Any Experts on Cragar Wheels?

[aftontrix]

The 1957 Silver Hawk I purchased has Cragar Mags on it. When I removed the wheels to work on the brakes I noticed they just had plain old small washers under the Cragar type lug nuts on the front and center hole thick washers on the rear. I checked on-line and found that you should use special washers. I believe the wheels are "uni-lug" type. Problem is I cannot figure out if I should use the center hole or the off-set type of washer. No clear guidance on this. I do not trust what was done on the rear as being correct.

Does anyone know? Thanks

[Mike Van Veghten]

First verify that the wheels you have require the heavy Unilug washer buy the oval lug hole.
These are "new-er" Cragar wheels, (didn't realize Cargar made Unilug wheels..!)
Actually, the wheel should "somewhat"...center itself when you put it on. And the NEED to have the proper oval washers at each lug or the wheel can be damaged.

All that said, since the wheels are made for 4-1/2" to 5" bolt patterns...it would stand to reason that the Unilug washer (in ALL locations) should be rotated so the lug hole is placed toward the center of the wheel, smallest bolt pattern. A second set of washers are required for the 4-3/4" (GM) pattern with the holes in the center.
You may have to wiggle the wheel around a bit to get all of the washers in place.

Also, as noted above, make sure the lug holes have not been routed out more than just the original oval pettern from the apparent odd washer use. The wheel could be somewhat dangerous with damaged holes. Look closely.

One thing...this should smooth up your ride down the freeway...!

Mike

[showbizkid]

Yes, your Cragars are "one size fits many." There are elongated lug holes in the wheel to accommodate different bolt circles; the eccentric washers under the nuts are used to actually center them on the brake drum. If you don't have the eccentric washers, your wheel will be mounted off-center. You'll need to get the correct washers for proper mounting.

What size S/S' do you have on your car? I've got 'em on Barney as well

[junior]

It's been a long time since I was a tireman, but back in the late 70's, Cragar wheels had the 'oval' holes in the wheels for muti-fit purposes, but did not use an eccentric washer and stepped shank lug nut like ET wheels did. The Cragars used a thick flat washer, and the 'snugness' of the lug nut shank in the wheel is what located the wheel. If your lug nuts have a long shank that fit in the wheel itself, the flat washers are correct. As I said, it's been a long time, but this is what I remember. Maybe contact Newstalgia Wheels, or Cragar Industries to be sure. Junior.

[aftontrix]

Mike, Thanks, you hit the nail on the head. I called Cragar and they said the Uni-Lug fits 4 1/2 to 5 inch. If your bolt pattern is 4.75 inch you use the center hole. The 4.5 and 5 inch use the offset hole. As someone has put an Oldsmobile differential under the car, the bolt pattern is 4.75 so the center hole would be correct. The front is Studebaker 4.5 bolt pattern so I need the offset hole washers. I looked at the oval holes on the wheels and they have not been routed out. I do not think the car was driven much by the fellow who put the wheels on it.

Showbizkid, Thanks for the info. I have ordered the offset washers for the front and center hole for the rear. I am not sure what size the wheels are. They have 215-75-R-14 tires on them so They are 14s but I do not know the width of the wheels. Your Barney is looking good. His Home is pretty nice too.

Junior, I do have the long shank lug nuts. I called Cragar and found that I need both kinds. Thanks

[Jackson]

I had a set of Crager uni-lug rims in the late seventies. Only had one set of washers that you simply rotated 180 degres to fit a either a GM or Ford. My wife did not like to drive the car because the Cragers had gold spokes.

[PackardV8]

Ever wonder why that style wheel mounting isn't sold anymore? FWIW, I was a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Service Manager back when those Cragars were new. Much bad experience with them not running true caused Goodyear to refuse to guarantee a tire balance on them. A wheel which fits everything doesn't fit anything perfectly. Your cars, your wheels, your money, your decision.

jack vines

[Dan Timberlake]

As others said, Hub centered is WAY better than stud/bolt centered. The modern mutifit wheels use cute plastic rings to make the wheel bore fit snug on the hub pilot diameter. Works pretty good. I'd look into getting centering rings, if your stude hubs have pilot diameter to use.

