wheel bolt question

[Sash]

Swapped over wheels yesterday, with wheels that have snow tyres on
The wheel bolts were all sooo tight I had to stand on the wrench and put all my body weight and bounce to get them undone
Realised that the wheels were last put on by a tyre specialist (East London 2 month ago) who used one of those air tools to fit them

Had to got to Kwik fit (Thanks mate) as one wheel bolt wouldn't come off, and it was nearing the point where the bolt would have to have been drilled IMO
Kwik fit guy did it in about 5 seconds, by using what looked like a 3 foot torsion/ extension bar (Is it?). Then he said they are not allowed to use air tools any more cos of the over tightening issue.

Is it fine to smear the bolts with a bit of grease/Vaseline so they are easier to remove next time?
And if you haven't checked your nuts, then suggest you do so before you get a flat!

If you want them to undo on their own, yes!

Air tools are fine as long as you don't have a monkey using them!

[cyclone]

Ignorant people, I swear just because an impact wrench gets things tight it does not replace proper torquing!

[Chris_Blue]

Torque wrench top of my list now- Halfords one looks good and seems popular....but at £80 bit too much
Any recommendations?

[DavidDS3]

Have to say I used my alloy bolts on the steel rims last year and no issues. The alloy bolts have a conical face so tighten up OK. I didn't even notice the "redundant" washer rattling. I do not think it worth forking out 60 quid for a set of steel bolts and a new set of locking bolts

[cyclone]

Have to say I used my alloy bolts on the steel rims last year and no issues. The alloy bolts have a conical face so tighten up OK. I didn't even notice the "redundant" washer rattling. I do not think it worth forking out 60 quid for a set of steel bolts and a new set of locking bolts

NO ONE EVER DO THIS! it is absolutely dangerous! You are risking loosing a wheel while driving and your insurance will most likely not pay to repair once they see that you have used the wrong wheel bolts.

[Whippety John]

Torque wrench top of my list now- Halfords one looks good and seems popular....but at £80 bit too much
Any recommendations?

There are some on the bay of fleas...............................

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUALITY-1-...item27c3b5c694
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steel-Torq...item5d461040f3
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-8-TORQUE...item565d7e79ef

[Chris_Blue]

Yes- saw those
Problem with ebay is you don't know the quality of the product until you get it- that's why I try get a recommendation

[ZACK]

Have to say I used my alloy bolts on the steel rims last year and no issues. The alloy bolts have a conical face so tighten up OK. I didn't even notice the "redundant" washer rattling. I do not think it worth forking out 60 quid for a set of steel bolts and a new set of locking bolts

Can't believe I just read that...

[DavidDS3]

Can't believe I just read that...

Looks as though I have stirred something up here. What is most important is the reason why? Surely these alloy wheel bolts are the self same ones that are used to secure the steel spare wheel. The other thing that bothers me is that the supplying dealer of the steel wheels and winter tyres said that using the alloy wheel bolts was OK.

[Jimbob]

Is it fine to smear the bolts with a bit of grease/Vaseline so they are easier to remove next time?

I've been greasing my nuts for years and not one has ever come loose!

JB

[Jimbob]

If you want them to undo on their own, yes!

I disagree!

JB

[cyclone]

I've been greasing my nuts for years

Please keep your personal grooming habits to yourself JB

[ZACK]

Looks as though I have stirred something up here. What is most important is the reason why? Surely these alloy wheel bolts are the self same ones that are used to secure the steel spare wheel. The other thing that bothers me is that the supplying dealer of the steel wheels and winter tyres said that using the alloy wheel bolts was OK.

It's because the bolt heads aren't seated right. Think about it, when you're driving a 1 ton+ car at speeds of 70mph and possibly more with the 4 bolts on each wheel the only things keeping your wheels on you want everything to fit correctly and be torqued right. As they're not seated right you they're obviously not as tight as they should be and if they are silly tight then the opposite seating between the head and the face will cause stress around the bolt hole - causing it to crack.

I've made the mistake of having incorrect bolts and not correctly torquing and my wheel came off at 70+ mph - I was lucky, you may not be.

[Bigfeet]

The bolts are different part numbers from the alloy to the full size 16" steel wheels which hints at the fact that the bolts are different.

Also you should never use an air gun on the locking bolt as it damages the pins causing it to be less effective.

Anyone looking for the torque setting then you can find it in my file repository.

[DavidDS3]

I might be being thick here, but are we saying we cannot use the alloy wheel bolts to secure the spare wheel? I have just referred to the handbook and have read this: "Fitting the "space-saver" type spare wheel
If your vehicle is fitted with alloy wheels, it is normal to notice, when tightening the bolts on fitting, that the washers do not come into contact with the "space-saver" type spare wheel. The wheel is secured by the conical contact of each bolt"