Dumb question about wheel bolts

[Stanza]

Here's a dumb question, and I apologize that I wasn't able to find the answer despite searching.

Did alloy rims come with longer lug bolts? I'm switching from steel rims to the aluminum, and they are thicker at the bolt hole. If so, I'll need to see about finding a longer set of lug studs/wheel bolts/bolty thingies.

[TominMO]

Actually a pretty smart question, shows you're thinking. But very likely the same bolts were made long enough to be used for both. I think the little 12" aluminum Festy wheels are not all that thick at the bolt holes, compared to aftermarket ones.

You definitely need longer bolts for aftermarket aluminum wheels; or better yet, install the screw-in Gorilla studs with red Loc-tite. They come in three sizes (see last letter in part #): S, L and XL. I recommend L in case you later go to aluminum aftermarket wheels.

[firebush357]

Not all of the Aluminum Aftermarket wheels require longer studs but the Screw in studs so you can use Lug Nuts make things much easier when mounting wheels.

[ryanprins13]

I believe you only need longer ones if you switched to aspire brakes. If you still have festivas brakes the stock ones are likely fine. I bought longer ones but i cant remember offhand what vehicle they were for. Ill think about it for a while and if i dont remember by the end of the day i can look back through my rockauto orders and find out.

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[ryanprins13]

Here. 2006 mini cooper lug nuts. They are longer and have a 17mm head instead of 14mm.

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[Stanza]

Thanks all! I neglected to mention that it's the stock aluminum rims (cleaned and painted, etc), that will be taking over for the steelies. Still rocking the stock brakes all around.

[ryanprins13]

Your still good then. Stick the bolt through the hole in the rim and youll see how much sticks out the back to thread into the hub. Quite a bit. They came stock with those aluminum 12in rims and the stock bolts

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[ricko1966]

VW rabbit,golf,jetta,scirrocco used longer lugs on alloy wheel cars.Thats what I use.

[Rick the Quick]

I'm with the Tom in Mo. Gorilla screw in studs. It seems like it was Tom who sold me on them and I have no regrets especially now that I am running 10mm spacers on the rear with my 14" wheels. The studs make changing wheels so much easier especially in the dark.......in the dark? Who works in the dark? Probably none of us but get a flat at midnight and you will be glad you have studs to hang the wheel on.

[Safety Guy]

My stock studs on Rosie also work fine with the old RX7 Phone Dial wheels.

I think it's mainly when you go to the Aspire, etc. front knuckles that the removable rotors (which aren't threaded) add some thickness (about 12mm or so) and make stock studs questionable.

Karl

[TominMO]

I'm with the Tom in Mo. Gorilla screw in studs. It seems like it was Tom who sold me on them and I have no regrets especially now that I am running 10mm spacers on the rear with my 14" wheels. The studs make changing wheels so much easier especially in the dark.......in the dark? Who works in the dark? Probably none of us but get a flat at midnight and you will be glad you have studs to hang the wheel on.

Going off topic here, but for a good cause.....

At Wal-Mart they have cheap plastic Chinese headlamps for one dollar in the camping section. Very handy to have in the glove box. Not the greatest of course, for a buck, but they will certainly get you through a tire change at night, for example. It uses two of the flat watch batteries, CR2025 IIRC, Costs more to buy new batteries than to buy another headlamp! :-) Even with the Chinese batteries the lamp is good for a few hours.

I keep a couple in my toolbox, and in my kitchen junk drawer.

[Rick the Quick]

See what you started Tom? Now I will go further off topic. Here are the only two items I purchase from Harbour Freight.
The first one being a 20? ounce universal, disposable paint cup for gravity fed paint guns and the other item is the blue LED flashlight. It's small enough to hold in your mouth. The flashlight is decent when they work and they use 3 AAA's. I keep them in the cars and all over the house and shop. They are sometimes free with any purchase and sometimes I breakdown and buy the 2 pack for $2.99. 100 AAA's are as low as $20 delivered to your door on eBay.

[TominMO]

In my experience the problem area with Chinese AAA flashlights is the switch. I have recently bought some with the newer square LEDs from Wal-Mart (Ozark Trail brand) and Lowes that seem decent.

[Greywolf]

I use green rechargeable batteries in almost everything from remotes to flashlights. I started doing that when I got an XBOX360 that had a wireless controller, and those same batteries from four years ago are still holding charges.

It's an excellent point about the studs - I would be inclined to use GREEN Loctite on them instead of red though, machinists use that on internal parts to make sure nothing comes unglued
* Green loctite has to be heated to 500 degrees f. to make it release

[ryanprins13]

I use green rechargeable batteries in almost everything from remotes to flashlights. I started doing that when I got an XBOX360 that had a wireless controller, and those same batteries from four years ago are still holding charges.

It's an excellent point about the studs - I would be inclined to use GREEN Loctite on them instead of red though, machinists use that on internal parts to make sure nothing comes unglued
* Green loctite has to be heated to 500 degrees f. to make it release

I have had my front brakes over 450f and i dont even race, lol. Is there loctite that can take more heat than that?

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