Junk Yard Bolt Pattern Tool

[kwikshifter]

I see that a lot of you haunt the yards. It is a nice way to spend some free time.

Anyway, back to the tool. It is nice to be able to identify a bolt pattern on a wheel quickly without much trouble. If it's on a car you often know what it is, but loose rims are all over the place.

I use a few patterns among my personal herd.

I have a 4.75 inch long piece of a wide (1/4") white zip tie. I have 100mm, 4.5" (114.3mm and of course 4.75" (120.7mm) marked with a black marker. The tie fits easily in my wallet and you just hold it up to the holes and see where it hits.

4 bolts are centre to centre of holes across the hub.

5 bolts are centre of 1 hole, skip a hole and to the outside edge of the next.

[graywolf_14]

That is a nice little trick but what about back spacing because it seems that these cars need certain back spacing for the suspension

[25Horseplay]

This might help too

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90

[kwikshifter]

You could always use a second cut to the back spacing distance you are looking for if you wanted. Most fwd wheels are pretty close, if you are way out you can return them.

[graywolf_14]

Their is a set of escort gt wheels at the lot on post im thinking about getting them. nvr seen them before...

[Safety Guy]

Two relatively easy ways to find offset:

Sometimes you can find it marked on the wheel, either on the front or the back. Look for the two letters "ET" on some, which denotes offset.

If you know what the wheel goes to, look it up online.

One final way to check would be to take a junkyard wheel and find a Festiva or Aspire and test fit it right there before you buy it.

Karl

[anomoly40]

A web enabled phone is a limitless tool when cruising the junkyards looking for things. Another is a digital set of calipers. You can find a cheap set at Lowes.

[econoaddict]

I have a set of these:
Bolt pattern tool

[PhoenixSHO]

http://adaptitusa.com/boltpatternguide.aspx

[lessersivad]

I found one of these gizmos a few years ago.....

[Mctiva]

haaaah!

[chrisofna]

My friend uses a plastic wheel with all the bolt patterns in it.

[ejp2fast]

a 6" little ruler is what I bring to the yards

[kwikshifter]

a 6" little ruler is what I bring to the yards

I have one in my toolbox, but I often wander without it (it's heavy) The 6" ruler tends to hurt my right cheek when I stick it in my wallet.

[Safety Guy]

One idea to save space and weight would be to mark some straightedge like tool with the various bolt pattern values and so one tool does double duty. It would have to be fairly slender and flat to work well. It think the small 6" ruler or a small tape measure is a great idea. I take a military style 11" black canvas bag into the 'yards with me, and supplement it with extra tools carried by hand (large breaker bar or extension, hand sledge, etc.) when appropriate.

Karl