have 114.3 PCD and you can exchange the rims between these cars. These are 4 hole 114.3PCD. Now, the Matiz and spark is also 4 hole 114.3 PCD. But the offset is different. You CANNOT use Esteem/Zen rims on the Spark.

What about the reverse? Can Spark/Matiz Rims be used on a Esteem, Zen or 800? The 800 in the pic appears to be running on Matiz Rims.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

What about the reverse? Can Spark/Matiz Rims be used on a Esteem, Zen or 800? The 800 in the pic appears to be running on Matiz Rims.

Old Zen(pre 1997) also came on similar rims. And anyways those rims have been heavily modified.

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by Leoshashi

Old Zen(pre 1997) also came on similar rims. And anyways those rims have been heavily modified.

They look closer to the Matiz ones. The white Zen is with with older rims and the silver is with the new ones. I think older zens were 13" and later they switched to 12".
And yes the rims on the 800 look like they have been widened.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

They look closer to the Matiz ones. The white Zen is with with older rims and the silver is with the new ones. I think older zens were 13" and later they switched to 12".
And yes the rims on the 800 look like they have been widened.

Zens also got three other types of rims.

The round hole ones which originally came with the car when it was launched in 1993 I guess.



In between they got square hole ones for a brief time which is also widely confused as Matiz/Spark rims. Even I thought so before I saw the exact same rims coming in MGP carton. They have a part number too.(If you search for Zen's rims in DMS, you get a total of 11 part numbers).

The last Zen VXi got Blackened rims with wheel caps.

The last I heard, the original round hole, square hole and last Zen VXis black rims have been discontinued.