[msnunes]

For those (few) of you who have them:

Did they fit right? After talking to a tech there I ordered the 300308C (for "compact" I guess) that they match with steel wheels, to ensure they would fit within my after-market wheels.

But my lug bolts won't fit either pattern on the balancers, the holes are too small. My tire guy confirmed that I have 9/16 lug bolts, and the balancers have 9/16 holes. So what gives? Maybe they should be oversized slightly?

Only checked the front axle however, but don't see why the rear would be any different...

 

[Mr_Roboto]

IIRC there is a different part number for Econoline vans than for the pickups.

I'm guessing that what they sent you was a "universal" unit, the holes are probably sized for 1/2" studs so that they will fit on anything with some "modification".

The problem will be opening up those holes evenly, it's very hard to do in sheet metal.

 

[AL_Fishing]

They make 100s of different units.

It sounds like you have the wrong ones for sure


Mine fit perfect, I have a 350 SD 355 rear, aluminum Alcoa rims.

When I called centermatic I talked to a lady on the phone (she answeered it) and she knew all about them.

I toold her what kind of van I have and the fact I have ALum. rims, she said the covers for the Alumn rims are different than the steel rims.

There are two sets of holes on the balancers, one eight lug set was drilled perfect to go onto the rotors. The second set of holes looked like someone hacked drilled them, they don't get used.

On the back set there are 3 star washer clips that hold the drum part on, we removed them and installed them over the new centermatic units.


They should slide right-on and fit perfect.


I love the set I have, you can feel the front end feeling tighter, and the van tracks straigt. I was doing 85 mph on a flat HwY and I let go of the wheel and it was perfect, they really work.


I would not even mess with the set you have, send them back and get the correct set.

Let me know how it goes.

 

[msnunes]

This set definitely has 9/16 holes, I already checked them. So if I have 9/16 lug bolts, then something else must be wrong - it would be a force-to-fit to make them work, at least on the front. Neither set of holes would let it slide right on. We didn't pull a rear and try it, but I have Correctracks on the rear so that throws in another variable (that shouldn't make a difference).

They knew I had a van but the part number is more for the 8-6.5 lug pattern, than for a van specifically I think. I talked both to a lady who took the order, and then to a guy who was a tech or something, who answered my questions. I'm gonna double check my lug bolt size...

 

[MADVAN]

msnunes
Did you tell them its a Quigley?
Could have something to do with the conversion?
I donot think above would matter.

Yes , on the lugs (9/16)
My bet is they didnot drill the holes large enough. Check the holes in the rear set to see if they are larger than the front set. If the same, rear will also not fit.

My only concern would be if the balancers have enough weight in them with your rim/tire combo. (as far as just to drill to size needed) With the smaller holes on them seems maybe for a lighter combo (smaller studs).
Mistake is on their end somewhere.


Bill

 

[Mr_Roboto]

A 9/16" stud will not fit through a 9/16" hole. Well not without a press. An @ 9/16" hole would be a reasonable fit for a 1/2" stud. A 9/16" stud would require an @ 5/8" hole.

 

[msnunes]

Well, that pretty much explains it ... I'll need to talk to them and exchange it. (But I told them what I had...!)

AL_Fishing: What part number did you order?? Probably not the "compact" version I bet....

Thanks all.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Honestly I don't see why the Econoline spec units wouldn't fit your wheels. There isn't going to be a tremendous variation in wheel dimensions. The ID and drop center are (primarily) dictated by the tire size, not by tire size. Aluminum wheels will have smaller ID's since the material needs to be much thicker (and OD's are fixed by tire diameter).

The times I have seen clearance problems were when the wheels were offset too much towards the inside and they hit brake calipers which were made to be just outside the rim edge. Since the Centramatics are made to work inside of the rim this will not be an issue.

I would suggest having Centramatic fax or email a technical spec sheet for the Econoline spec unit and check the dimensions against your aftermarket wheels.

 

[AL_Fishing]

Matt,

I saved the box my set came in, and the invoice somewhere, I will look.

The ones you have are just the wrong set, thats all. No big deal, just a loss of your valuable time.

The set I have are made of 3/16" thick cold roll aluminum stock. The tooling machine they have to roll the outer edge into a perfect 3/4" or about ID channel for the beads and oil is incredible.

I forgot to tell you before the tire guy at Costco put the balancer on the Snap-On Wheel balancer and sure-nuff it came out to be 00.00 . That made me feel good when I saw that quick demo.

If you have the same brakes that I have they are a combo disk & drum, the unit is held on by the 3 clips I told you about, make sure you remove them and re-install on the centermatic balancers. Otherwise they will not be flat/flush with the rotor(s) and this is only for the back two, the front two just slide right on.

They kinda serve another use, they shield the brake dust from getting into the small holes in the rims, keeping them cleaner. Nice little bonus. You can see the outside edge of the units right at the edge of the rim/holes on the Alcoa's.

So I had the new Michelin 245/75/16 tires installed & balanced with the nitrogen air they have now, and IM telling you the van feels like a new ride.

