Converting wheel bolts to studs and nuts

Was talking to an Irish guy the other week at the ring running a black B reg G60,he was running studs and warned me about the ebay one's as he had "lost" a wheel using them.

 

Thats what i'm running now on the front, heads machined down for clearance and a blob of weld to make sure they won't move.

Rears are standard head as theres more room with loctite and spring washers.

 

I've still got the original ones that are shown at the start of this thread (Sept. 05). No probs so far.

touch wood!

Pics are dead though.

 

Are the rear discs machine spot-faced, or wasn't it needed?

 

I think we may have faced them on the mill, can't be sure though

 

IIRC these were off a one-make series Fiesta a couple of years ago, in the DTM support ranks at the Nurburgring:



I badgered the guy at the time. IIRC, and looking at the pics:

• the lower one is OEM Ford ?Transit? <haaazy recollection> with the first few threads milled off (visible), then re-coated; and
• the other (top one) may have been made by BBS or ATS

Turner Motorsport ARP-sourced ones:



As worn by Goof:



Link

(interestingly, Turner Motorsport supply Loctite 262 to anchor these non-splined conversion studs... Time to investigate the strength of it relative to 270/271...)

Edit: here


ARP's own own versions (I think ARP may have moved into this market - more conspicuously - since this thread started?):



Link


Techno2:



As worn by Dogwood:



Link


Grayston:



Link


So, 4.5 years down the line from when this thread started (!) for off-the-shelf readily-available high quality VW-spec M12 x 1.5 studs, what else is out there?

[excluding imperial threads, which are in plentiful supply from Ford rally outlets, and Peugeot Sport which are in M12 x 1.25]

 

H&R



Link

 

These are from Bildon, thought id post the link on this as im just ordering a set

http://www.bildon.com/catalog/DetailsList.cfm?ID=M14.BMS.Bullet&Nav=10&SubNav=none

A very usefull link on fitting studs as well from the manufacturers.

http://www.track-studs.com/ProductInfo/stud_install.cfm.

If anyone wants any i am ordering some and could share the shipping of a few sets

edit: also usefull info

http://www.track-studs.com/ProductInfo/stud_info.cfm

 

Just a thought... (?)

Just a thought, although I haven't read the whole thread right the way through, so forgive me if someone has already made this point..

The only real purpose of having studs and nuts rather than standard wheel bolts is that it makes it easier to slot wheels on and off essentially they act as pilots to line the wheel up and as retainers to stop it slopping about when you're taking the wheel off...

So why not just fit two studs to each hub: Cheaper, easier, less 'integrity' issues and it achieves the desired 'pilot' effect. Just line up the wheel on the two studs (easier already) spin on the two nuts then just use standard screw-in wheel bolts on the other 2 or 3 points.

I tried a full set of the Grayston studs some time ago, and while there were never any problems directly attributable them, I was never 'proud' of the mediocre quality... In any case, for road use you'll probably have to leave one off on each hub so that you can fit a conventional locking nut/bolt, so why not look at it from other angle and ask just how many studs and nuts do you really need. Just two on each hub, I reckon... (?)

 

I think aesthetics will always over-ride the base logic, and aethetics are where quite a lot of inspiration came from with regards to threads like these, copying race car specs regardless!

Obviously over the years, members have developed their cars and many are now akin to club racers, being simply 'weekend toys'.

Also some studs - those with the first few threads missing - have the side function of enabling quick fitting of the nuts (with wheel guns?) which is really handy.

The reason the thread started was the indifferent Grayston screw-in versions (which are still used widely) and there seemed to be no availability of quality off-shelf items. It's amazing how many good quality studs are available now, but they're still at a price.

 

demontweeks do some like the H&R ones which i got for vento couple of years back and had them turned down a bit to aid making tyre changes quicker.

 

Not read the whole thread, but i've had the cheaper type fitted for a year or so now, and i've had several come out when removing wheels. I've also had issues with knackered threads and the nuts sticking on. This may have been caused by locking two nuts together on the thread when fitting the studs initially.

I hope to replace them with something better over the winter - what with though i've no idea!

 

just to add to this:

I recently bought some studs from harry hockley motorsport, for our GrpA astra.

But they're also m12x1.5 which means they also fit VW



the large shoulder is there to clear the aluminium bell on the disc.

4.28 each, and they only use them on the front?

http://www.hh-ms.com/database/index.php?SelCategoryID=5&SelModelID=14&SelSubCategoryID=9

 

They look good, wonder if the shoulder will fit through the holes in OE discs?

 

Great cross-ref idea indeed.

Fitting over the disc will be one solvable issue, but I think the shoulder may extend as far as the wheel itself?

Which wheels do you run the Astra on and what do the back of the wheel bolt holes look like?

 

Interesting point.

Likewise, Terry 47 only uses Group 4 Escort studs on the front of his Mk2 Golf.

I think it's to do with the perceived extra load they take, over and above the rears.

 

If it's like a gpA Nova and runs VW rear discs, then the shoulder will be straight into the wheel.

 

Same with the fronts though...

 

Would it be possible to give us some measurements eg. the shoulder diameter and length, length of threads etc? Would be really helpful Gotta be easier to buy them there than have to get them from Bildon!

Are they the type with the allen head ends, for fitment?

 

I doubt they'll have allens - I've only seen those on Goof's, which are BMW studs sourced from the USA.

Harry Hockly stuff is nothing to be sniffed at. The nuts must be sourceable elsewhere though - 3.21 (+VAT?) for those isn't necessary.