[s-cars] I'm finally studly... (long)

[Scott Munger]

Would you mind explaining the pros/cons of lugs versus studs?

--Scott Munger
'93 S4
'97 Cabriolet



> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of steve powers
> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 8:33 PM
> To: 'northwest audi enthusiasts'; '* S List'; 'BIRA ORG'
> Subject: [s-cars] I'm finally studly... (long)
>
>
> (cross-posted to BIRA, S-cars and NW Audi)
>
> Since installing my BIRA Sys 6 brake setup, I wanted to install wheel
> studs to make the wheel installation easier. At issue is the
> additional
> 3mm of rotor hat thickness which sort of defeats the
> hub-centric wheels
> where you put on the wheel, spin and slip in a bolt - all at
> once. Studs
> seemed like the best way to go, so I began researching the problem.
>
> The urS6/S4s use a pretty hefty lug bolt size (14x1.5mm). Removing one
> lug bolt and measuring several times with a 16p nail, hooking the head
> on the backside of the hub, I came up with a stud length
> target of 60mm
> overall length. I figured this length should allow for a to-be-sourced
> lug nut and still not protrude from the wheels.
>
> Calling a local vendor for H&R lugs I explained how I
> measured and what
> I wanted. They got the lugs and I took them home. They were
> wrong - too
> long by about 20mm! The studs consist of three areas: hub
> thread, waist,
> and lug thread. The length H&R quotes is lug thread. It makes
> some sense
> as you are supposed to thread in the lugs, bottoming them out
> in the hub
> on the waist of the stud. Re-order, this time in H&R's 40mm length.
>
> Meanwhile, I need some nuts. The stock wheels (and my 3 piece HRE
> wheels) use a ball seat. The rub is that there just aren't any
> aftermarket ball seat lug nuts. I checked with Tire Rack and others,
> including searching the web. You can get the standard steel
> ones, which
> I did. (Note: most aftermarket wheels use cone seats and you
> won't have
> this problem - it's just that mine didn't)
>
> I did discover though that Porsche also used 14x1.5mm lugs. They
> previously used lug nuts (alloy even!) on all of their cars
> but recently
> went to a funky lug bolt setup with spinning ball seat
> collar. I went to
> the local P-car parts dept. and bought one of the older black anodized
> allot lug nuts. It was the right thread pitch and may fit, though I
> wouldn't know until I installed the studs.
>
> I got the new studs today. I immediately removed a lug bolt
> and put in a
> stud. It fits! I jacked up the car and installed all the
> studs using red
> loctite and torqued them to 100 lb-ft with a double nut. I
> put the wheel
> back on and tightened a couple of the steel nuts on. I measured to see
> if the stud would bottom out on the Porsche lugnut. Nope, it
> will work.
> Yippee!
>
> Because I only had one Porsche nut, I installed the steel nuts. I have
> found an aftermarket supplier (www.boothedesign.com) for Porsche lug
> nuts in polished stainless. At $7 each, they're cheaper than the local
> Porsche dealer, who wanted $10 apiece for the weaker (but
> lighter) alloy
> ones. Boothe Design can also provide matching locks.
>
> Moral of the story: order the 14x1.5mm studs in 40mm length and hope
> your aftermarket wheels have cone seats. (you will need ball seat nuts
> for the stock wheels)
>
> Steve Powers
> 95.5 S6 Avant
>
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