25mm lug bolts and steel wheels... BAD

[DurocShark]

lol, totally my fault for not researching. I replaced my stud kit with lug bolts. I liked these because they were black chromed.

However, I didn't realize they were rubbing on the suspension. Just a bit, but enough to knock them loose and cause catastrophic failure. IE: Wheel fell off on the freeway.

Learn from my fuckup. Unless you have thick alloy wheels, GO SHORT!

In this pic you can see the bolts, that should be solid black, worn shiny on the edges:

And here you can see the results of my stupidity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RgxvMZ1EWs

I was going to replace them with new short ones, but decided I still like these. So instead I'm going to pull them all and cut a few mm off them instead. I'll measure how much is exposed in the back of the rotor and cut that much off. Round the leading edge a bit for easier installation, and I expect it'll be fine.
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.

[Saucy Jack]

OUCH!!!
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"When in doubt, throw a grenade"

78 SB CHAMPAGNE II

[Eric&Barb]

First off glad you figured out what was going on and got over before it let loose!

Looks like front drums without the brake parts used. If so, looks like no way the lug bolts could be hitting the suspension, if the image is with them full in.

Did you use a torque wrench to tighten down the lug bolts? If not, they often end up tightened unequally, and will work loose.

Are the lug bolts snug to the drum threads as you thread them in? There are different thread fits to fasteners. Using lug bolts/fasteners that are a looser fit in the female threads will result in always loosening up.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[DurocShark]

They're definitely too long. You can see the wear. Those are brand new black chromed bolts, and the ends shouldn't show any wear like they do.

Front is rotors not drums. I always use a torque wrench. 90ft/lbs was the setting.

I've been (carefully!) driving it like this because my Saab is down waiting for a replacement heater bypass valve. No freeways, can frequent torque checks. I can still feel them rubbing when driving, especially when I hit the brakes. They're hitting the caliper I think. Tonight I am going to get cutting.
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.

[Eric&Barb]

How about?

[DurocShark]

Everything felt snug.

For the camera:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md5pIv-UVEU

The Street Guardian in my Saab has way better video quality, but is also much more expensive. And doesn't have the rear view mirror display.
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.

[volksworld]

humor me...on a disc brake car there shouldnt be anything inside the hub near those studs...does it have some sort of aftermarket caliper adapter with incredibly long bolts?...i'd really like to see exactly what it was hitting

[DurocShark]

Cuz I'm obviously making it up.
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.

[volksworld]

you obviously didnt make up the fact that your wheel fell off...and in the interest of it not happening again you need to figure out WHY it happened...but i swear its NOT from the ends of the studs hitting anything...i've just decided against going back down to the shop and pulling the rotor off mine to prove it to myself but there should be plenty of room in there...if i'm wrong, please show me exactly what it hit...and if it didnt, you need to figure out what else is wrong...maybe the lug bolts you got were cone seat instead of the ball-style that stock wheels use....in that case the taper of the lug would bottom out against the face of the rotor and tighten up, but it would not apply enough pressure to the seating surface of the lug hole on the rim...and under load the rim would flex enough to make the lugs loosen up

[Dal Churchill]

Check the bolt seats are radiused, not tapered (or whatever is correct for the wheels you are running).

I've seen longer bolts hit in a drum set up but not in a disc set up, regardless, if you are going to cut them down you'll need to file a leading edge on the first thread of each one so that you don't tear up the female hub threads.
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1974 Beetle. Bus/Porsche/Rover V8 (Buick 215ci) Baja. (Unfinished project)
1979 Beetle. 1641. Ex-Modern Day Luftwaffe Airfield Radio Car. (Daily driver)

[Vanillagurilla]

I fought with my new brakes for 2 days before realizing that the shoes were hitting the back of the studs in the drums lol. We all make mistakes, atleast your ok.