Submitted by bsheridan@rest… on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 20:47

Can anyone tell me if there is any difference between XK120 and XK150 16" wire wheels? Notably the inner rim that lower spokes attach to.

I bought an XK120 roadster modified to XK150 frontcdisk brakes. When I bought it, it had XKE 15" chrome wire wheels which rubbed against the rear fenders when hitting a bump in the road. So I replaced the XKE wires with a set of XK120 16" painted wire wheels. The problem is that the inside edge of the rim that lower spokes attache to rubs against the XK150 brake caliper and makes a "scraping" noise.

Any ideas? Do XK150 16" wire wheels have a different inner rim that doesn't rub against the caliper?

Thanks in advance, Bob

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:52

A lot of folks have done that and it works well--but -and I mean but---a properly set up drum system (and I do mean properly) will do everything a disc system will do except in very hard driving and or very very wet conditions. THe most a brake system can do is lock all 4 wheels--that is it and a proper drum system will certainly do that. If you do drive very hard I would suggest you upgrade to yet another decade and put series 2 E or better on your car--incorrect is incorrect so why not go for the big anchors! Good luck!

Submitted by bob5837@roadru… on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 12:49

Thanks for the reply George.

The rim leaves an "arc" in the Caliper where it rubs against it.

As a workaround I removed each spline and shimmed them with large washers to bring them out from the rotor slightly. It helped and after a little driving the rubbing noise has ceased except on a hard turn.

Has anyone reading this ever switched XK120 front brakes over to XK120 disc brakes?

I suppose I can add thicker "shims" to each spine or take my wire wheels to a machine shop and have them shaved a little on the inside edge that is rubbing the Caliper.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 11:30

Bob 120 and 150 wheels are different esp. in spoke count. Your question is critical measurements and hopefully someone with both will measure. I think it is safe to say the rims are different as they have a different pattern--as far as the rubbing the caliper are you sure it is the caliper and not one of the brake pipes that feed them--that is usually the case and not too safe!