Front Wheel Offset

D

dave1

New member
Jul 23, 1998
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Hey, maybe we can just use all those extra 160232 (rear duallie) wheels
that guy in Texas has. Seems to me the inside chromed wheel mentioned
would bolt right up. Might look odd, but... Or am I crazy?
Ref the following excerpt.
====== http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/AlcoaWheelDeal.html =====
Call Darrick (and ONLY Darrick) at Southwest Wheel in Dallas at
1-800-866-3336. Ask for the GMCnet deal.

A group is set up under the name GMC-NET, and we're one of his larger
volume accounts, entitling us to future discounts.

...the 160231 Classic Wheel is a popular wheel with most GMC Motorhome
owners. Every time this wheel is sold a rear wheel is also brought into
stock. We have in stock over 150, rear dual wheels. The only thing
different about this wheel is that it is polished on the inside of the
dual, instead of the outside (160231). If you placed this wheel on your
motorhome it would look like a machine finished wheel (not polished).
Again these wheels are in stock, no waiting for the 160231.
Part No. 160232 - $117.50 each
F.O.B. Dallas, Texas
====== http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/AlcoaWheelDeal.html =====

- ----- original message -----
> Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 22:34:16 EST
> From: JRMEEKHOF
> Subject: GMC: Front Wheel Offset
>
> So I'm standing there admiring my coach, gazing at the Alcoas and
> suddenly
> come down with a stupid attack. I'm looking at the offset on the
> front wheels

=====
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Hi Dave:

In case you're interested, I know of at least three owners running offset front
wheels in an attempt to get the same track as the rear wheels have. One in
particular, has over 80,000 miles experience.

Paul Bartz

From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of JRMEEKHOF
Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2000 10:13 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: Front wheel Offset

Thanks Emery,

I reviewed the archives but I am not satisfied. Something is goofy and not
making sense. I will try to find some dimensional prints showing the front
bearing geometry. This will be the only place to start to get at the bottom
of this. I think conclusions were made on basic assumptions that might not
have been accurate. For instance, if 93% of the weight is carried on the
inner bearing using the stock offset which sets the center of the tread . 4
of an inch inboard of the inboard bearing, then the distance between the
bearings must be something closer to 5.5 inches and not 3. If cantilever
loading is not good (and I agree) then why is the stock configuration
considered to be good. I did not advocate putting the front track equal to
the rear, I dont know what that offset would be. But it seems to me that the
original offset could be moved out about 3 inches which would UNLOAD the
inner bearings. The first . 5 inch gets the tread center directly below the
inner bearing and another 2.5 inches gets it centered between the bearings.
Is this not the best place to run it? The inner and outer bearings would
share the load equally instead of 93% and 7%. This also would add an overall
6 inches to the track also helping the rut running.
To get the 11900 LB loading in these earlier posts the offset would have to
be changed 10 inches to get the tread center 4 inches outside the outer
bearing. Who would want to do that? I don't know, I think there are a lot of
numbers flying around that are not accurate, and I probably just added to it.
My gut says we are missing something here. Putting up with waggle and
unnecessarily adding stress to our wheel bearings, and why? Because that is
the way it was always done?

Dave Meekhof
73 GoBus 230

>>>>>>>>>>>>
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 16:41:54 -0800
From: John Dolan
Stock wheels:
The geometry with stock wheels is such that the inner bearing carries 93%
of the load and the outer carries 7%. 2490# and 190# (static loads)
>>>>>

>
 
Yes they will be hub centered. I am fabricating my own adapter plate. This will
only bring the wheel out from the hub by 1/8". I would not use any, on the
market plate. I wouldn't trust them. By making my own I am confident of what I
am getting. I will end up with a hub centered wheel when done. Yes it is
possible. No doubt here. I guess I am just one of those guys that doesn't always
believe, "You can't do that!" Darren

