the little spike thingy that pokes through the rim

[Conroe Powdercoating]

my 51 cranbrook has an alignment spike or something like that. It is in the brake hub and the rim has holes for the pin to stick through.

How can I remove that doohickey so I can use a set of steelies that doesnt have the locater holes?

Can I trim it off with a cut off wheel? I dont have a hub puller etc etc to dissasemble the rear.

Does any of this make sense?

[1950 Special Deluxe]

It is an alignment pin for holding the rims while you start the lug bolts.

Many people knock them off, or drill holes in your new rims.

[deathbound]

It is an alignment pin that doubles as a rivet. Cut it down to a similar profile as the rivets.....as long as those don't interfere with you new wheels, you should be good to go.

[BigDaddyO]

Have fun putting the lug bolts in without it...on the side of the road, in the dark, when it's raining, with Indians attacking.

[Eneto-55]

Not sure what you could do about the Indians, but I suppose you could use a lug bolt with the head cut off as a temporary guide to get the others started.  But I would sooner drill holes in what ever wheels I planned to use rather than cutting the guide pins off.  Just me.

[Phil Martin]

broke my off with a hammer>

[Don Coatney]

Phil Martin, on 23 Feb 2015 - 5:55 PM, said:

broke my off with a hammer>

Is that good or bad?

[desoto1939]

Here is an other option.  Take steel rod and thread it the same as the lugbolts  It only has to have approx. an 1 to 2 inches of the same thread.

 

Then thread this into the drum and then put the rim with tire through one of the lugbolt holes in the rim and then center the rim with another lug bolt. Install all 4 bolts then remove the steel rod and install the last bolts.

 

I have this same metal tool for my 2011 Volvo because they did not have the mounting peg and it worls and saves a lot of aggravation and struggling with the wheel .

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[DonaldSmith]

You may have trouble getting a left-handed threaded rod for the left side of the car.  Maybe you could find a turnbuckle with the correct diameter and thread pitch.  Half of the turnbuckle is left-hand thread.  Then again, McMaster-Carr might have the threaded rod you need. 

[Don Coatney]

McMaster Carr

 

 

Thread
Size   Each

General Purpose Left-Hand Inch

1" Die OD

1/2"-20 2600A25 $14.73

[Dodgeb4ya]

So if you remove that brake drum alignment pin... it's really hard to mount the wheel assembly?

Do ramblers and buicks have a pin to make the wheel installation easy?

[BigDaddyO]

Did you have an old VW? The only good thing about those were the wheels were light but, what a wrestling match that was.

[Young Ed]

So if you remove that brake drum alignment pin... it's really hard to mount the wheel assembly?

Do ramblers and buicks have a pin to make the wheel installation easy?

 

The prior owner of my 46 pickup broke the pins off. I wouldn't say its really hard but it is certainly a lot harder than it should be if the pins were still in place. I'm also lifting a 16" radial which is a little more cumbersome than a car tire.

[deathbound]

I used all-thread wheel studs that have a "stop" to bottom out on the drum, then use lug "nuts"......or in my case, chrome acorn style lug nuts. I suggest Loctite or similar for the part the goes into the drum. The outer end of the stud has a provision for an allen wrench to tighten the stud into the drum. I didn't have to worry about left hand threads as all my drums are right handed. Also, you don't have to worry about Indians attacking.

[BigDaddyO]

Also, you don't have to worry about Indians attacking.

 

Maybe in your neighborhood...