Loose Wheel Bolts

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Could do with some advice from the forum pls. I was giving the 205 a good clean today and had each of the four wheels (C5 alloys) off in turn to clean under the arches etc. On taking the wheels off I noticed that some of the wheel bolts were looser than I would have expected and when refitting the wheels I could not get three of the bolts to torque up as I would want (tend to go to 80-95lbft). I'm now worried that I've over tightened them. Indeed, one of the rear wheel bolts is now spinning quite easily and won't come out. What do you think I've done?

Thanks in advance

Nick

[welshpug 1,666]

80-95 is far too tight, 63 is book spec.

 

you've probably pulled the threads out of the hubs.

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Thanks for the reply. I thought that, but I can't figure out why the wheel won't come off when it's only held on by that one spinning bolt? If I've knackered the thread, surely the bolt would just pull off?

Cheers

Nick

Edited May 6, 2014 by Castorkid

[welshpug 1,666]

replace the hubs/drums if the threads are damaged.

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

I have helicoiled pulled wheel bolt threads successfully numerous times. At least 2 of my 205's have helicoils in the rear hubs.

[jackherer 543]

As above, I helicoiled some threads on my mothers BX years ago after a tyre fitter mangled them, I wasn't sure if they were up to the job but I posted on here and after advice from Graham IIRC I went ahead with it and they were fine for the rest of the life of the car.

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Great advice thanks both. I've finally got the bolt out and the thread is stripped as you all predicted. Do you think the internal thread on the hub would tap?

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

To be honest, probably not, but easy way to see is tap it then try to torque another wheel bolt to torque and see what happens.

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Cheers for that. Ever the optimist, I'm hoping that I can simply clear the bits of sheared bolt threads out of the hub.

[Castorkid 11 1 Cars]

Luckily, I managed to tap out the sheared bolt threads from the hub and fitted a new bolt (63 ft lbs!) so all sorted. Thanks for all the advice. I also learnt from my tool supplier that Rolls Royce Helicoil all their hubs as new.

Cheers

Nick