BBS RK-II 2 piece rims...how do I take it apart?

W

wasaabi

New member
Hey everyone, I got a set of these rims (for reference ), 17x8, 5x112 BBS RK-II rims. I can't figure out how to take the rims apart, stuck a 6mm hex in there and it fit, turned it and it stripped a bolt...anyone have any idea what size BBS uses for the bolts on their multi-piece rims? It's a 12-pointed star, and I know the size is between a T40 and T45, but I don't know if i want to risk a 6 sided tool again, might strip the rest.
 
They do come apart, because they are two piece wheels. I want to refinish my rims and do a good job with it, so that's why I wanted to take them apart. Cant find the tool anywhere...
 
Well, just because they started out as 2-piece, doesn't mean they were meant to come apart. You mention a hex key, a "twelve pointed star"and then two Torx key sizes, which is it? Are you saying it looks like a Torx but it has 12 lobes instead of 6? Or that it looks like the inside of a 12-point socket? Also, you say you stripped a bolt, does that mean you stripped the drive out of the head of the bolt?
 
There are a number of proprietary internal-tooth drive systems, I am unaware of any that have 12 teeth/lobes/elements. I really don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if those fasteners are not what they seem, and may not be removeable. Do you know anyone else who has taken these apart?
 
nope, I don't....but I am pretty sure they are able to be taken apart, that's the whole point of 2/3-piece wheels, replace only one part for cheap when the other is undamaged
 
Are there assembly bolts on the back side of the wheel face? If not, they are likely "bonded" together and don't come apart by removing the bolts.
 
I just looked at the back of the rim, and all I see is the line where the two pieces meet (basically, I see nothing). I'm kinda disappointed if that's the case...but thanks to everyone that has replied, I might try calling a rim refinishing shop to see what they know.
 
wasaabi said:
... I am pretty sure they are able to be taken apart, that's the whole point of 2/3-piece wheels, replace only one part for cheap when the other is undamaged
Click to expand...



<shrug> That may be the case with racing wheels, but many street wheels are made to look like that without actually being like that. That's not the only reason to make wheels from multiple pieces, either. According to the BBS site (which has a half unintelligible translation from the German) your style wheel has a rolled rim with a cast center section. The rolled rim would be made from wrought material, which would give it different mechanical properties than a cast part (higher tensile strength, zero porosity, etc.). The two halves could be permanently attached as SpoiledMan indicated (welded, swaged, etc.) and not seperable while still having advantages over a one-piece cast wheel. The bolt heads could just be for show (as on many one-piece cast wheels). Someone here will know if they come apart. Anyway, good luck whichever way it turns out.
 
Where did you see the spec of the wheel on the official BBS site? I saw it elsewhere before but I always like to look at the original source. I looked all over and it seems to them that the RK-II basically does not exist..or I'm looking in the wrong places..
 
If you get them apart, wait until you tryto put these back together!



You will need about 5lbs of lead to balance each wheel!



Dont waste your time. they are made in pieces for stregnth and weight, not for cleaning.
 
Multi-piece wheels *can* be taken apart in the same sense that a Rolex can be taken apart ;)



Mallett Cars takes apart HREs and re-assembles them on the 'vettes they do. It's not a simple process and I'd never try it at home.



Gotta have the proper tool; there's a reason why they don't use something that everybody has in the toolbox ;) The bolts are often/usually Locktited with a *strong* adhesive, better find out what to use to loosen it. The pieces of the wheels are often sealed, better find out what to use to remove the old stuff and how to replace it. Better figure out how to torque the bolts (what sequence, to what torque, etc.) and under what kind of pressure the wheel portions need to be held together when re-assembling. Better find out what to use to re-glue the fasteners too, you sure don't want the wheel's bolts coming loose when you're driving and I wouldn't just assume that LockTite Blue is the right stuff. Oh, and sometimes the fasteners (especially if they're the prevailing-torque types) have to be replaced once they're torqued and then subsequently removed, better look into that, don't want a catastrophic failure.



In other words, there's a reason why wheel shops are paid the big bucks to take wheels apart and put them back together. This isn't as straightforward as it might appear and IMO it's extremely unwise and dangerous to try this yourself unless you *know* the details of all the issues I raised above. I know enough about multi-piece wheels to know that I'm gonna pay people to work on mine. People who know what they're doing ;)
 
Guys, these aren't the kind of wheels that come apart after being assembled. A true 3 piece wheel is the type that comes apart and they have a "nut and bolt" type of construction that hold the front half, back half and center sections together. BBS does make 3 piece wheels but these aren't one of them. The assembly bolts on these wheels are decorative and not structural at all.
 
Ancient thread, but just for the record, it's a triple-square tool that's needed. Everyone in here claiming that the wheels cannot be taken apart is wrong.
 
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