Any reason to keep stud conversion over bolts?

[charltjr]

I've got a stud conversion on the 200 which is starting to show it's age, certainly a good few years old now and there's a fair amount of surface corrosion taking hold.

I've been looking at replacing them, but TBH for my purposes I don't see any particular advantage in running studs over bolts.

I don't need to change wheels frequently, I'm not running spacers or spigots, is there actually any advantage over bolts unless you're swapping wheels over frequently?

Don't mind spending the money if it's worthwhile, but a set of OE bolts is a good chunk cheaper than replacing the bolts.

 

[Budgie]

you;ve answered your own question TBH. Bolts are more than good enough..

 

[charltjr]

Just wanted to check I wasn't missing anything obvious, I've been known to be a bit "special" at thinking things like this through in the past

 

[ripp]

if you do trackdays I'd keep them

 

[charltjr]

The car is pretty much only used for track days and the occasional weekend bit of fun. What's the advantage for track use?

 

[imprezaworks]

I would assume for swapping wheels over. And they look cooler

 

[Budgie]

I would assume for swapping wheels over. And they look cooler

This is the plus side. The downside is reliability.

 

[ripp]

plus side is they won't come loose. I fitted studs to mine after being on a 20 min session and the bolts comming loose so much as I could get them undone by hand! pretty scary stuff as they were torqued just a day before!
Done another track day this weekend and checked the studs after and they were spot on! So my opinion the only serious advantage is for keeping your wheels on!
Ok they may require more attention and probably need changing after a season or two but I really think they are worth it, and this is speaking also from my own experience

 

[Jekyll]

With studs, its also easier to rest the wheel on the hub once the nuts are removed.

 

[charltjr]

That's true, with bolts you do need to check and possibly re-torque them after each session.

 

[mikekean]

Your bolts shouldn't be coming loose, if they are then there is an issue somewhere either that or crap bolts.

 

[dann2707]

Yeah i'd keep the studs...

Without

With

Obviously exaggerating but my nuts came loose at cadwell. changed to studs and happy days i'm still here

 

[ripp]

Your bolts shouldn't be coming loose, if they are then there is an issue somewhere either that or crap bolts.

This happened to many people, with nasty aftermath on some ocassions, I doubt there were issues every time, as far as I know it's about the heating cycles that are making the bolts coming loose. For some reason (can't really explain) the stud-nut assembly is less likely to give up in the same circumstances

 

[Budgie]

See, i'm much more likely to trust a bolt, vs a nut and stud.

Assuming the bolt isn't into spacers.

 

[ripp]

I had no spacers on mine, the bolts were the std renault ones so good quality. The have been fine (never came loose) untill the first track day

 

[dann2707]

Think it's the different thermal expansion of the materials. The nuts are alloy going into steel, they both get hot, both expand at different rates and cool and that loosens them as a result of that.

Where as studs and nuts they are both steel which expand at the same rate as its the same material. That's how I see it anyway.

 

[ForceIndia]

Dozens of track days, with the standard Renault bolts. Never, ever had an issue.

 

[dann2707]

Dozens of track days, with the standard Renault bolts. Never, ever had an issue.

Im guessing you tightened them more than the recommend 105nm is it?

 

[ForceIndia]

Im guessing you tightened them more than the recommend 105nm is it?

No

 

[Djw John]

Same. Never had an issue. Stud conversion is part of the track car look in my eyes.
The whole it's easier to change wheels thing is just an excuse, just admit you want them and that's fine but I won't be swapping to them.

 

[Gally]

Something I never got. Someone once told me it was quicker... I kinda agree but not by that much!!

 

[MarkCup]

I personally find it much easier mounting and changing wheels on my Fiesta with studs than I ever did on my Clios without.

Only once did I ever have a problem with wheel bolts coming undone on my 172 Cup (many many trackdays) and that was because I'd painted the wheels with a Halfords rattle can and foolishly didn't mask off the bolt seats.

No preference other than ease of wheel mounting.

 

[krappy]

Never had a problem with standard wheel bolts coming loose on trackdays, always torqued to 105Nm as well.

I find these things make changing/mounting wheels a bit easier though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E-Tech-En...134267?hash=item464993cefb:g:98QAAOSwUuFW0AOM