Hi Folks.

I took delivery of my MCS on 9-1. One of the options I was excited about was the two piece Web spoked wheels. I am wondering, is there any specific maintenance I need to do as they are bolted together? should you check the tension on the bolts with some frequency?

thanks,

rockridge

 

A cautionary note on the fit of multi piece wheels.

Not uncommon that this type of wheel can limit choices in the fit of a larger brake kit. Often the bolting area of the two or three sections are located at the prime spot where caliper body fit is needed. Compare the inner profile to any BBK you may be interested in before you jump in.

For many it won't matter I suppose but for some it might save you some money and hassle.

 

I've been wondering the same thing. I am getting the web spoke 17s with my car and this will be the first time I've had two piece wheels. Logically it would make sense to check them once in a while, but maybe they are installed with a locking agent on the threads.

Anyone know? What's the normal maintenance for a two piece wheel?

 

ive been running multi-piece wheels for a while. i dont touch the
rivits as they are torqued to its manufacture's specs.

just clean and admire.

 

No multi-piece wheel I've ever had/sold has required any user maintenance. They're fastened together at the factory with the intent that it'll be permanent.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

the bolts are torqued in a specific order using about 25 ft/lbs of torque and LocTite. No need to do anything.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels-techpage-1/145.shtml

 

So what's the point of a two piece wheel over a single piece? Why bother having two pieces?

 

for me it has always been about cosmetics when running multi-piece.

not the most user friendly as water gets caught in the crevis, usually
heavier than 1pc wheels, and more expensive. it's great for dressup.

 

One explanation-
Two-piece alloy wheel: A wheel which consists of the rim and the wheel disc or spider bolted together. The word "forged" is optional, since multi-piece alloy wheels are always forged and not "cast".

For BBS two piece wheels-
They can be made using the BBS Flow Forming process

Common BBS features in two piece wheels:
Two Piece Counter Pressure cast
Spun inner using BBS Flow Forming process
Weight Optimized by FEM analysis
Diamond cut rim
Clear protective top coat

From BBS
Technical Advantage
Unlike standard wheel manufacturing processes—which have a limit to the level of performance they can deliver at a specific weight—BBS Flow Forming and Forging processes make it possible to manufacture solidly-engineered wheels that are also lightweight. Plus, the BBS commitment to quality, performance, and safety goes far beyond other recognized standards such as the German TUV, or the Japanese JWL / VIA requirements. In some cases, the BBS standard is 10 times greater.

Flow Forming
Flow Forming is a production procedure that turns the wheel (or rim section) over a special mandrel and three hydraulic rollers using tremendous pressure. The pressure and turning then force the rim area to form against the mandrel, creating the shape and width of the rim. During Flow Forming, the rim actually "flows” down to create the full rim width.

Why is Flow Forming such a big deal? Because during Flow Forming, pressure applied to the cast rim actually changes its mechanical properties, so its strength and impact values become similar to those of a forged rim. That translates to up to 15% less weight when compared to a standard cast wheel.

BBS currently uses Flow Forming in the production of CH and RC one-piece wheels, and for the rim sections of the RXII, RKII, RSII, and RWII multi-piece wheels.

Forging
In the past few years, “forged” has become quite a popular term in the aftermarket wheel industry—but not all forged wheels are created equally, just as not all cast wheels are created equally.

The BBS forging process requires up to 16 million pounds of pressure, and a multi-stage forging process. Starting from a billet of 6,000 Series Aluminum, or a special Magnesium alloy,]every stage of production is optimized to create the best forged wheel possible.

Light weight wheels deliver better performance, but lighter wheels without compromised reliability are not as easily achieved as many companies would have you believe. The aftermarket wheel industry has been flooded with products promising light weight however, they are not always strong enough to survive in the real world. BBS forged wheels are not]only light, they’ve been designed to handle all environments gracefully and safely.

 

Interesting...so the two piece wheel could be stronger and lighter than the same wheel in single piece.

 

could be. I ordered some 20x8.5 BBS RS-GT for my FX....two piece, titanium fasteners....22lbs each. Lighter than many cast 17" wheels. But, that comes at a price....$5500/set

 

I'm feeling better about spending the $$ on the two piece wheels. Thanks!

 

LOL! nice. so, you have any picts yet?

the GT3's on my G right now are about $1K each corner with the tires.
i have 2 full sets.

 

I ordered them and had buyer's remorse and cancelled. good thing.... a re-org at my last company and my group was dissolved. that was partly my reason for second thoughts....that's a metric ****-ton to spend on wheels w/ no job

 

Stonger? Maybe with the right design and materials- vs the best Forged one piece wheels.

Lighter? Probably competitive but not the lightest. So lighter than similar other cast alloy wheels of the same size and similar design. But light weight is balanced against durability for street use- light wheels might be more easily damaged by potholes.

If you want really light then one piece designs are more common and cost a bit less. Many two and three piece designs are very costly but allow for greater flexibility in widths when you get to a custom wheel shop- they can make a 9 to 10" wide rim to your specs but it will cost much more.

Many track wheels that are light are not recommended for daily street use.

 

pics another member put up...they are gorgeous...diamond black. Not sure if I like them once mounted though...perhaps a better wheel for a BMW or German car.

 

My experiences with multi piece RACE wheels is that the centers are often quite stout. The 'rims' or 'halves' are often very light. Meaning very prone to damage. Great for weight but most (like those BBS parts I know well...) are very costly to buy 'halves' and always suggest you replace the bolts and seals when doing repairs. Light usually comes at a price.

 

PGT- i see. well, in the future maybe?

the 19's (was it?) that the FX comes in are pretty nice though, from the
factory. (no offense to anyone, but i think the factory FX wheels
look better on the FX than those BBS ).

 

20's actually on the Sport Package and yes, that was the consensus. Stock looks better most aftermarket wheels.