Can't upgrade OEM 18" Q7 wheels to OEM 20" wheels?? Any insight/answers?
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Can't upgrade OEM 18" Q7 wheels to OEM 20" wheels?? Any insight/answers?
I'm new to the forum after picking up my new 2008 Q7 3 days ago. I picked up one with 18" wheels and was thinking of using these as winter wheels and buying a set of 20" wheels with summer tires. Tire Rack shows everything from 20" up to 22" wheels. I also thought about just getting some OEM 20" or 21" wheels. Then I came across a thread in a VW forum stating that Q7s with 18" wheels from the factory cannot swap to the OEM 20" wheels without suspension work and/or spacers. Can this be right? Can anyone verify this? I'm hoping this is incorrect.<ul><li><a href="http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2594252">http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2594252</a</li></ul>
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Direct quotes from the discussion
Thanks for the replies so far. So people don't have to click the link, I've attached a few quotes. Some surmised it was an Audi ploy to get you to buy the 20" wheels, but from people who went to Q7 training:
"I have been to Q7 training and it is true. We were told that with the 20's your ok to go bigger. If you have the 18 or 19 and want to go to 20+ you need the spacer. Nothing was mentioned about going from the 18 to the 19.
When upgrading there is a spacer that needs to be installed between the rack and pinion and the tie rod itself. Its about 1/4" thick and is more or less a washer. According to the person leading our training course there are issues with rubbing when going to the 20's from the 18's or 19's. This spacer just keeps the wheels from traveling as far as they normally would, but without hurting the turning radius enough to notice it."
Another quote: "you can put larger wheels on. but you need to strip down the rack to put in the spacers. aparently a 5 hour job to do. a lad i worked with got back from his Q7 training today and was talking about it. unfortunatly finished working there toady and cant ask any more questions."
Any Audi techs here who can share any insights?
"I have been to Q7 training and it is true. We were told that with the 20's your ok to go bigger. If you have the 18 or 19 and want to go to 20+ you need the spacer. Nothing was mentioned about going from the 18 to the 19.
When upgrading there is a spacer that needs to be installed between the rack and pinion and the tie rod itself. Its about 1/4" thick and is more or less a washer. According to the person leading our training course there are issues with rubbing when going to the 20's from the 18's or 19's. This spacer just keeps the wheels from traveling as far as they normally would, but without hurting the turning radius enough to notice it."
Another quote: "you can put larger wheels on. but you need to strip down the rack to put in the spacers. aparently a 5 hour job to do. a lad i worked with got back from his Q7 training today and was talking about it. unfortunatly finished working there toady and cant ask any more questions."
Any Audi techs here who can share any insights?
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Guess it's true - wish I knew this beforehand.
I'll email Gary to confirm, but after someone on the Q7 section redirected my search, it appears to be true. The Q7s with 20"s from the factory actually have spacers in the suspension that actually cost $500 to install. If I'dhave known this from the start, I would have probably negotiated for the other Q7 on the lot with the 20"s already on. I figured I could find someone else getting rid of their 20"s, which I could bolt right on. I did, but now I can't bolt them right on. I'm a bit irritated and feel like I have buyer's remorse after just a few days.
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