Carat Wheels

Post by **Combehatter** » 10 Sep 2013, 12:59

Hello,

Just bought our first camper (Bubba - a 1986 1.9 WC T3) and have spent a load of time looking through the forums and wiki pages for tips etc.

The previous owner recently put a set of 14" Carats on it which look great. When I bought it he pointed out to me that he thought the rear studs looked too small for the wheel so he asked someone who assured him that they were fine (the nut does not seem to have enough coverage to me either but hey...). He went and fitted some longer studs that protrude out about 10mm past the nut but only 3 per wheel.

Anyway as I said I was looking at the wiki and it said that if you fit Carat alloys then you need to change the nuts/bolts to tapered from radiused - this got me wondering... I have checked the bolts and nuts and they are all radiused, FFS!

Also I want to fit some locking nuts as I don't fancy losing these wheels.

My questions are:

Should I stop driving until I get the right nuts?
Is it easy to fit studs to the front so it's nuts all round? (so I don't have to buy 2 sets of locking nuts/bolts)
Are the original studs on the rear ok to fit Carats to as long as I use tapered nuts?
Rather than removing the new longer studs can I cut them down so I can fit the new tapered nuts? (I don't have the kit to take the hub off and fit the studs properly).

Cheers in advance

Post by **R0B** » 10 Sep 2013, 13:27

The original studs are fine for carat alloys.and don't drive the van til you have the correct nuts.fitting a stud conversion kit is a doddle.

Post by **Combehatter** » 10 Sep 2013, 15:25

Thanks, best get some ordered then!

What about cutting down the longer studs? I want to use closed nuts.

Post by **R0B** » 10 Sep 2013, 15:33

Cant see cutting them down would be a problem.IIRC you need about 43/44 mm of thread showing.

Post by **Combehatter** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:42

Thanks, time to get my hacksaw out!

Post by **g60steve** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:52

Combehatter wrote:Thanks, time to get my hacksaw out!

Why not just fit spacers on the rear to take up the extra thread length...that way if you ever decide to fit different alloys you've got the longer rear studs already fitted?

Post by **Combehatter** » 11 Sep 2013, 09:15

Only 3 studs per wheel have been changed to longer ones, the other 2 are original.

Post by **g60steve** » 11 Sep 2013, 10:30

Combehatter wrote:Only 3 studs per wheel have been changed to longer ones, the other 2 are original.

Sorry just seen that bit of useful info.

Why the hell would anyone go to the trouble of removing the rear hub to fit longer studs and only fit 3 of them?

Anyway...it looks like it's hacksaw time.

Don't forget to put a nut on the stud before you start cutting though or you will have trouble getting the nuts back on.

Post by **Combehatter** » 11 Sep 2013, 15:32

No idea!!!

Cheers, sounds like a plan! I was going to try to source a die but that suggestion makes much more sense!

Post by **Combehatter** » 15 Sep 2013, 18:57

All done and sorted, it was frightening how easy all the bolts/nuts came undone!

New studs in the front, rears studs shortened and shiny new nuts all round and all done up to correct torque.

Thanks for the help

Post by **California Dreamin** » 27 Oct 2013, 09:23

Re-Torque after a few heat cycles...180NM

Martin

Club 80-90 Forums

Carat Wheels

Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels

Re: Carat Wheels