[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jack(LA)
[B]Richard: It's not a "seizure" issue, but rather the opposite -- a loss of torque issue. The slight increase in the shank thread size (due to the chrome deposits on the threads) has the effect of "reaming out" the hub after a few RR's of the wheels. The result is that over time the lug bolts will start to back themselves off, i.e., not retain the proper torque setting. This had been the experience reported to me by some trusted sources. I have stayed away from chromed bolts, unless it's only the bolt head that's chromed. BTW, that's the case for the stock Ferrari lug bolts -- the threads are chrome free.


Where can I get the chrome bolt heads without the tread being chromed. Do they come with wheel locks and chrome head?

Lou

 

I have had the same Booth set of chromed lugs on two different sets of wheels so far without an issue and going to a third shortly. I do not track my car so I don't know if that makes a difference.

Maybe I just change wheels so much that by the time they loosen up I am putting on a new set of wheels.

 

Gary -- you may have the solution to the problem if it really exists. This issue was first reported to me by Oak, whose knowledge and experience I trust. BTW, it's not like the wheel bolt will fall off, it's just that it won't hold the 96 ft/lbs of torque after a certain number of miles. Next time you change the wheels out, do me a favor (if you don't mind) and recheck the torque after about 500-700 miles of driving and see if the bolts are holding their original torque setting. TIA

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LSM
[B]Lou -- Sorry, but I don't know the answer to that question. It seems that all the plating companies don't bother to prep the bolts so that only the bolt heads go through the chroming process. Perhaps it's not possible, but my guess is that it's more of a cost consideration for which the vendor requesting the chroming is unwilling to pay the plating company. But that's only a guess -- so I'm going to check it out with a friend in the plating business.

 

Will do... I will be changing them in a week or so.

 

Thank all of you fine folks for the good words for RALPH BOOTHE. We offer a quality wheel bolt for the new Porsches. As it turns out, we already had the exact bolt needed for the Cayenne, as it uses a 38mm bolt as used on the 914 Porsche. The 38mm bolt can also be used with our 1/4 in. spacers and our 46mm bolts with our slip on 15mm spacers for track widening. Just for clarification, you can not anodize steel. As far as I know, Chrome is the best option. I don't agree with all of the hupla about chrome threads, as there have been millions of chrome bolts made for attaching wheels on cars.

 

ralph,
do you have wheel locks yet?

 

My chrome bolts went on very smoothly, I can't imagine that they damaged the threads due to a larger diameter of the bolt due to the chrome plating. It seems like it's rather farfecthed IMHO.

 

Based upon talking to my good friend in the plating business, if there is a problem with chromed threads (emphasize IF), it's not the "reaming effect" I mentioned earlier. Rather, it's the chrome which rubs/flakes off the threads of the bolt over time as the bolts are tightened into the hub on repeated occasions. If I understand the issue correctly, this build up of material on the female threads inside the hub holes will affect the setting and maintaining of proper torque specs.

In any event, my plater friend tells me you can definitely chrome ONLY the bolt heads and not the shank/threads. Of course, this requires more prep time and doing one bolt at a time -- they would use special masking material or a type of condom that fits over the shank to prevent the electrochemical process from chrome plating the threaded portion of the bolt. Otherwise the plater can do 20-100's of bolts at a time with only the basic cleanup prep.


Ralph: I have to respectfully disagree with you on this point (btw, I think you and your wife are great people and sell wonderful products) that all chromed lug bolts or lugs have chrome plating on their threads. None of the OEM factory supplied chromed bolts/lugs are made this way and your chrome plater can avoid this in the future. The price increase would not be that significant.

CodeRed: It's not the initial installation of the bolts that is difficult or tight. It's the flaking of the chrome material which adheres to the female threads inside the hub over time. When you change out your 19" wheels for the track setup, do me a favor and inspect the condition of the lug bolt threads.


But in the end, what do I know? I'm sure this is much to do about nothing -- just my 2 cents. However, I'm getting only the BOLT HEADS chromed when I do my custom set -- just call me Mr. ****.

 

That's it I'm switching to titanium! Wait maybe there will be an adverse effect from the two metals not being in proper molecular constitution. Just kidding! I will check the bolts for you, when I switch the wheels. Maybe that antiseize material would help after all. Ralph. they sure look a hell of a lot better than the OEM. It makes the black HREs really stand out.

 

Before buying Chromed lugs, i read this thread, but poor Jack was the only one waving the flag of caution, so I ignored him and went with chromed lugs.

Well, wouldn't you know it. I was driving home the other day and started to notice a vibration, that got worse and turned into a thumping. I pulled over, couldn't find anything wrong, got back in and drove another mile. Now I am less than a mile from my house, but the thump is bad enough that I get out and check again. Right Rear lugs are loose enough that I can turn them by hand. Yikes! I tightened them up, checked the others drove the last mile home.

I then pulled the wheel to check for damage - nothing I could see. I also checked the other three wheels and no problems?? I wanted to change the wheels for an upcoming track day anyway, so I put the track wheels on with the old lugs.

I do intend to put the street wheels on again with the chromed lugs, but I am going to monitor the situation very closely.

If others are running chromed, please check'em out.