Aluminum Wheels On A WH

[JohnRR]

Workhorse site gives part numbers and size of aluminum wheels for mounting on a WH chassis however they do not recommend installing rear inner aluminum wheels. I finally got around to mounting my new wheels and in looking at the shoulder lugs on the rear hubs I at first thought they were too short to mount inner and outer wheels however after looking at the front wheels mounted on the front hubs the lugs only come half way through the wheels. After measuring the rear lugs they would actually stick into the center of the outer wheel just a bit farther than the fronts (I hope that all makes sense).

My opinion now is once the rear wheel studs are changed to the correct length there should be no problem mounting the inner wheels.

The wheels were changed more for ride quality than looks. Any differing thoughts or points of view?

Front wheel showing the penetration of the wheel lugs, I'll have to take a better picture than I have right now for the rears.

[Petro]

John;

I also thought about installing aluminum wheels on my inside duals. I was advised like you were to not do it. I would like to be able to rotate my tires and I can't with out dismounting the tires. Keep us posted on your project as I think it is a great goal.

Don

[JohnRR]

One point to remember about rotating tires is you'll still have to have them dismounted as the inside surfaces of the dual tires (which would both be the outside polished for the front) take a pounding and get a lot of sandblast effect when driving. When it comes time to rotate they would be a bear to get the surface rotated to the front clean again and by the time they were sanded and polished it would be more cost effective to have them dismounted and remounted as needed. Then there is the balancing to figure in as well.

This pcture shows how much lug shoulder is left after the steel and aluminum wheels are mounted (rear)


This one shows how the lug only goes about half way into the shoulder of the front wheel


Now that I got everything mounted and can get good measurements the rear lugs would actually fit into the outer wheel shoulder 1/8" more than it does in the front wheel.

With longer wheel studs they would actually fit better than the OEM set up with one steel and one aluminum when using the formula of "X" amount of threads sticking out of the lug nut when mounted. "X" equaling I think if I remember correctly three to five threads.

[seasonedsole]

I'm most likely mistaking, but I think the reason for not putting Aluminum for the inside dual, is because of the additional strength of steel (for additional safety).

[JohnRR]

Over the past decades everything I've read about aluminum wheels and not just from the manufactures points to the fact they are stronger and more flexible than steel wheels not to mention being lighter for unsprung weight issues.

Our county road plows which when loaded with salt are grossly overloaded have survived way better when having aluminum wheels as compared to steel wheels both from the stand point of cracked wheels at the stud area as well as deformation in the wheel lips as well.

Over the road semi trucks with tandem axles and class 6, 7, and 8 trucks come with inner and outer aluminum wheels when optioned out that way right from the factory, you can not get them just as outer wheels only.

[seasonedsole]

Makes sence.