Sprint wheels onto a 1500HL - Urgent Help Needed Please

Message

Jimmie · #1 Post by **Jimmie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:56 pm

Hi all,

Firstly, my appologies I'm still a beginner to Dolomite ownership having owned my 1979 1500HL for 3 weeks.

I fancied some Sprint wheels, so off I went and bought some along with two sets of nuts as I wasnt sure which I would need.

Got my steel wheels off, only one set of the nuts I'd bought fit on the studs, so I used those.

Did them up as tight as the orginal wheels were done, but on driving - it felt like they were loose. Tried to tighten them at the road side, but one stud snapped clean off much to my suprise!

I am not a strong person and I wasn't putting all my weight on.

I guess I need to find another hub now?

Please help! I thought swapping wheels was simple!

Lewis · #2 Post by **Lewis** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:00 pm

D'oh!

Don't worry about buying a new hub - you can change the studs quite easily (you just have to tap them out with a hammer from the front, then insert the new one and hammer it in from the back). I can't remember if you can do it with the hub on as it was ages since I did mine but one of the others will be able to tell you.

Either way it's not too much grief to change it but if one went and the others look 'weak' then it might be worth changing them all.

They are very easy to overtighten as well, which can exacerbate the problem - possibly worth getting a torque wrench so you know exactly where it's at! Not too much for a decent one and well worth it for other jobs

Were they alloy nuts per chance - they should feel pretty light in your hand, if that were the case...not really relevant but just thought I'd ask because those threads look quite shiny...

#3 Post by **Mad Mart** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:32 pm

No you can't replace the studs in situ iirc, but it's a fairly easy job to do. The wheel nuts should only be tightened to, I think it is, 45-46 pounds feet on the 3/8" studs, which is what you have.

Sprint36 · #4 Post by **Sprint36** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:53 pm

May as well swap to 7/16" studs if you already have both size nuts and you need to change the studs. Fronts are easy enough: take the caliper off, take off the hub dust cover, remove the split pin and undo the hub nut. Then remove the hub, undo the disc retaining bolts and remove the disc from the hub. Knock the old studs out of the hub and replace with new. (I think Speedshack in West Drayton (01895 449066) are cheaper than rimmers for studs by the way.) While it's all apart would be a good time to swap the discs if worn and give the bearings a dose of fresh grease if nothing else. As they say reassembly is the reverse... Use a new split pin.

Rears are a different story altogether.

David

Jimmie · #5 Post by **Jimmie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:54 pm

Thanks guys, so should I get Sprint studs as I'm fitting Sprint wheels?

Ones currently on the car with Sprint nuts don't seem to go tight enough. Wheel rocks about ever so slightly on the hub.

**Edit** Thanks David! Answered my question before I even asked!

Lewis · #6 Post by **Lewis** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:09 pm

Wheel rocks about ever so slightly on the hub.

Doesn't sound right at all. Did steel wheel nuts have different diameters to those of the alloy ones?

The nuts should fit in the hole in the alloy and be a snug fit, if they're the correct ones. If they wobble about or move then I'd say they're probably not right.....

Sprint36 · #7 Post by **Sprint36** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:14 pm

3 possibilities I thought:

1) It's actually the hub wobbling
2) Studs are too long
3) Nuts are not drilled and tapped deep enough

David

Jimmie · #8 Post by **Jimmie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:45 pm

Thanks again.

Just been out to check Lewis, the nuts I had been trying to use don't fit snuggly at all. They are almost identical to the set that held on my steel wheels apart from a slightly different chamfer.

The larger nuts (which don't fit on my current studs) do fit snug in the wheel.

Larger nuts are on the right.

Shall I get studs for the larger nuts now? Is the larger one 3/8" or 7/16" ?

Lewis · #9 Post by **Lewis** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:51 pm

I think the nut on the left (the chrome one) is for steel wheels only. Looks very like the ones I had on my SE.

The bigger one on the right in both photos is definitely the correct one.

The 'bigger' nut is designed for the alloys and looks to have a 7/16th thread, which is correct for late Sprints....

I think early ones had 3/8th studs, so you should be able to find a suitable set of nuts to bolt right up to your existing combination.

I think that's right......yea, here you go:

For Sprint alloys.
Sprint (early to 1976) (3/8" UNF) -
Each - (16) - UKC849S
Set of 16 - (1) - UKC849SK

From Rimmer Brothers - but you'll be able to find them elsewhere cheaper. Make sure you get steel ones, as the alloy ones are a bit toy town

Think that's all correct, someone check this for me though as I'm in a rush!

David6214 · #10 Post by **David6214** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:10 pm

Lewis wrote: The 'bigger' nut is designed for the alloys and looks to have a 7/16th thread, which is correct for late Sprints....

I think early ones had 3/8th studs, so you should be able to find a suitable set of nuts to bolt right up to your existing combination.

I think that's right......yea, here you go:

For Sprint alloys.
Sprint (early to 1976) (3/8" UNF) -
Each - (16) - UKC849S Â£3.80 with the VAT
Set of 16 - (1) - UKC849SK that'd be 41.13 with the vat

Late 7/16" each UKC5476S 3.60 with the vat
Set UKC5476SK 42.89 again with the vat

Lewis had the numbers all lined up right, I added the prices in case it helps...or ask around on here...

2F45T4U · #11 Post by **2F45T4U** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:21 pm

Yer you have a steel wheel nut holding on an alloy that's why it rocks about.

Jimmie · #12 Post by **Jimmie** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:37 pm

Big thanks, appreciate that.

I'll find some 3/8" bolts.

Lewis · #13 Post by **Lewis** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:46 pm

From another site:

[quote]Set of 16 Dolomite 3/8â€

David6214 · #14 Post by **David6214** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:49 pm

I can probably find you a 3/8" wheel stud somewhere if xv1valve doesn't have one even easier to hand. Dave mk1gti on ebay probably has some as well (if he hasn't chucked them)

xvivalve · #15 Post by **xvivalve** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:43 pm

This is precisely the reason nuts for steel wheels, ie the chromed ones with a chamfer MUST NOT be used to try to hold alloy wheels in place.

I have a couple of unused 3/8 stds somewhere.

Trouble with the 3/8 stud is they tended to 'neck' just in front of the hub due to over zealous tightening of the nuts.

and

FOR THE LAST TIME OF TELLING:

1: All none Sprints have 3/8 studs & chromed chamfered nuts, irrespective of age.

2: Early pre '76 Sprints have 3/8 studs and light alloy stooled nuts

3: Later Sprints have 7/16 studs and light alloy stooled nuts