GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Why do the German's use Lug Bolts instead of Lug Nuts?

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Old Apr 5, 2023 | 08:21 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by Sallad
You brought up an old post just to bash German vehicles??

Wow, you're pathetic.
You have to admit it is an entertaining post.

I never thought to whine about the wheel bolts. It's what you're stuck with, no sense in complaining.
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Old Apr 7, 2023 | 01:43 PM
  #52  
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Why do the German's use Lug Bolts and everyone else does it wrong?

Have you seen the two-part Porsche bolts where the seating surface does not turn against the wheel?
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Old Apr 7, 2023 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by N_Jay
Have you seen the two-part Porsche bolts where the seating surface does not turn against the wheel?
In some regions that is called a "washer".

It is a fine idea, though, as steel has a tendency to gall aluminum. Mite be a good idea to grease the bolt seats, idk.
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Old Apr 7, 2023 | 11:40 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by eric_in_sd
In some regions that is called a "washer".

It is a fine idea, though, as steel has a tendency to gall aluminum. Mite be a good idea to grease the bolt seats, idk.
Its not a washer.
The cone of the lug bolt turns freely on the shaft.
The head face and outer face of the "cone" are flat and fairly polished, so they minimize drag during tightening so the majority of the applied torque is goes directly to bolt tension.
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by N_Jay
Its not a washer.
The cone of the lug bolt turns freely on the shaft.
The head face and outer face of the "cone" are flat and fairly polished, so they minimize drag during tightening so the majority of the applied torque is goes directly to bolt tension.
Sounds a lot like a washer to me! There are conical washers.

I took off my Datsun 510 a slew of these bolts with a washer permanently on them. They are called "washer bolts" (creative name, right?). How they are made, I do not know. Maybe the threads are forged, with the forging causing the outside of the threads to stick up from the shaft.

Last edited by eric_in_sd; Apr 8, 2023 at 04:46 PM.
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by eric_in_sd
Sounds a lot like a washer to me! There are conical washers.

I took off my Datsun 510 a slew of these bolts with a washer permanently o usen them. They are called "washer bolts" (creative name, right?). How they are made, I do not know. Maybe the threads are forged, with the forging causing the outside of the threads to stick up from the shaft.
OK, if you insist, it is a washer bolt, with a very thick 1 x to 1.5 x bolt diameter) specially shaped washer to fit the spherical seat of a Porsche wheel lug, and an outer surface designed to create minimum friction against the underside of the bolt head.
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 10:12 PM
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Interested in seeing a pic of these
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 10:16 PM
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Pretty cool, never seen this before... Thanks

Definitely NOT a washer
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Old Apr 9, 2023 | 05:14 PM
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Does anyone know if anyone makes something similar for MB lugs?
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Old Apr 9, 2023 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Sallad
Definitely NOT a washer
Well, it is pretty thick, I'll grant you that. How thick does a washer have to be before you stop calling it a washer, and instead call it "a spacer whose purpose is to stop a bolt head from rubbing on the surface"?
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Old Apr 9, 2023 | 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by eric_in_sd
Well, it is pretty thick, I'll grant you that. How thick does a washer have to be before you stop calling it a washer, and instead call it "a spacer whose purpose is to stop a bolt head from rubbing on the surface"?
Well, I don't think anyone not trying to build a meaningless argument would call it a "washer".

Apparently they are known as "Floating Collar Lug nuts".
Porsche seems to be the only one using a "bolt" style.
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Old Apr 9, 2023 | 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by N_Jay
Well, I don't think anyone not trying to build a meaningless argument would call it a "washer".

