Alloys

[billibob]

Hi,

I have a mk1 Rav4 with steel wheels. I purchased a set of genuine Rav4 alloys. I offered up the alloys to the hubs and at first, it seemed that the studs were too short to fit the alloys. Do I need to fit longer studs and if so, I will have a problem if I need to fit the spare as it will still be a steel wheel as the wheel nuts are not open ended. Also as the steel wheels don't have much clearance around the studs, the alloys have larger holes and so must rely on the nuts to centre the wheels or do I need different nuts as well ? Sorry to go on a bit but wanted to explain myself as best I can. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Heidfirst]

you need different nuts iirc for steels & alloys.

[billibob]

Thanks for the reply. I will have to go to a dealer to sort this as the studs are 12mm and the alloys have a 15mm stud hole and most nuts that fit through the hole are about 18mm.

[john21245]

We had both 4.1's and 4.2's in the family and steel and alloys were swopped without any problem, but as mentioned above you must use dedicated nuts.

[TomdeGuerre]

We had both 4.1's and 4.2's in the family and steel and alloys were swopped without any problem, but as mentioned above you must use dedicated nuts.

That's interesting John, so there was no need for longer studs for your alloy wheels. I wondered if the OP had corrosion around the hubs and / or the alloys which prevented them from seating properly and that's what gave him the impression that he needed longer studs.

[billibob]

I asked about longer studs because when steels are fitted you have a good 25mm of stud to put the nuts on. When you offer up the alloys, there's not enough stud for the nuts.

[john21245]

I can only comment on what we did, but we certainly swapped steel and alloys (genuine Toyota) with no problems.

[Heidfirst]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xgenuine+toyota+rav+alloy+nuts.TRS0&_nkw=genuine+toyota+rav+alloy+nuts&_sacat=0

[john21245]

Thanks for the reply. I will have to go to a dealer to sort this as the studs are 12mm and the alloys have a 15mm stud hole and most nuts that fit through the hole are about 18mm.

Just looked at some spare nuts in the garage. The alloy nuts have a threaded shaft that seats inside the wheel hole. This takes up the difference in hole diameters and wheel thickness.

[billibob]

I appreciate the help Scott but as I put previously, the sizes don't match up. 12 mm studs, 15mm holes won't leave enough metal for a nut to go partially into the wheel to have any strength. The link you posted has 18mm dia that fit inside the wheel. This is my dilemma. Just need to find time to visit a dealer.

[billibob]

Went to a dealer this morning. Found out that I have grey import alloys. That's why the stud holes are smaller than standard UK wheels. Will have to draw on my engineering skills and modify to fit standard wheelnuts. Will get there in the end as this will not beat me.

[Heidfirst]

afaik Toyota doesn't change hubs for different markets so if they were meant to fit a RAV then surely they should fit a RAV anywhere?

Have you got a photo of the wheels?

[billibob]

Hubs are standard, PCD is standard, Studs are standard, Steels fit with hole diameter close to stud diameter and use taper of nut to lock wheels on. Standard alloys have 18.5mm holes and nuts with plain shank that fits inside wheel and flat shoulder to lock on wheels. My alloys have 15mm stud holes so standard alloy nuts will not fit and I cannot use standard nuts for steel wheels as the stud does not come through the alloy enough to get a full nut on and it would not be safe as the taper on the nut would not match the taper on the alloy. I cannot explain any simpler. I will have to machine my wheels to 18.5 mm holes to fit standard alloy nuts.