T-Spirit Alloy Wheel Nuts

[Kryten]

Needed some new wheel nuts for newly refurbished alloys, however, Mr. T. quoted me a price of around £7.00 something each, for the wheel nuts ( X 16 = about £136.00 !!!!!!!) So I bought some from eBay, (about £30.00) and they are exactly the same, (21mm A/F, 1.5mm thread, 18.5mm shank,) BUT, they are shorter than the ones I took off. Now, I have fitted them (to the correct torque) and they seem fine, so can anyone tell me, if this is of any safety concern? I personally can't see why the original ones physically needed to be so long. The new ones are 37mm overall and 25mm including captive washer, to top of the face, as opposed to the old ones which are 47mm overall and 35mm inc. captive washer to top of the face, (so 10mm shorter). I'm fairly certain that the stud threads are nowhere near the top of the nuts.To be honest, I think the new ones look better because they don't protrude proud of the wheel face. Thanks in advance if someone could put my mind at rest.

[Druid Boy]

I can't say with any certainty but if it was me I would take one nut off, measure the exposed stud length from the mating face of the hole to the end of the stud ie the bottom of the hole where the nut bears onto the wheel along to the end of the stud. That way you should be able to tell if the stud is a similar length to the space in the nut and then tell if the nut is likely to have bottomed out on the stud instead of on the wheel.

It should be pretty clear if the wheel is lose but to be safe you are right to try to ensure that the torques is holding the wheel on rather than mostly holding the nut onto the stud and only holding the wheel a little.

[alan333]

I agree. Check it for safety sake.

[Kryten]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I have checked the stud length which is proud and I can confirm that it is no more than 13mm maximum. That means there is ample depth clearance inside the new shorter nuts, as there is, at the very minimum, 20mm internally. There seems to be no real reason for the longer length nuts, apart from aesthetic/cosmetic appearance, but as I said, I prefer it now that the nuts don't protrude beyond the wheel face, shame about the locking nut, but then it does make it even more obvious to any potential thief, that they are secured.

[ighaig]

As a matter of interest where did you buy them on eBay ?

[Kryten]

I eventually bought them (after an exhaustive search) from a company on there called "SixOneTwo Ltd." they do say that they are genuine Toyota parts, (but at that price compared to Toyota) I am not 100% sure they are the real McCoy, but I am more than happy with them.

[Druid Boy]

Sounds like they work mechanically and cosmetically. Nice result for you.