Drilling Wheels (widening lug holes)

[Cherb32]

Ok Ive been hearing mixed answers about drilling rims.

I have a set of aluminum rims and I need the lug holes in them widened. I do not need new holes drilled. So people have said to just go ahead and buy a bit and use a household drill while others have said to take it into a shop and have them widened...
Reason is because I have a set of wobble bolts and the lug holes are smaller than the bolts.

So what is the real answer? Can I really use a bit (thats bigger than the lug hole) to make the holes slightly wider? Or will the rims end up cracking if I go with that option?
Im not a noob with handling tools but im no mechanical engineer.

[audi666]

so your wheel lug holes are 12mm and you need them 10 14mm?

i drilled out a set of aluminum wheels not too long ago from1 2-14mm. really easy. I used a stepped drill

[amaral09GTI]

would the holes have to be drilled to 16mm in order to have play?
here's a picture I took from raderwerks.

[audi666]

yah a little. i think i drilled mine to 5/8" (which is 15.875mm) just because thats the drop in the bit i used.

[amaral09GTI]

Now when you use the stepped bit, will it automatically center with the existing hole?

[audi666]

yeah i worked perfect for mine.

was going to make a sort of jig for it but just kept the drill perpendicular to the wheel.

[amaral09GTI]

okay so i am going to buy a step bit this week.
is the furthest step on the bit have to be 5/8"?

[audi666]

no youll want the last step to be larger than that, like the middle bit.

[amaral09GTI]

so do you think I am safe to get a 7/8"?
and when I drill i obviously don't go all the way through?

[ALLROAD VR]

Quote, originally posted by audi666 »

so your wheel lug holes are 12mm and you need them 10 14mm? i drilled out a set of aluminum wheels not too long ago from1 2-14mm. really easy. I used a stepped drill

I'm doing the same thing. The bolts holes are only 12mm, I need to get them bigger so I could put 14mm wheel bolts that are NON wobble bolts.

What size of step bit should I take? Are step bit better than regular bits? Should I use drilling lubrication when I drill?

[PiMPMAN101]

Does anyone have an answer for this guys questions? I just got some AMG wheels and the bolt holes are 12mm but my Audi bolts are 14mm.

[SlamedCab]

id love an answer too.....or else they are going to the rim shop to get done....

[DrivenAllDay]

anymore info on this topic, I will be running (PCD variation bolts)

Are most people running 5x114.3 wheels just using bit's and doing it themselves.

I will need this done soon.

[PiMPMAN101]

Okay, I figured it out and made mine work. It costs about $73 or so for the drill bits and lube. This will let your Mercedes wheels that have 12mm lug holes accept 14mm Audi/VW lugs.

**I don't know if this method will work for other wheels or not!!

What you will need:
9/16" steel drill bit
3 Pack of stepped drill bits (the ones pictured above)
Bottle of drilling lube

Assuming you have these:
3/8" drive drill
1/4" drive drill

You will only use the fat stepped drill bit. What you are doing is starting the hole then then use the drill bit to drill all the way through. It takes about 30 minutes, but once your done you can enjoy your new wheels on your car!

[dennisgli]

Don't you also need to machine the bolt seats to the spec's of the larger bolts?

[flushb5]

so your wheel lug holes are 12mm and you need them 10 14mm?

i drilled out a set of aluminum wheels not too long ago from1 2-14mm. really easy. I used a stepped drill

Did you just use that center bit and go all the way through with it? What size do I need, putting monoblocks on a b5 a4. Sorry for bumping an old thread. Do I need to widen the seat for the lug bolt to sit on or is the taper of it still enough to occupy the 14mm bolt?

[-melloman-]

bumping this from the grave.

I'd like to know some answers on how this is done. Might be trying it soon on some AMG Monoblock Aero2's.

TIA.

[Bitter Billy]

i did it to benz wheels for my b5 the wheels sre fine i used a drill bit that was a little bigger just do it they should be fine my wheeels are no cracks just drill it straight its a 2 person job

[-melloman-]

Alright. Well I might be trying this soon then. And hopefully I'll make it right and then do up a DIY it if gets done.

[VW-Pssst]

status on this?

[naterkane]

i was thrilled when i came across this thread, then i realized that my MB wheels already took 14mm hardware no problem.

go figure.

[cldub]

Super bump. I need to figure this out for my AMG monoblocks!

[FLMKVDUB]

Super bump. I need to figure this out for my AMG monoblocks!

Just use the appropiate size bit and follow this:



Or just take it to a machine shop. I paid $140 to have mine drilled from 12mm to 16mm and enlarge the seats.

[cldub]

Just use the appropiate size bit and follow this:



Or just take it to a machine shop. I paid $140 to have mine drilled from 12mm to 16mm and enlarge the seats.

Thanks I found this video shortly after I posted

[toplessvw]

the way that video does this jobn simply stupid, and a waste of time. Using a countersink bit to drill a hole bit is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. A drill bit will self center in the whole leaving you with a whole in the right spot. Buy two high quality hss drill bits and do each hole in two steps 15mm then 16mm and then take a larger countersink tool and enlarge the seat a bit if you feel the need to, just make sure the counter sink matches the angle of the cone seat.

btw this is how a machine shop would do it

[naterkane]

the way that video does this jobn simply stupid, and a waste of time. Using a countersink bit to drill a hole bit is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. A drill bit will self center in the whole leaving you with a whole in the right spot. Buy two high quality hss drill bits and do each hole in two steps 15mm then 16mm and then take a larger countersink tool and enlarge the seat a bit if you feel the need to, just make sure the counter sink matches the angle of the cone seat.

btw this is how a machine shop would do it

Sorry, I can't help it... but the word is hole, not whole.

Best,
Nater Kane

[cldub]

the way that video does this jobn simply stupid, and a waste of time. Using a countersink bit to drill a hole bit is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. A drill bit will self center in the whole leaving you with a whole in the right spot. Buy two high quality hss drill bits and do each hole in two steps 15mm then 16mm and then take a larger countersink tool and enlarge the seat a bit if you feel the need to, just make sure the counter sink matches the angle of the cone seat.

btw this is how a machine shop would do it

Thanks!

[toplessvw]

Sorry, I can't help it... but the word is hole, not whole.

Best,
Nater Kane

nice catch guess I should proof read,just get lazy when I post from my phone. Rereading it now I should have read what I wrote before I hit submit