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Mr. B · 03-12-2016, 11:36 PM

Gentlemen, question on a headlamp washers:

When I am using the washer fluid with vipers onto windshield, the headlamp washer is always spraying as well. Does someone know how do deactivate the headlamp washer spray for every time I press the windshield washer lever?
(For example, my other Benz has a separate button for headlamp washer, and it automatically sprays every 20th time I press the windshield washer.)

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 12:05 AM

Can you please help me to understand? It looks like the headlamp washer will spray every single time when I spray the windshield if the vehicle lights are on. And when the vehicle lights are off - the headlamps washer is not active.
Am I right?

Boxster1971 · 03-13-2016, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. B

Can you please help me to understand? It looks like the headlamp washer will spray every single time when I spray the windshield if the vehicle lights are on. And when the vehicle lights are off - the headlamps washer is not active.
Am I right?

That's the way I read it. With lights off windshield washer should not also activate the headlight washer. It's nice to know that Airstream has added headlight washer option to the Interstates. My 2013 doesn't have it.

- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 07:37 PM

Thank you for confirming, Mike.
But this option isn't an Airstream's, this is a Mercedes' option.

73shark · 03-13-2016, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. B

Thank you for confirming, Mike.
But this option isn't an Airstream's, this is a Mercedes' option.

I think he meant that Airstream now orders the Mercedes Sprinter w/ the headlite washer option.

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 07:51 PM

I have also another topic to discuss and to make clear for everyone who doesn't know (including myself)

That is about the front wheels hub spacers that we all have who's AI based on the 3500 Sprinter model.

Why these wheel spacers/adapters have been engineered by the car maker - because of the larger brake calipers in comparison with the 2500's model, or because of the wider wheels? Knowing that installation of the wheel spacers without widening the tires caused change of the wheel offset and subsequent overloading hub bearings, I have doubts the manufacturer designed them just for esthetic look of Alcoa rims...

73shark · 03-13-2016, 08:23 PM

Spacers also put more stress on the lugs.

LB_3 · 03-13-2016, 08:56 PM

Wheel and hub centric spacers shouldn't add any stress to the lugs. I has custom spacers made to fit 1994-2004 Mustang wheels on my '65 Mustang.

These guys did my spacers: http://www.motorsport-tech.com/wheel_spacers.html

They weren't fast (and lost my order) but the end product was nice.

Protagonist · 03-13-2016, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. B

Knowing that installation of the wheel spacers without widening the tires caused change of the wheel offset and subsequent overloading hub bearings, I have doubts the manufacturer designed them just for esthetic look of Alcoa rims...

I haven't looked at a dismounted Alcoa rim and a stock steel rim to compare their dimensions.

What I do know is that the front track width on my 2012 Interstate is still within the published limits for 2011 Sprinter vans. Namely, between 67.2" and 68". That at least is easy enough to check with just a tape measure. So I can only conclude that the spacers serve to put the tires back where they're supposed to be with the aftermarket rims.

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 10:09 PM

Protagonist is right, the wheel adapters we have are designed to put weels back in, to make the correct offset to a proper center line. Below are all Mercedes factory wheels, and all of them are 3500 model. So, this is not an aftermarket spacers/adapters, these are a Mercedes engineering. But question is why? For example, 2500 model does not have it. I did not ask an MB technician about it, but for my logic it is possibly because 3500 has a bigger brake caliper. What do you think?

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 10:13 PM

More picture

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 10:15 PM

And mine chassis as well:

Mr. B · 03-13-2016, 10:34 PM

To LB3:
Any wheel spacers more than a quoter inch in width, installed without reason, regardless of which vehicle they installed to, car or truck, are in fact changing the factory offset, and extends the engineered trajectory of a suspension play, subsequently shortening the life of wheel bearings, lugs, steering ball joints, and tire rod ends.

73shark · 03-13-2016, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LB_3

Wheel and hub centric spacers shouldn't add any stress to the lugs. I has custom spacers made to fit 1994-2004 Mustang wheels on my '65 Mustang.

These guys did my spacers: http://www.motorsport-tech.com/wheel_spacers.html

They weren't fast (and lost my order) but the end product was nice.

So moving the lever arm out by the thickness of the spacer doesn't put more stress on the lug?

I have seen spacers designed to bolt on the original lugs and with lugs on the spacer which wouldn't put additional stress on the lugs but would still add stress to the wheel bearings.

Mr. B · 03-14-2016, 01:56 AM

Yes, I agree, if they installed for esthetic with changing the offset, they overload the engineered characteristics of suspension parts.

LB_3 · 03-14-2016, 06:42 AM

Wheel centric spacers have a lip that fits inside the wheel of the vehicle. This lip transfers the weight of the vehicle to the wheels and keeps the lugs in tension instead of adding a shear component to the stresses on the lugs. Hub centric spacers fit over a lip on the hub and accomplish the same thing. So long as the spacer is carrying all the vehicle loads the lugs remain in tension.

If the goal is to get a different set of wheels back to where the originals were located, there is no additional suspension stresses unlike when a teenager (driving a ricer) attempts to move their wheels outward into the adjacent lane of traffic. This wider track changes the suspension geometry and places additional stress on he wheel bearings in particular.

In their intended purpose, wheel spacers should be considered a modification to the wheel back spacing and not an extension of the hub.

Boxster1971 · 03-14-2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73shark

I think he meant that Airstream now orders the Mercedes Sprinter w/ the headlite washer option.

Yes - that is what I meant.

Also regarding spacers on front hubs: the offset of the wheels is different than the 2500 Sprinters. This is a dually vehicle and the wheels are designed to fit in any position, same as any other dually vehicle I've seen.

- - Mike
2013 Interstate Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

Mr. B · 03-14-2016, 09:19 PM

Yes Mike, you are correct - I've searched all dual-wheels vehicles, and all of them have front wheels with spacers, like this pictured. And I still think it's because all of them are 3500 heavy-duty with bigger front brake calipers which would not fit to a regular rim.

73shark · 03-14-2016, 11:12 PM

Or it could be because a dual wheel has a lot of positive offset to allow it to be used on front or rear. Without a spacer on the front, it wouldn't clear even the regular calipers, let alone bigger ones.