Wobbly Bolts for wrong PCD ???

**Bainie** · 9th July 2005, 12:58

As the title says, I am looking at some mercedes alloys and have been told that they can be fitted with wobbly bolts?? How do these work and are they safe, sounds a bit dodgy but might be simple. Also can anybody tell me if Merc alloys will defo fit before I invest in some ??

Hope someone can help,,,

Just found this on ebay ??

**Andy** · 9th July 2005, 13:32

the PCD might not be the only thing wrong mate. Check the diameter of the centre hub as it may need spigot rings fitting. Ive never seen merc alloys on a vauxhall before (bar an omega which had AMG alloys)

Never seen those bolts before either. BUt it looks like they are in 2 parts, the thread part and the head part and joined with a long bolt down the centre. I wouldnt put them on mine, i would have more confidence in a single bit of steel in one peice

**Brake buster** · 9th July 2005, 13:57

they look like standard alloy bolts to me ?

as the ' wobbly ' bit moves/slips so it doesnt bite into the alloy wheel and chew it up when tightening, just like i got on my signum and had on my mondy ?? they are just a slightly different design

if u use one peice bolts they will destroy the alloy wheels eventually,

there have been cases of mondy owners loosing wheels by using ' ordinary ' steelie bolts which break the alloys

BB

**Bainie** · 9th July 2005, 14:30

Originally Posted by Andy

the PCD might not be the only thing wrong mate. Check the diameter of the centre hub as it may need spigot rings fitting. Ive never seen merc alloys on a vauxhall before (bar an omega which had AMG alloys)

The owner of PVD had merc alloys on his C so I guess it can be done, I`ve never used spigot rings but have heard of them, Griffj has them on his alloys I think?

Originally Posted by Brake buster

they look like standard alloy bolts to me ?

as the ' wobbly ' bit moves/slips so it doesnt bite into the alloy wheel and chew it up when tightening, just like i got on my signum and had on my mondy ?? they are just a slightly different design

if u use one peice bolts they will destroy the alloy wheels eventually,

there have been cases of mondy owners loosing wheels by using ' ordinary ' steelie bolts which break the alloys

BB

my old car was the same, the ring on top spun, but if you look closely at these the threaded bit is out of line with the top of the bolt ? I`m liking the merc/mclaren alloys and can get reps so they are not too expensive.

**Brake buster** · 9th July 2005, 14:36

hmm,
not so sure about that,
u sure it aint an optical illusion cuz the cup is offset on the stem of the bolt ?

BB

**Bainie** · 9th July 2005, 14:38

Originally Posted by Brake buster

hmm,
not so sure about that,
u sure it aint an optical illusion cuz the cup is offset on the stem of the bolt ?

BB

Yeah, I think your right, now 1/2 understand how it works, but if the holes don`t line up how can they go on ?

**Brake buster** · 9th July 2005, 14:45

Originally Posted by Bainie

Yeah, I think your right, now 1/2 understand how it works, but if the holes don`t line up how can they go on ?

its not a case of the holes lining up,,, the cup will sit in the recess of the alloy wheel hole, its ' self centers ' as the two angles match ( cup and wheel ), the bolt is then free to tighten up wherever it meets the cup and will tighten the two parts together , friction fit ensures they tighten up, think of it as a wedge shaped washer rather than a flat one,

the reason you dont want the cup to turn is so it doesnt damage the soft alloy wheel as the bolt and cup is made of steel for strength

BB

**Brake buster** · 9th July 2005, 14:50

it seems the black retaining ring/seal is on the bolt thread to stop the washer/cup falling off, as this looks like it will slip over the thread as it is

my VX and Ford ones have a tighter manufactured fit and the cup wont come off

BB

to answer your first question, if you have alloys on the car atm ( which i dont doubt ) the bolts you have will fit fine , as they will be ' Cupped ', but please make sure b4 fitting

**Andy** · 9th July 2005, 15:20

i just cant see how it works. when you line youre wheel up with the hub, and lift it onto the hub, all 5 holes line up perfectly. If the holes in the wheel are not lined up to the holes in the hub, how do the bolts go in the holes? I just see it as black and white really, if the holes dont line up, nothing is going to screw into them.

**Brake buster** · 9th July 2005, 17:09

its not got anything to do with holes lining up, they will be perfectly matched,

the slip ring/cup/washer whatever you want to call it is only there to stop the wheelnut chewing out the alloy wheel , by differing matals of different strengths, this is done by the bolt turning against the slip ring/cup/washer rather than the actual alloy of the wheel, thus protecting it,
the actual slip ring/cup/washer sits in a recess of the alloy wheel to achieve this,

just like on ur car at the moment, nothing different, same principle,

BB