Extended wheel bolts - safe to use?

dredg

Probably a dumb question.
I want to change my wheels for winter ones. The current (summer) wheels use spacers and as such the wheel bolts are pretty long. The winter wheels are OEM and don't need spacers. Is it safe to use the longer bolts without the spacers?

Chimaera

dredg wrote: »

Probably a dumb question.
I want to change my wheels for winter ones. The current (summer) wheels use spacers and as such the wheel bolts are pretty long. The winter wheels are OEM and don't need spacers. Is it safe to use the longer bolts without the spacers?

Once they can be fully tightened it should be fine. The risk is that they're too long and will leave the wheel loose on the hub.

mickdw

You will need shorter bolts id say. Try threading one of the long ones in without a wheel being on and see where it stops.

Kenny Logins

dredg wrote: »

Probably a dumb question.
I want to change my wheels for winter ones. The current (summer) wheels use spacers and as such the wheel bolts are pretty long. The winter wheels are OEM and don't need spacers. Is it safe to use the longer bolts without the spacers?

I'd be cautious of interfering with the brake shoes/handbrake.

Kenny Logins

Kenny Logins wrote: »

I'd be cautious of interfering with the brake shoes/handbrake.

..the bolts that is, not you.

dgt

Use shorter bolts

dredg

Going with consensus and ordering shorter bolts.

Thanks all!

biko

I'd just stick the others on and see if they fit.

Worst case scenario you'll look like car on right

L-M

I had wheel spacers and longer bolt (A good bit longer) on my car for the bones of three years.

If they come with the spacer they should be designed for use with said spacer and be fine.

dredg

Limerick man wrote: »

I had wheel spacers and longer bolt (A good bit longer) on my car for the bones of three years.

If they come with the spacer they should be designed for use with said spacer and be fine.

That's not what I asked. The longer bolts work fine right now with the spacers. I'm changing the wheels for winter and removing the spacers - should I get shorter bolts?

L-M

dredg wrote: »

That's not what I asked. The longer bolts work fine right now with the spacers. I'm changing the wheels for winter and removing the spacers - should I get shorter bolts?

OOOOOOOHHHHHH...

Sorry, I'm half asleep. Yes, definitely get shorter ones.

L-M

I'm pretty sure I tried fitting my wheel with them before without the spacers and they fouled something behind the disc*

*May actually be dreaming here, but I'm pretty sure they did.

Matt Simis

Kenny Logins wrote: »

I'd be cautious of interfering with the brake shoes/handbrake.

Especially on Mercs!

Lurching

I'd be trying the longer bolts without the wheel first, see how far they go in, then give the hub a spin.

deandean

Can you not use tbe spacer with the winter wheels?