Strange problem with new C6 wheels
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 231
From: Queen Creek AZ
Strange problem with new C6 wheels
I just purchased a set of 2013 "Starfish" wheels with only 300 miles on them. They are in perfect condition. I took my car to my local tire dealer to have them swap out the wheels. The problem is that the wheels won't fit over the hub on my 08 base w/Z51. The dealer checked his book and said that the hubs for both year cars should be the same. He measured my hub, and it was to spec. Unfortunately he had no way to measure the bore in the wheel. He is going to take the wheels to a nearby machine shop so they can measure them and if need be, machine them out a little. Has anyone else run into the same problem?
P.S. I checked the markings on the wheels and they are definitely GM Speedline original equipment wheels. I don't have photos of them yet, but will do so when I take the car back to have them installed.
P.S. I checked the markings on the wheels and they are definitely GM Speedline original equipment wheels. I don't have photos of them yet, but will do so when I take the car back to have them installed.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 293
Likes: 55
From: Dallas-Ft Worth Texas
The following link states that the Z51 hubs are larger than those on non-Z51 cars. My guess would be that particular wheel was not an option for cars with the Z51 package, but I have yet to find anything online to confirm.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...51-rotors.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...51-rotors.html
Last edited by drew_c6; Apr 20, 2017 at 07:36 PM. Reason: Adding forgotten links.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Las Vegas NV
Where is the link? As far as I know the hubs are the same Z51 or not. There was not a Z51 wheel and non Z51 wheel either.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 293
Likes: 55
From: Dallas-Ft Worth Texas
Wow, that was an epic fail. Updated my original post with the links I forgot...
Seems to be confirmed, lots of posts on here and other sites stating the Z51 rotors are larger than non-Z51. One post I found indicated the rear rotors aresame size and it's just the fronts that are larger. Question is, were those OEM rims Z51 compatible.
Seems to be confirmed, lots of posts on here and other sites stating the Z51 rotors are larger than non-Z51. One post I found indicated the rear rotors aresame size and it's just the fronts that are larger. Question is, were those OEM rims Z51 compatible.
Last edited by drew_c6; Apr 20, 2017 at 07:30 PM. Reason: Grammar, additional info
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Las Vegas NV
Still don't see a link. The only difference in that area between Z51 and non Z51 is different brake rotors. Any OEM wheel will (should) fit either. I have Z51 option and my OEM wheels came from a non Z51 car.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 293
Likes: 55
From: Dallas-Ft Worth Texas
Link is at bottom of my original post, but wasn't hyperlinking correctly. Should be fixed now. I found one discussion saying rear rotors are same size and only front are larger. All other threads I found indicate both sets are larger on Z51 optioned cars. There are a TON of posts on the topic if you Google " C6 z51 larger brakes" and "C6 z51 larger hubs".
Team Owner
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
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And for info, there was no Z51 option in '13 model year (ended when GS came out). So, the wheels were either off a base car or a GS (or a Z06, ZR1).
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
Link is at bottom of my original post, but wasn't hyperlinking correctly. Should be fixed now. I found one discussion saying rear rotors are same size and only front are larger. All other threads I found indicate both sets are larger on Z51 optioned cars. There are a TON of posts on the topic if you Google " C6 z51 larger brakes" and "C6 z51 larger hubs".
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Las Vegas NV
Wasn't there an issue with wheels and brakes for those who put on big brakes, like Z06 takeoff calipers and rotors, onto stock base models re wheel clearance? Not sure this is the same issue OP is having tho.
And for info, there was no Z51 option in '13 model year (ended when GS came out). So, the wheels were either off a base car or a GS (or a Z06, ZR1).
And for info, there was no Z51 option in '13 model year (ended when GS came out). So, the wheels were either off a base car or a GS (or a Z06, ZR1).
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 231
From: Queen Creek AZ
The following link states that the Z51 hubs are larger than those on non-Z51 cars. My guess would be that particular wheel was not an option for cars with the Z51 package, but I have yet to find anything online to confirm.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...51-rotors.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...51-rotors.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,122
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From: "Down the Shore" New Jersey
The "starfish" wheels were original equipment on 2011-13 base cars, (so not offered/used on Z51 cars) in a number of colors/finishes. (My 2012 came with them.) As mentioned above, there was no longer a Z51 option for base cars once the GS models debuted.
However, there should be no problem fitting the starfish wheels on the OP's base car, regardless of model year, as long as his car has "base" car brakes or Z51 brakes. When I changed to different wheels, I sold my original starfish wheels to a CF-er who was putting them on his 2009 Z51. He had no issues/problems. So, OP, if your car has base or Z51 brakes, the starfish wheels should fit fine and bolt right on.
However, there should be no problem fitting the starfish wheels on the OP's base car, regardless of model year, as long as his car has "base" car brakes or Z51 brakes. When I changed to different wheels, I sold my original starfish wheels to a CF-er who was putting them on his 2009 Z51. He had no issues/problems. So, OP, if your car has base or Z51 brakes, the starfish wheels should fit fine and bolt right on.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Jeezus, hub, rotors, "base" car brakes or Z51 brakes,...either the wheels go over the ROTORS and don't fit the HUBS or vice versa. Figure out what doesn't fit and then come back and tell us.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Ogden Utah
Team Owner
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Wonder if someone changed hubs on OPs car?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Missouri
I did a little research on this because a good friend likes the starfish wheels and found a set for his 08 base. According to GM PartsCenter.net, the front hubs from 05-08 base have the same part number, and the 09-13 base front hubs have a different part number.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,301
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From: Queen Creek AZ
On a side note, my hubs do have a little bit of rust on them, and we did not try to clean it off to see if it would make a difference. Also, we tried both front and rear wheels, and neither would fit over the hubs. We had no way to measure the bore on the wheels so I don't know how much difference, if any, there is between the hubs on my car, and the bore in the wheels. As soon as I hear back from the machine shop I will know the answer.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 293
Likes: 55
From: Dallas-Ft Worth Texas
It got to rotors because when I did a search on Z51 hub sizes, Google came back with a ton of threads discussing the difference in rotor size between Z51 and non-Z51 optioned cars. A mismatch in either hub size or rotor size could cause problems and the OP was not sure why his new wheels did not appear to be fitting correctly. In fact, he specifically stated that his hubs appeared to be the correct size and the wheels are OEM, so (prior to his latest comment) we had to assume the problem was elsewhere.
Last edited by drew_c6; Apr 21, 2017 at 10:56 AM.