[jcluvsu]

Ever wonder why that style wheel mounting isn't sold anymore? FWIW, I was a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Service Manager back when those Cragars were new. Much bad experience with them not running true caused Goodyear to refuse to guarantee a tire balance on them. A wheel which fits everything doesn't fit anything perfectly. Your cars, your wheels, your money, your decision.

jack vines

Sir...Cragar still makes that wheel and I have four on my GT and one in the trunk. They were mounted and balanced by a local tire dealer here in Chandler AZ. I have the proper lugs and wheel washers on each one of them along with wheel locks. I have had no problems at all with them and have been up to an undisclosed speed with no shimmy shake, bounce or vibration at all. I have the Cragar SS with the aluminum centers and steel outer rim. Those Cragars give my GT some more class.

[52-fan]

I had a set of Cragar SS wheels with Uni-Lug hubs on a Dodge Charger and used them on my Cuda for a while. I had no problems IF I put them on. The kids at the tire stores had no clue as to centering the wheel.
When I had them mounted with a new set of radials, the guy who delivered my car told me to check my steering wheel because it was loose. I thought that was strange because when I drove the car to work that morning it was fine.
On the way home I discovered that the car bounced severely and when I got home and tried to remove the tires the lugs were on so tight that I had to use a "cheater" bar over my wrench and stand on it to remove the lugs nuts. After I carefully rotated the off-set washers to center the wheels they ran fine.
I called the tire store and complained and got a very lame excuse. I never went back and told all of my friends to avoid the place.

[aftontrix]

PackardV8, I would never spend that kind of money on wheels but they came with the car. You should know that people have been paying big bucks for them since 1964. Name some other style of wheel that has been around that long. Obviously your opinion is in the minority. As for your statement that they do not sell that style anymore, see the below link.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-61815/SuggestedParts/?prefilter=1

[PackardV8]

people have been paying big bucks for them since 1964. Name some other style of wheel that has been around that long.

Cragar still makes that wheel

I was definitely wrong about the Cragar wheels no longer being made. However, we are talking about two different things - a design of wheel, Cragar, and a wheel attaching system, Uni-Lug which have gone through several permutations. They have not always been the same.

1. Dick Beith invented the Uni-Lug wheel system and sold it on ET Wheels back in the 1960s. ET Wheels was apparently at some point bought out by Cragar to get the Uni-Lug patent.

2. Cragar made the popular wheel with the chromed steel rim and the aluminum center section. When initially manufactured, Cragar wheels had only specific one bolt pattern per wheel. After they bought ET, some of the Cragars became Uni-Lug, but not all. At some point, Cragar went through a couple of changes of ownership, the Cragar Uni-Lugs went out of production, then the assets were repurchased and production moved to Mexico. Most recently, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-71308662.html

Cragar Industries Signs Definitive Merger Agreement With Global Entertainment Corporation

Global Entertainment Corporation, a private
company, jointly announced that Cragar, the licensor of nationally recognized
CRAGAR branded automotive and toy products, and Global Entertainment
Corporation, a diversified sports management, arena development and licensing
company, have entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger.

I was and am correct in that the Uni-Lug multi-fit wheels can have problems on some cars and that in the early 1970s Goodyear would not guarantee a wheel balance on them. As I said in my first post,

A wheel which fits everything doesn't fit anything perfectly. Your cars, your wheels, your money, your decision.

jack vines

[Gunslinger]

Back in the '70s I sold wheels such as Cragar, Keystone, American Racing, etc. We began carrying the uni-lug design...both Cragar and Keystone as well as others. The main reason was to cut down the number of stock numbers to maintain in inventory.

We sold lots of them and I don't remember any problems with them from the design. What I do remember is the chrome on the Cragar S/S would sometimes peel and start rusting. It wasn't a big problem but I only saw it on the S/S wheels and not any others.

When I wanted a set of wheels for the '63 Avanti I owned at the time, I special ordered a set of Keystone Klassics with a 4 1/2" bolt circle rather than the multi-lug design. I liked that better and had no problems. They gave the car a sinister look. My likes and dislikes have changed over time...I'm quite happy with the Magnum 500's on my '70 Avanti.

[Dwain G.]

Most tire machines in use when the original Cragar SS was new were very unkind to them. Used wheels could be bought cheap because the centers that held the caps on had been broken off.

[showbizkid]

the chrome on the Cragar S/S would sometimes peel and start rusting. It wasn't a big problem but I only saw it on the S/S wheels and not any others.

You can see it on mine right now... they must be of the appropriate vintage