Wheel Adapter Installed, New Noise

Dinogtz · 07-17-2011, 06:28 AM

I have read a lot of the posted info on wheel adapter / spacers. I own a 1987 Carrera 3.2, stock condition. I have installed a set of BBS Sport Classic 1 rims from a 2003 Boxster. The rims are front, 7x17 et 55 with a 28mm adapter and 205/50 tires, rear 8.5x17 et 50 with a 35mm adapter and 255/40 tires. The overall fit is very nice, may need to go with a 215/40 in the front to get rid of a slight rub. Those are the specs, now my concern is a gear noise from the rear. I hear it when starting from a dead stop. Either going straight or making a turn from a stop. It starts when you let the clutch out. It is not a grinding noise and may not be of any concern. If you have heard this same noise after installing an adapter or spacer and can shed some light on this let me know. I have found nothing posted relating to noises when adapters are installed.

ivangene · 07-17-2011, 06:39 AM

fastest thing to do is put your old wheels back on and see if the noise is there...if not something is wrong with your wheels/spacers

BTW I had those wheels before...the trick to keeping them clean is a very long bristled brush and FREQUENT cleaning...loved em on my 996, not sure how I feel on the 3.2 - maybe they will grow on me..... I didnt know they came in 17's

Dinogtz · 07-17-2011, 07:39 AM

I'm going to switch back to the 16x8 Fuchs and see. The noise is more gear box related though. I thought maybe due to the extra length / width of the mounting point of the wheel it may have changed the angle of the axle. The overall wheel size is 25 inchs so not much of a change there. I know that adapters are widely used, so someone has had to have this issue prior.
FYI, these 17s were an option on Boxster and I believe 993s. They are one piece. The sister wheel is an 18 in. 2 piece BBS wheel and known as the Sport Classic 2, a little nicer wheel.

ivangene · 07-17-2011, 08:14 AM

OIC now..no bolts around the rim (to clean)

dad911 · 07-17-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinogtz

......It is not a grinding noise and may not be of any concern. .....

I'd be concerned. Swap wheels, look carefully for rub, perhaps on the oil line?

Could be a wheel bearing or CV joint, symptoms amplified by the new wheels?

Dinogtz · 07-17-2011, 08:42 AM

What does clutch chatter sound like. Could this be a possibility? This only happens from a dead stop and not during driving and only started with the new wheels.

175K911 · 07-17-2011, 08:58 AM

What "adapters" did you use? Could something be rubbing between the adapter and the hub? And is the adapter tight on the hub?

Dinogtz · 07-17-2011, 09:15 AM

Adaptors are H&R TRAK+, checked and re-installed, hand torqued. Didn't find any rubbing. It will be a couple hours yet before I can change out the wheels. Hoping this will tell me something.

175K911 · 07-17-2011, 11:10 AM

I have the H&R Trak+ spacers on the back of my BMW X5 and the first set I got didn't fit right. The bolts that attached the spacers to the hub were about 5mm too long and bottomed out. They would torque down, but when I bolted the wheel to the adapter I could wiggle the wheel slightly. Everything torqued but the tolerances were wrong. Sent them back to H&R and the second set did the same thing. I had to cut the ends of the bolts down a couple of mm to work. Now it's been 3 years including towing my trailer and never another problem.

I know that in your case there aren't bolts involved, but instead you have nuts to attach the spacer to the hub. Any chance one of the H&R nuts or the original 911 stud is too long and protruding slightly above the surface of the spacer such that the wheel isn't sitting tightly? Long shot I know, but I'm not sure what else could have changed when you swapped wheels.

Only other thing to check is in the left rear wheel well. Make sure the inner sidewall of the tire isn't rubbing the oil line. With the specs of your wheel and tire you should have plenty of clearance, but your final offset in the back is et15. Pretty darn close to the et11 of the factory 16x9 Fuchs

Paulporsche · 07-17-2011, 11:42 AM

Could the wider wheel spacing be putting a strain on the CV joints?

Dinogtz · 01:25 PM

The 16x8 Fuchs did not make the same degree of noise. I did find a tear in the right CV boot. So I'm thinking I'll start there, replace both cv joints and try the larger wheels again. Thanks for all the suggestions.

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