Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV.

I took off my winter wheels today and put my summer ones back on. I ended up with a few extra parts. Can these be identified, and am I going to die (from this, not in general)?

There were two bushing-like pieces with accompanying bolts. Last fall my mechanic said that these were alignment spacers or something like that. I could not identify anywhere logical where they might fit when putting the stock wheels back on.

Secondly, on the rear winter wheels there were two roundish wire pieces in between the wheel and the hub. On one side the wire stuck to the hub after wheel removal and it was obviously that it was not centered or anything; the wheel had compressed it into the hub at a funny angle. On the other side it simply fell off when I removed the winter wheel. There is a narrow circular channel in the back-side of the wheel where it mates to the hub, but I don't see any way of securing this wire into the channel.

I plan on calling my mechanic and asking about these, but I thought I'd see if they were immediately recognizable in this forum.

Thanks!

Mark

 

I believe that the screws are supposed to be in installed on the front rotors. They prevent stupid people from installing the rear oem rims on the front. They dont hold anything, so i wouldn't worry about them.

And the wires...part of a crush ring?

 

yeah. Those screws are for the front rotors that prevent people from installing your wide rear wheels as front wheels.

regarding the wire, i have no idea.

 

I've seen similar wire before in the center caps of some aftermarket wheels....I doubt that missing a wire that small in the wheel would cause your eventual demise...

 

you'll be surprised what little things can do lol

 

haha this happened to me when i tried to put on aftermarket wheels

 

Closing the loop: the wire things are 'centering rings' commonly supplied with aftermarket rims. Since they are manufactured for many makes and models, the lug pattern tolerances are not as tight as OEM. The rings help center the wheel on the hub. We'll see how it goes when winter comes again!