It's possible your wheelspacers may be an issue, don't "rule it out".

They will get the correct units for you, then you will be lovin-it.

I had the cruise set at 75 yesterday and the van was glued to the road, and it just plain feels safer.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

The Tinnerman nuts on the drums do not have to be re-installed. They are there to keep the drums on while the axles are being shipped to the assembly plant. They serve no purpose once the wheels are installed at the assembly plant.

 

[coreychurch]

Wouldn't your van be the new metric stud and bolt pattern? I believe that they are 14mm (very close to 9/16) and the pattern is like 8 on 140mm or something - not very different, but enough to make it not fit likely
Just a thought?
Corey

 

[AL_Fishing]

The E350 vans are;

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-1828-aa005916.aspx

The nuts are:
60 degree cone seat cap nuts for Alcoa 16" stud located single wheels. (9/16"-18)


Rims: 16x7 8-6.5 bolt pattern

http://www.southwestwheel.com/wheels/alcoa/fordsingle.htm

This site gives some info,



And the Tinnerman nuts are perfect to keep those rotor/drum assemblely in place.

They may not be needed but they do not hurt anything , the rims have countersink places to go right over them.

 

[msnunes]

Thanks. I have disc brakes on all four, so I'm not sure about what drums you're referring to in the rear. I'll check for those when the time comes, but since I have Correctrack spacers in the rear that's probably a moot point...

Since I couldn't put these on, I had the tire guy re-balance my fronts to get me by for a while -- and now I have death-wobble something fierce! I had to get off the freeway twice on the way home tonight and take side streets for the last 5 miles. I need these balancers bad!

 

[FULLAUTO]

hey ,all as mister roboto said you can lose the tinnerman nuts , i also do not run wheel weights on my rims this is optional unless you have a really bad rim that needs alot of weight. when i had stock rotors on my van the balancers went right on no problem , on my third brake job i replaced everything with parts from carquest and had the same problem you are having , i thinkm the aftermarket rotors were not as close to spec as the stock ones i wound up taking one of those irwin steped drill bits and going out to 5/8'' as roboto stated the holes were a little slppy but this did not matter as the ride on the center hole and will not move when the rim is clamped , although as al stated i would make sure you got the right ones before making the holes larger. mine have 2 or three differnt bolt patterns drilled in them i guess for different applications. hope this helps,Wade

also when i bought them ups mashed the first set i got , centramic just ate the loss and sent me a new set pronto customer service was a 100%

 

[FULLAUTO]

msnunes, it also just dawned on me if you have a quigley with correct trac spacers if i am not mistaken you now have f- series spacing not the stock e-series so you would need f-series type but i am nit sure,WADE

 

[AL_Fishing]

matt,

On the back brakes on my van 2000 E350 Super Duty extended, the brakes are both disc and drum combo I was told. There is a set of shoes inside the disc rotor I was told.

Is this correct Roboto or other smart owner here?

That's why the 3 Tinnerman clips that hold the rotor on the rear are needed.

To take the front rotor off you would need to remove the wheel bearing, is this correct info?

Thanks, AL

P.S.
And another thing Matt, maybe you should have all your Dot3 brake fluid pumped out and bleed-in all new brake fluid. This way you can "rule out" burnt brake fluid as the cause.

IM about to have all my brake fluid changed this week. And wiper blades. Does anyone know the best size blades to buy? Thanks Y'ALL.

Best,
AL

 

[msnunes]

As far as my spacers go, they match my rear hubs, so I'm still 8-6.5 (or I wouldn't be able to use my wheels on the rear at all). I'll take a look when it's time to put them on, but I think those nuts are probably not there now anyway...

My '01 looks like it has straight disc brakes in the rear but, again, I don't think it matters.

AL -- Did you ever find that part number? I have a call into them right now to return this set. I considered enlarging the holes myself with a step drill bit, but that's only if they have no other answer for me.

 

[msnunes]

Just got the answer -- the tech said to just bump them up to 5/8. He said they have these issues occasionally on Jeeps and some Dodges, but that 9/16 is the only way they come for our use. He also said, that even after I ream out the holes, if I still didn't like them after a couple of weeks, I could just return them for a full refund.

That's impressive... and a relief that I don't have to send them back.

 

[MADVAN]

Cool!
Let us know how they work.
I'am real interested if they effect the brake distance.

On another note.
When they are installed do you remove existing weights off the wheel?
Or just leave them alone. My wheels have quite a bit of weight to bal.

Bill

 

[Mr_Roboto]

[ QUOTE ]
Wouldn't your van be the new metric stud and bolt pattern? I believe that they are 14mm (very close to 9/16) and the pattern is like 8 on 140mm or something - not very different, but enough to make it not fit likely
Just a thought?
Corey

[/ QUOTE ]

The Econolines are still being built with the 1992 design, i.e. inch bolt pattern. They will only be changed over if and when the Econoline gets a complete redesign. (And at that point they will combine production with Super Duty trucks if they continue to use the cargo van configuration vs the "Transit" configuration).