Changing front steel wheels to aluminum

[two sailors]

I asked this in another forum but maybe all you Workhorse expert might know.
I am concidering replacing front steel wheels with aluminum. the steel wheels I believe are 22.5x 6.75. The aluminum are 22.5 x 8.?.
Would there be any problems caused by the wider wheel on a W22?
Has anybody out there done the same

[two sailors]

I asked this in another forum but maybe all you Workhorse expert might know.
I am concidering replacing front steel wheels with aluminum. the steel wheels I believe are 22.5x 6.75. The aluminum are 22.5 x 8.?.
Would there be any problems caused by the wider wheel on a W22?
Has anybody out there done the same

[edgray]

The Alcoa Aluminum wheel used by WCC on the FRONT is part # W0006709 and is 22.5 X 7.50". There should be no problem if you use this size wheel.

The outer REAR is W0006710 and it is also 22.5 X 7.50" BOTH these workhorse part numbers are for Alcoa's "Dura-Brite" finish. ED

[two sailors]

Thanks Ed, for the part numbers that should help. I don't have a spare at this time so won't make much difference.

[Tom N]

Alcoa's are an option on the W22 chassis with 22.5" tires so you be OK if you use the wheel that Workhorse uses. But, why???

-Tom

[Ding-a-ling]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
But, why???

-Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because they look so pretty!

[two sailors]

Less weight and better heat dissapation for the front brakes. May be wishful thinking?

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Less weight and better heat dissapation for the front brakes. May be wishful thinking? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
NOT wishful thinking, FACT!, at least according to the maker. Alcoa claims their wheels weigh less than the steel counterpart AND do a better job of disipating heat. ED

[two sailors]

thanks edgray, I hate to spend $800 on pretty.

[kb7our]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by two sailors:
thanks edgray, I hate to spend $800 on pretty. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am contemplating the same wheel upgrade for our '05 Dolphin W22. Do I understand there is no need to replace the inside rear steel wheel and that the new wheels are $800 for 4? Where is a good place to purchase them? Also, those of you who have upgraded did you change out your XRVs for the Goodyears? Any idea what an appx out the door price would be to simply transfer my XRVs to the new wheels including the wheel purchase? Anyone in the Phoenix area trustworthy to do this kind of work?

Thanks.

[oemtech]

$800 for 4 would be a bargain. New will cost about $500 a piece plus lug nuts.

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Do I understand there is no need to replace the inside rear steel wheel </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
kb7our: I doubt you will find "any" coach that comes from the builder with 6 Alcoa wheels. The only reason is cost, but they probably think "why spend $$ on something unseen like an inner wheel".
It would greatly facilitate tire rotation if they were all the same, and Alcoa claims it would also eliminate the corrosion caused by mating two dis-similar metals. However the coach builders are more focused on cost, hence we typically only get four Aluminium and two steel. ED

[two sailors]

I was quoted just over $800 to do the two front wheels. I have not checked to see if that is for the Part# w0006709 which I understand is the size on a W22.

[CrewChief22]

When converting to aluminum wheels it is not required to replace the inner rear wheels but if you do it is required to replace the wheel studs with longer studs due to the thicker flange of the wheels.