Dixit

I just had my custom set of DPE wheels made and shipped to me and I noticed they make these stud conversion kits for Audi's and and I assume they will work for my car as well since the thread size is the same of 14x1.5. Anyone have comments on these?

I really hate trying to get the wheels on the car now and trying to lineup the damn hole to get the lug bolt through. Studs would make it much easier in my opinon.

Dixit

rlee02135

audi's centerbore is smaller.

Dixit

Im not talking about a spacer/stud kit. Im talking simply a stud kit where you screw the studs into the holes and you know have a stud based hub. And use normal ball seat lug nuts.

Dixit

rlee02135

yes, but if you buy the audi version it will not fit.
you can custom make one, wheelspacers.com can do it.
only problem is you'll need wheels with a higher offset or you'll be rubbing.

Dixit

I dont know if you are misunderstanding me or Im not explaining myself correctly. A stud conversion kit would have nothing to do with the hub or anything. It comes with simply threaded rods based on your exact thread pitch and it turns your hub into a stud based wheel hub.

Since pictures speak a 1000 words here is similar to what Im referring to. As you can see its a simple threaded rod. This one has 14x1.5 (Audi has this pitch as well as BMW, VW, and Mercedes). So it has nothing to do with a spacer or hub or anything. Its simple turning the hole based hub into a standard stud based hub. Simply to just make it easier to mount the wheels. Nothing more nothing less.

Dixit

raymond g-

i dont seem to have any difficulty putting on my MB rims (AMG) so I'm not
convinced that the conversion is worth the trouble. where one fastener
is currently used, you're proposing two, ergo....two potential parts to
hassle with should something go wrong.

the concept has merit, but as usual, the devil is in the details and how well
this functions really is more of a real life trial of material used, how it is
secured to the hub, how it handles being torqued etc etc......blah blah

the hub on my 99 and 00 E series cars is easily located and holds the rim in
place while I reach for the bolt. it's easy to spin the brake rotor (front) while
i line up the lug holes -- in rear, I just rotate the wheel to align the holes.
so it's no more than 1 min operation to get all the bolts into place.

seriously, are you really in need of such time savings to warrant a swap out of
the bolts over to lug nuts?

Retiree

My '06 and '07 MLs spare tire kits each came with a 3 to 4" smooth stud threaded on one end. Before struggling to put your wheel back on the hub, you screw the stud in one of the bolt holes using your fingers. Next, place one of the bolt holes on the wheel over the smooth stud and slide your wheel into place. I'm certain you could purchase a smooth stud from your dealer's parts department for much less than a set of threaded studs you describe.

Dixit

Yes you are right it probably doesnt warrant the time savings but I come from heavily mechanical background on working on engines and modifying them and everyone know that a stud kit is always stronger than bolts because when you torque a bolt you are twisting it actually, studs/nuts you are not, Yes im getting into probably useless details, but you are right, probably not worth the cost and time for it.

I think Retiree just made a point Ive heard about this tool, but I never could find it my spare tire kit, so that was the main reason of my frustration to just change the whole damn thing to studs. I guess I will just leave as is and just get some custom lugs bolts for my new custom DPE wheels. Because the stock ones are 15mm too long.

Dixit

raymond g-

from older MB model....is this part# 1264030074 and costs about $5.

hey, just searched the Russian parts diagrams and found it there...same p/n.
picture item 390



photo of item stolen from Mercedesshop dot com

Dixit

Thank you Raymond, will have to look for this ******* in my spare tire kit, its gotta be in one of the two cars

Dixit

raymond g-

update: i'm aware of a similar part....for 14mm threaded lugs...with similar
sounding part # 1404030074

the p/n referenced further above 1264030074 is for older, 12mm threaded lugs

MTI

The wheel mounting pin, supplied with cars that have alloy wheels, is placed inside one of the lug holes of the spare at the factory, not in the tool roll.

If someone has used the spare, they have to remove the pin and foam rubber donut that holds it in place. After that, the pin is usually misplaced, lost or put into the tool roll, if you're lucky.

Dixit

Well thank you folks, I managed to find this tool and it was in the FOAM thing that sits inside the spare tire. This will definetely compared to me putting it on and trying to lineup the *******.

Dixit