UH OH! Wheel bolts!

[rockstone187]

I decided to put the borbet A's on today even though they need refurbishing, as they were taking up too much room. Anyway pulled off the stock wheel on the front passenger side and applied the 5mm spacers that the guy at the alloy shop recommended, but the last bolt kept turning. So i got a little worried as it wasn't biting and thought that i wouldn't get much more turning out the others. They reckoned at the shop that i could continue using the stock bolts. Looking at the bolts the thread is worn on the very end and now none are going in except for one, which is the only one holding the front wheel (so i wont be driving anywhere!) I tried using one of the bolts from the back wheel and with a little help it started going in. I'm hoping i can just get new bolts as there seemed to be thread in the hubs, but Im a bit worried this may turn into a bigger job (new hubs!). I will try new bolts i think all round. HAs anyone experienced this before, will i need new hubs, do they do reinforced bolts? It also look like the borbets stuck out of the arches by about 2mm will this be road legal?
Cheers

 

[Fl@pper]

first thing how thick are the centres compared to the original wheels

measure em both by sticking a bolt in and seeing what protrudes through

if there is a difference then you'll need a longer bolt and then +5mm if you plan/need to use the spacers

 

[lunalupi]

If yours are anything like my Borbet As (15" size) I have to use longer bolts to attach them. I think mine are about 10mm longer? But I don't use spacers, so you'll need to find out the total extra length required.

 

[rockstone187]

Cheers guys, Ordered some bolts with +5mm on top of the stock. Hopefully that will work, may have to ebay the spacers if they pertrude out is the arches too much. didnt really want to remove anything again just in case they airgunned others, until i get the new bolts otherwise the car will end up on bricks.

 

[rockstone187]

sh*t

Ok so new longer bolts arrived, but there still not going in (front passenger side only) and its destroying the threads on the bolts, so it looks like the guys at kwik fit damaged them, but pretty hard to prove. So where does that leave me now? do i have to replace the whole hub (I still see some thread). is it a hard job if i follow the haynes. The wheel is now held on by two bolts instead of the just the one before. I've forked out quite a bit to get the car repaired recently and would like to save some money. Problem is i dont have a garage unless i get it to my dads which is 90miles away (will it be safe to drive (carefully) any other options? Not sure if i trust many mechanics around here as when i get a job done it very quickly develops another problem. Haynes also tells me to replace some bolts as they can only lock once, do i need these bolts or can i get away with loctite. Any does anybody know how long the job should take?

 

[sionowz]

i had this issue...my offset wasnt right and i was using cheapy spacers....x2 new rear hubs

 

[sionowz]

I wouldnt want to drive 9 miles knowing that a wheel may come off at any point let alone 90

 

[rockstone187]

Yeah i now not the best idea, but may not have much of an option, unless i can find a trustworthy mechanic in south london. The threading is only on one hub, which sh*t fit used an air gun on a couple weeks ago and probably didnt initially hand screw them to find the grooves, resulting in f'd threads.