> Darren,
>
> Are the Centerline wheels designed as hub piloted? If not, then I would be
> leary of using them and I would not consider the use of adapter plates. The
> hub and pilot is what is carrying all the weight and I would not want to
> introduce another part between the two. If you ruin the integrity of the hub
> - pilot interface, things can degrade fast and could become a safety issue.
> Just my opinion. FWIW
>
> Dave Meekhof
> 73 GoBus 230
>
> line wheel. No offset either way. It puts the front wheels in direct
> track with the rear wheels. I am making an adapter plate so the wheel
> will still be hub centered. I think this is important.
> If the wheel has a 5" inside offset or a 5" outside offset it loads the
> front axle the same. The difference being it changes the direction of
> its pull. On the stock config it bottom loads the inner bearing and top
> loads the outer bearing. If you turned the wheel around it would top
> load the inner and bottom load the outer. My question is, does the
> bearing care whether it is top or bottom loaded? If I use a center line
> wheel I am still loading the bearings as the stock config. just moving
> some weight around. I do not believe that the bearings care, as long as
> you keep them serviced. I have found a wheel that has the look of the
> Alcoa Classic but runs center line. It also has brothers which match and
> are offset for the rears. I will still have a matching set and save a
> few dollars too. Only my thoughts here. Darren
>
> fuel to the fire?
>
>
> - --
> Darren Paget
> 76 Experimental
> Another Fab Day
> http://www.TZEplus.com
> >>

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
http://www.TZEplus.com
 
> possible. No doubt here. I guess I am just one of those guys that doesn't
always
> believe, "You can't do that!" Darren

I have no doubt that you can do it; my concern is that it will place
enormous stresses on the bearings, particularly the outer bearing.

But I concede that I haven't drawn the actual relationships and attempted to
calculate the forces, nor determined whether these forces will be within the
design limits of the bearings. I'm only suggesting that it should be done.

Travis
 
Dave:

No I don't.

Paul Bartz

From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of JRMEEKHOF
Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2000 3:47 PM

Hello Paul,

Do you know what offset they are running. I am not trying to get the front
track the same as the rear, but get the front track centered on the bearings
and this may get it closer to the rear track and thus help to reduce waggle.
This is all pure speculation at this point until we can get some accurate
dimensions. Thanks for the response.

Dave Meekhof
73 GoBus 230

 
> Exactly! Lets not worry about the wheel hub interface for now and
concentrate
> on where the tread centerline is in relation to the center of the wheel
> bearing set.

Thanks, Dave; this was my only point. Not that it was a bad idea, but that
the stresses have to figured based on the tread/bearing relationship.

If, in fact, the present configuration has the tread centerline inside the
inside bearing, then I would think that moving it out would cause the
bearing load to decrease. Might be a great idea.

It is not beyond speculation that if this were properly researched, as
Darren is wanting to do, that Alcoa might be talked into making a wheel
specifically for this purpose. There are quite a few GMC's left in the
world, so it's a possibility. The group buying power at work...

Travis
 
The photos are detailed and great! Thanks alot. I'm confused now with all
the various opinions and questions.
It appears that with all the other vehicles out their on the road that carry
much heavier loads and are wider than our GMC's that it seems simple enough to
me.
Someone somewhere in engineer land has a set of standard specs. for vehicle
weight as related to the optimum distance without contributing to excessive
bearing wear?
It should be a set and uniform answer applying to all vehicles. It would not
make much since to have different calculations.
I just compare the Indy racers with their wide track and low weight.
My .02 worth of confusion ?
Jerry & Meri, Sandy, OR.

> In a message dated 2/13/2000 2:56:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

>
> > Thanks Scott!
> >
> > I was contemplating going out and removing a front wheel to try and get a
> > closer guesstimate. A loose hub will be more accurate.
> >
>
> To those it may concern--I had a behind scene dialogue with Dave Meekoff--I
> posted additional pictures of what he thought would be additionally helpful
> in calculations--what do I know?:)--Good luck!
> http://members.aol.com/adohen/advice/Variousphotos.htm
>
> Scott http://members.aol.com/adohen/advice/index.htm
 
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