I've been pushing this question around for awhile now, but haven't gotten an answer...or maybe the answer I want to hear. Are Cleveland 3-bolt wheels all the same.?

I know, they have specifications and parts that are specific to a certain airplane, but is the actual wheel the same old two piece wheels. For the sake of manufacturing, most manufacturers try to minimize overhead cost by making a single part multi adaptable.

Here's what I do know. (and that's usually very little, just ask my better half ) We are talking just the 3 bolt wheel, not the 6 bolt type. When you buy a kit, the caliper and mounting plate need to be matched to your specific airplane, such as caliper depth, mounting plate hole size and spacing.

I also know that there is a 1 1/4" axle and a 1 1/2" axle version. I originally thought that these two axle sized wheels just used a larger bearing race to size the axle hole down to 1 1/4", but I measured a wheel on a Supercub, which are 1 1/4" and the inner casting where the bearing resides are different, at least the ones I measured were.

Roger

For the most part several of the 1.5" axle wheels are the same.... That being said there are several minor differences in them as well. There is about .300" difference in Bearing spaceing between the 1.5 and 1.25" If you were to look at Parkers Catalog you will see what wheels are the same but have a different Brake assy.



Clear as mud right....

I took a look at the Parker catalog and they sure mix and match parts. Some of the wheel halves use other wheel halves and it's not as simple as I originally thought.

Thanks Hottshot for pointing me into the right direction, it really is clear as mud.......NOT

Roger

On my C-180, I went to a different 3 bolt wheel than the one that was on my plane originally, when I went to the 8.50's. This was to satisfy the Kenmore stc. for the larger tires.

My understanding, there seems to be kind of a "grey" around the useage of the 3 bolt v. 6 bolt wheels for the larer tires. But a certain 3 bolt(don't remember the letter designation of the top of my head, but someone here will) wheels seem to be acceptable. The 3 bolt were $3-400 cheaper. I don't doubt that the 6 bolt wheel is a better wheel, but after talking with several that I considered very knowledgeable, it just seemed like overkill for my application.

On the 180, once you go to 8.50's or larger, you need an offset torque plate. I got the whole kit(wheels,disc,caliper, and torque plate) from Wup(Hotshot).