What purpose does having extended wheel lugs serve? I see them often and I think they look good but should I spend money on them? I have been having some issues with my 17" Volks as far as the balance is concerned (kind of shaky at high speeds) and I would like to know if installing these extended lugs would help on my 4 lug.
I also have 4 different wheel locks to keep the rims on my car, could their slight difference in weight affect my cars performance?
I did a search BTW, Thanks in advance!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What purpose does having extended wheel lugs serve? I see them often and I think they look good but should I spend money on them?
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Depends if you think the money is worth the "look". As far as I know they server no real purpose. I suppose if you were to get extended studs as well you would have more threads engaged in your lug. This would allow you to handle more force. However I, myself, have never had a wheel fly off. Some people I think might need them if they do a conversion or get a thicker wheel and extended studs. They need an extended lug to fit over the extended stud. Just a guess. I really don't know.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I have been having some issues with my 17" Volks as far as the balance is concerned (kind of shaky at high speeds) and I would like to know if installing these extended lugs would help on my 4 lug.
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No. It will not affect your vibration problems. If it is only during braking chances are you have warped rotors or build up on your rotors, either way, have them turned. If it happens all the time then it is either a wheel inbalance or a suspension problem.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I also have 4 different wheel locks to keep the rims on my car, could their slight difference in weight affect my cars performance?
I did a search BTW, Thanks in advance!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Shouldn't really affect balance at all. The lugs are so close to the centre of rotation that it should have negligable effect. What could be an issue is if they are the wrong wheel locks. (i.e. conical, spherical or, flat

Cheers.

 

Wow, thanks for the write up! I need to check and make sure my wheel locks are the same- I like the way the extended wheel lugs look with some anodized nuts on them. I need to get my alignment checked and the rotors too. Thanks a lot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I need to get my alignment checked and the rotors too. Thanks a lot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No no. If you are only shaking while braking then it is most likely your rotors. If it is all the time then chances are it is not your rotors. If it is all the time it is either inbalance of the wheels (you threw a wieght or something), a suspension problem, or something else.

Figure out under what conditions you are shaking and then decide on a course of action. Don't go blowing a ton of money on checking everything out......unless you have money to spare...lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by old man neri &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Depends if you think the money is worth the "look". As far as I know they server no real purpose. I suppose if you were to get extended studs as well you would have more threads engaged in your lug. This would allow you to handle more force. However I, myself, have never had a wheel fly off. Some people I think might need them if they do a conversion or get a thicker wheel and extended studs. They need an extended lug to fit over the extended stud. Just a guess. I really don't know.

No. It will not affect your vibration problems. If it is only during braking chances are you have warped rotors or build up on your rotors, either way, have them turned. If it happens all the time then it is either a wheel inbalance or a suspension problem.

Shouldn't really affect balance at all. The lugs are so close to the centre of rotation that it should have negligable effect. What could be an issue is if they are the wrong wheel locks. (i.e. conical, spherical or, flat </TD></TR></TABLE>



BTW I think the most common use for extended studs is when using spacers to move the wheels out away from the car (although this is not always a good idea; it's better to get wheels with the proper offset, but with some wheels this makes the spokes interfere with the calipers).

 

I looked it up a bit more. Apparently it is required in a few racing circles. Don't ask me which ones. So, as you can imagine, as soon as it is something is required for racing every body on the steet wants to imitate so that there car looks "bad ***" (along with their stickers and big wing..lol)

The reason for racing is, again, lessen the chance of it breaking or losening. However in racing they also use stronger studs. Longer studs and longer lugs that aren't made of stronger material or more precise are pointless really. (except when you need the length for offset/rotor/wheel dimensions.)

Hope that answers all of your questions.

 

Man that really helps a lot! I think that I should get my car realigned because the steering wheel shakes at about 60+ mph maybe 70+ and the car drifts to the left if I let go of the wheel. I am going to lift my ride height back up to the highest setting on the Koni's becuase It is a pain to drive. Then I'll get it realigned.

 

having lug nuts of differnt wieghts can throw the balance off. ever so slightly. sometimes u have the 3 lugnuts and the one locking nut. even tho it's small, it's offbalance. BMW makes the locking nuts the same wieght as the regular lug nuts.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MichaelPal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">having lug nuts of differnt wieghts can throw the balance off. ever so slightly. sometimes u have the 3 lugnuts and the one locking nut. even tho it's small, it's offbalance. BMW makes the locking nuts the same wieght as the regular lug nuts. </TD></TR></TABLE>

it's true, it wil throw it off balance. It should, however, be a negligible amount though. Less than a pebble being stuck in your treads.

Cheers.

 

The vibration problem that you are feeling is more than likely wheel/tire realted. First step is to have your tires balanced. Make sure that none of the rims are warped or the tires are out of round.
Second step would be to spend 15 bucks on a set of hubcentric rings. When aftermarket wheel manufacturers produce a wheel, they machine the hub(middle)portion of the rim to fit a number of cars. Most aftermarket wheels hub bore is like 73-75 mm, where as the hub on your car is only 55-56 mm(i believe). These rings take up the excess space between the rim and the hub and allow it to fit like an original wheel. Lug nuts ARE NOT designed to support the wheel by themselves,the hub is designed to support the rim.
Try these steps first and i'll bet that 90% of your vibration will be gone, that is as long as your rims are not warped or anything.

 

Nice.... I will do that then Thanks!