Hey all-
I'm having a wonderful time with the lug nuts on my 04 R50
Maybe it's because I live in Minneapolis, but it seems like just about everything in my wheel well likes to rust and seize. Turns simple jobs into long days filled with choice language.... anyways.
I recently snapped a lug nut (didn't work it that hard...honest) and had to spend 3 hrs in a shop getting it out... Almost got to buy a new hub . I'm torquing to 85 Nm, which should be well within spec, but still, I'm on occasion, running into some tough guy lugs. Leery of effing something else up, I'm thinking of switching to a stud kit (even though I don't track the car ever). Good idea? Is this gonna help with preserving the hubs?
Thanks in advance-
J

 

Hey J, a TSW stud kit will help you, but if your wheels have the center caps they will not fit. I live in Chicago and understand the daily driver issue and take a wire wheel to my hubs and back of wheels two times a year to keep things under control. There has never been a reported failure of any TSW studs when used as designed.

 

Anyone offers center ring hub conversion on the market? Not being fancy, but it seems sturdier than puny wheel studs or lug bolts or whatever they are called.

 

Thanks, Dustin-

[QUOTE=AutoXCooper.com;2836246]Hey J, a TSW stud kit will help you, but if your wheels have the center caps they will not fit.

Why is this? Sorry, just to be clear; I have hollies on now, does this mean I cant use the MINI centerpiece?

-J

 

If you are torquing to 85 Nm, it's not enough Ft Lb's

 

With holies you can, its the larger center caps that cover lugs that you can;t cause the studs tend to protrude past cover.

 

I meant ft-lbs. Thanks...

Anyone else having similar corrosion/seize issues in the wheel well area? Also, is it OK to use a small amount of anti-seize on the lug nuts? I understand it could offset the torque values, but by how much?

 

Using an anti-sieze is a good ide. You don't need much. Just use it at the end closest to the nut. no need to coat the whole thing. Just a few threads worth.

Most stud kits are to long to use with some of the stock center caps.

 

[quote=jdonaldlukas;2837706]Thanks, Dustin-

yep that's right, if the cap covers the lugs the studs will be too long to allow the cap to fit. I drilled holes in my cap to make them fit and most people dont even notice.

 

I'd like to use studs as it's a real pain to put back on your wheels but I'd like to know if it's possible to use one anti theft lug nut per wheel like these?

I'd need M12x1,5 for my April 2006 Cooper R50.

 

shouldnt be an issue as long as the nut is long enough

 

Caution when using any open ended lug nut. Water & road grime will get into the open end of the nut. This will allow some rusting of the stud or at a minimum, dirt will build up on the stud. When removing the lug nut, the dirt will bind the nut to the stud and because the nut, which is softer metal, will start to strip the threads of the nut. I bought some tapered rubber plugs from Lowe's/Home Depot, cut them to proper length (only need to be 1/2" or so long) and using 3M trim adhesive (in black) pressed by hand the plugs into to open end of the lug nut until it was flush with the end of the nut. Problem solved and you'd never notice unless someone showed you.

 

That is a GREAT idea and will save me the time I take to clean the studs before removing the nuts.

 

thanks for the info but now I'm wondering about closed lug nuts

 

Love my studs and alluminum nuts .Great for AutoX ,Lite weight and changing wheels is a snap.Have had no problems even here near the ocean in Hawaii !!!