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 Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels??
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95civic4dr




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395 posts [98%]
miami FL
10-26-2004
  Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels??« » Reply  Edit


so i picked up a set of old school rims with a 5x100 bolt pattern and i'd like to re-drill a new 5x114.3 pattern on them... the rims have caps and hide the the re-drills so im not worried, the cap will hide it all...

my biggest question is , is it safe to re-drill a new pattern since ive seen this done before on many old rims and also is it expensive??? ive seen this done before on some 16" and 17" rims with dual re drilled patterns and wondered if it was safe or not.

thanks!



toyomatt84
Sanji



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10698 posts [101%]
ALL BLUE
4-2-2005
 « FV-QR« » Reply  Edit


I would recommend having a shop fill the old holes and drill new ones. That way, you don't destroy all the integrity of the wheel.



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95civic4dr




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395 posts [98%]
miami FL
10-26-2004
 « Re: Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels?? (95civic4dr)« » Reply  Edit


yea i thought of doing that but at the same time... i never know what pattern im going to next.. and i want to keep the rims for ever lol... ive flopped 114 and 100 several times in my past few cars...

Opossum Jenkins
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23989 posts [100%]
SoCaL
11-16-2004
 « Re: Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels?? (95civic4dr)« » Reply  Edit


if the back of the hub is not flat then forget about it.. since most 5x100 center bores are very small and most 5x114 bores are 64mm and above then you would need to bore them out and drill em.

i would not recommend the drill off the bat...just buy rims that fit already but usually if the rim fits the criteria i mentioned up top then it can be done.

fill and drill is also an option but then it will cost you at least 75-100 per wheel to do...

ask yourself....is it all worth it?



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nsxtasy
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16249 posts [101%]
Chicago
1-28-2000
 « Re: Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels?? (Opossum Jenkins)« » Reply  Edit


Quote, originally posted by Opossum Jenkins »
if the back of the hub is not flat then forget about it.. since most 5x100 center bores are very small and most 5x114 bores are 64mm and above then you would need to bore them out and drill em.

i would not recommend the drill off the bat...just buy rims that fit already but usually if the rim fits the criteria i mentioned up top then it can be done.

Quote, originally posted by Opossum Jenkins »
fill and drill is also an option but then it will cost you at least 75-100 per wheel to do...

ask yourself....is it all worth it?

Answer: No.

Sell those wheels, and buy wheels with the proper bolt pattern for your car. It will be more cost effective, and it won't compromise the safety of your car.


95civic4dr




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395 posts [98%]
miami FL
10-26-2004
 « Re: Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels?? (nsxtasy)« » Reply  Edit


thanks fellas.. ill take your words into consideration.. i love these wheels but i love my car more lol

Maxbore.com
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1735 posts [100%]
EF Garage, Florida
7-15-2001
 « Re: Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels?? (95civic4dr)« » Reply  Edit


I am a machinist. You can machine new holes as long as the back is flat. There is no difference drilling the holes after you buy the wheels as to getting the wheels with the dual pattern drilled already from the factory. This is something you need to have done by a machine shop done with the right tools and the right set up.

Now, I have done something that everyone here will tell you not to do. I used a set of BBS 15" wheels with a 5X114 bolt pattern and I redrilled with a 4X100 bolt pattern. Two of the holes share the same location although off to the side. I drilled the 4X100 pattern a little deeper, faced the holes, then taper the holes with the right angle to match the lug nuts. Then I made hub centric rings to hold the wheel in place. I did this over 6 years ago. I have been to lots of autocrosses, can't recall how many track runs I have made, not a single problem.
this is something that can be done, but you need to find someone willing to spend the time and do the job right.

I have also slotted 4X114 in to 4X100. same process, drill the 4X100 a little depper, face the holes and taper. works 100%.






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nsxtasy
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16249 posts [101%]
Chicago
1-28-2000
 « Re: Is it safe to re-drill new bolt patterns on wheels?? (Maxbore.com)« » Reply  Edit


It's difficult to believe that a wheel with nine bolt holes will have the same strength and structural integrity as one with four or five, especially one that was originally designed to have only four or five. And just because something CAN be done, doesn't mean that it's safe. Heck, not seeing a problem isn't proof that something is safe, either; maybe there's a 10 percent or a 1 percent chance that the wheel will fail, but neither figure is a chance anyone ought to be taking, just to make a set of wheels fit your car when they weren't designed to do so. Just get the right wheels for your car. Period.

   


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