i have a 83 brat and i have 3 83 wheels and one 82 wheel, is there any diff at all in them. i had them all acid dipped and im ready to get them powdercoated off white like factory, but is there any difference in these. like where the hub cap mounts it like of looks different but maybe its just me. its hard to tell

 

matt

They should be the same as far as I know... spoked wheels will only differ at the late 84/85 mark (the EA82 style) which has a different cross section profile to clear the brake calipers. 82-83 are both pure EA81 years so you should be safe

cool thanks a lot, i think its just my eye, and me knowing its 82 instead of 83 that makes me think maybe different thanks

 

matt

Well - that's a sticky question - Gen 1 wheels will fit an 82, but not an 83 *sometimes*. Depends on the wheels. The difference has to do with 82 having solid rotors, and 83 having vented rotors...better measure them carefully.

 

GD

my 83 has solid rotors.. ???

Yeah - some 83's did - it was halfway through 83 that they switched, so you never know. I would swap out to the vented ones, since they did come on 83's, and they are a direct bolt on.

 

GD

The difference in the wheels that you see may be the center. Some required a plastic washer to accomodate the center caps and some did not. Measure the centers to see if they are the same diameter. If they are not then all you need is the plastic that slips around the hole for the centercap.

 

As for the rotor issue. If you change to vented rotors you'll need the calipers as well. They will provide better braking and are a bit easier to find these days.

ive got a 84 parts brat ill get those off of. ill go measure the centers now

well that pi**es me off... i shoulda measured them good before i went and got them dipped. the 82 hub cap deal is 1/8 inch smaller. i have 4 new plastics for the caps so wonder if i can still use it.. im thinking no and have to go get that 83 wheel from the previous owner of the brat.. thanks

 

 

matt

Usually you can get away with bending the prongs out a slight bit to make up for the center ring being smaller. I can get you the PN for the plastic insert if you don't have it already.

ive already got four new plastics rings, but thanks anyways.. i could maybe file it out a little and get the plastic to fit hmm haha

 

matt

Hmmm you learn something new everyday...

 

I had no idea that EA81 wheels differed in any way (I dont even recall a mention of it on the wheels page)

my 83 2wd wagon had solid rotors, the 83 turbo had vented

 

now as far as ea81 and ea82 spoked wheels, the main difference to tell from is:

the spokes on an ea81 rim will meet the rim at close to a 90 drg angle, whereas the ea82 spokes will round out into the rim, basically the little "triangles" of space will have round corners on ea82, and sharper corners on ea81

 

if my analogies make sense....