Apparently they are known as "Floating Collar Lug nuts".
Porsche seems to be the only one using a "bolt" style.
I guess they have to be different. Since we are talking about the different seats, is there an advantage of ball seat over cone seat anyways? Why are there two different seats anyways.
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Old Apr 9, 2023 | 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
I guess they have to be different. Since we are talking about the different seats, is there an advantage of ball seat over cone seat anyways? Why are there two different seats anyways.
Apparently there are several seat types (Or were over time)>

I am sure some engineer at Porsche had some very good reason to use a spherical seat instead of a cone.
Maybe has to do with early alloy wheels and alloy lug nuts?
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Old Apr 9, 2023 | 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by N_Jay
Apparently there are several seat types (Or were over time)>

I am sure some engineer at Porsche had some very good reason to use a spherical seat instead of a cone.
Maybe has to do with early alloy wheels and alloy lug nuts?
Hmmm probably.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 02:59 AM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Why are there two different seats anyways.
Just to be pretentious... just to be different?

"look, mine are shaped this way, they are sooo much better than yours!"

Last edited by Sallad; Apr 10, 2023 at 03:12 AM.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Sallad
Just to be pretentious... just to be different?

"look, mine are shaped this way, they are sooo much better than yours!"
Hmmm I wonder if it is the same Reason as MB's star pattern lug bolt design? Or they just want to keep you out from your own product? Same as using TORX screws or "security" screws on certain major appliances/electronics?
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
or "security" screws on certain major appliances/electronics?
Those make sense, the manufactures don't want just anyone inside their devices. Could be high voltage caps inside or other dangerous stuff.

But for a lug bolt, I don't get why they'd be different. When I bought my Benz wheels for my Audi A6, I had to purchase different bolts, as the seats were different than the Audi ones.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by sak335
I didn't pay attention when looking at the tool kit on my GL, but my BMW's have all come with a tool that you insert into one of the bolt holes and you hang the wheel on that; makes things much easier. You could probably pick one up on eBay or from a BMW specialist shop - this one is from Turner:
I got a set of two from Amazon

EWK 2 Pcs M14 x P1.5 Wheel Hanger, Wheel Alignment Pin, Rim Stud Pin Guide Tool


Last edited by tbirdvet; Apr 10, 2023 at 02:37 PM.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Hmmm I wonder if it is the same Reason as MB's star pattern lug bolt design? Or they just want to keep you out from your own product? Same as using TORX screws or "security" screws on certain major appliances/electronics?
I am guessing the much like Torx and "E" (reverse Torx) there are good engineering reasons.
Fastener/tool retention, drive torque without deformation, etc.

Security screws are typically used for that exact reason.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by N_Jay
Well, I don't think anyone not trying to build a meaningless argument would call it a "washer".
Hey, this thread long since degenerated into comedy gold. I was sick with rona and if it weren't for meaningless arguments, I'd gone out of my mind from boredom.

I'll say it again; I bet they were implemented to prevent galling of the aluminum wheel, because that's a better solution than putting in some sort of a seat in the hole in the wheel, which I bet they started doing when they realized they were going overboard on the engineering for something the vast majority of users would never even notice, let alone think about, unless they had to buy a replacement, at which point they would wonder why a lug bolt costs them twenty bucks.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by tbirdvet
I got a set of two from Amazon

EWK 2 Pcs M14 x P1.5 Wheel Hanger, Wheel Alignment Pin, Rim Stud Pin Guide Tool

I have these or similar. Indispensable.

I wish they were made from steel, though. Speaking of galling, the aluminum has high friction on the bolt holes, making them annoying to insert, even after greasing the threads.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by eric_in_sd
I have these or similar. Indispensable.

I wish they were made from steel, though. Speaking of galling, the aluminum has high friction on the bolt holes, making them annoying to insert, even after greasing the threads.
They are steel
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by N_Jay
I am guessing the much like Torx and "E" (reverse Torx) there are good engineering reasons.
Fastener/tool retention, drive torque without deformation, etc.

Security screws are typically used for that exact reason.
I see.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 08:59 PM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by eric_in_sd
I have these or similar. Indispensable.

I wish they were made from steel, though. Speaking of galling, the aluminum has high friction on the bolt holes, making them annoying to insert, even after greasing the threads.

The anodized one are better.
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Old Apr 10, 2023 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by tbirdvet
They are steel
Ordered a pair.
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