Wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your car

Safe driving thanks to securely fixed wheels Wheel studs & wheel nuts are the first links between the wheel and the car. They fulfill an important task, as they must never break, tear apart or come loose. They are some of the most highly stressed components on a car and leave no room for compromises in regards to quality. Loads on the wheel studs & wheel nuts When standing still, the wheel studs and wheel nuts are mainly subjected to tensile stresses. A car's wheels are tightened with a torque between 90 and 180 newton meters. The vehicle's manufacturer prescribes the exact value. A general rule of thumb is that the heavier the vehicle, the higher the torque. An additional factor is the number of wheel studs and wheel nuts provided on each wheel. Radial and shear forces affect the wheel studs and wheel nuts when driving. Due to the rotation, the grub screws are permanently strained, thus posing a major challenge for the employed materials, which must facilitate manufacture of a product with high fatigue strength.
Furthermore, large temperature differences occur at the wheel. At the wheel, cold and humid exterior conditions mix with great heat radiating from the brake. The wheel studs and wheel nuts must be able to cope with this.
Finally, moisture, grit and salt permanently have a highly corrosive impact on wheel studs and wheel nuts. As a result, rust-free production is mandatory for these fixing elements.
Furthermore, it is important that the thread of wheel studs and wheel nuts is only greased using lubricants prescribed by the manufacturer! Wheel studs or wheel nuts? The difference between wheel studs and wheel nuts is quite simple: A wheel stud is a complete bolt that is screwed into the thread on the suspension. These threads can be located at the steering knuckle, the brake disc or another place on the suspension. With wheel nuts, a corresponding number of studs are already provided on the suspension. Fixing the wheel merely requires the aforementioned wheel nuts. Wheel nut variants Vehicle manufacturers usually permit the use of different rims on a vehicle. As standard, vehicles are usually equipped with steel wheels. Yet, aluminum rims are especially popular. These may under certain circumstances require other wheel studs and wheel nuts. Here it is important to note that there might be differences in the required torque, depending on which type of wheel is installed. In any case, it is highly recommended to retighten aluminum wheels after 50km using the specified torque. The reason for this is that aluminum does not have the same elasticity as steel. Steel has a slight rebound when put under pressure. The result is a permanent counterforce on the thread, which contributes to the firmness and reliability of the connection. Aluminum, which offers almost no rebound properties, is actually known to give in some. Thus, the wheel nut might become loose over time, which can have disastrous consequences.
So-called wheel locks have become particularly popular over recent years. These wheel nuts can only be removed using a special key, thus effectively preventing the theft of high-quality wheels. Wheel nut defects It is very rare for a wheel nut to tear apart. If it does happen, it is usually during installation. In most cases, a torn wheel stud was already damaged before hand. It may also be the result of choosing too high of a torque. In both cases, the entire unit should be replaced, including the mounting for wheel studs & wheel nuts. Chasing a thread is not permissible here. A torn wheel stud is sure to have caused overstress in the thread of the mounting, wherefore it is no longer safe to use. Under no circumstance should one experiment or compromise here.
It is advisable to take a look at the wheels whenever entering the car. A missing wheel nut or wheel stud calls for immediate action! In addition to installing a new wheel nut/wheel stud, the torque on all other bolt connections must be checked as soon as possible. Wheel stud & wheel nut prices When shopping for wheel nuts & wheel studs, the purchase of original spare parts is recommended. No trade-offs may be made when it comes to these crucial components. An original wheel stud never costs less than 7 euro. Thus, one ought to be particularly skeptical when facing unusually attractive offers. Opting for original parts can be life-saving in this case.