A place for more technical discussions. Please make sure you post in the correct section on the site, this way it keeps the site tidy AND ensures you get a more relevant answer.
difference between wheel nuts / bolts for alloys and steels on the Jimny?
Hi bit of a basic daft one but just wondering about what I have fitted
Just bought an 06 plate Jimny, with steels and off road tyres fitted and also supplied with the OE alloys and Duellers.
For now as I don't need anything other than mild off road ability, I'd like to refit the alloys and duellers (yeah I know).
But I'm not sure what studs, the steels are fitted with (the ones for the alloys or for steels)
Would anyone have a pic of what the bolts should look like for alloys and steels please?
The studs are fitted to the hubs, so the wheel nuts are just that, nuts. The studs are the same length regardless of whether steel or alloys are fitted (someone jump in if that is wrong).
I am also fairly certain that the wheel nuts are the same for either steel or [standard Suzuki] alloys, someone will correct me if I am wrong.
I know the thread and nut depth are the same and the 'seat angle' also appears to be the same (60 degrees), so I can't spot any difference.
Robin
2020 blue SZ5 (one of the last to be registered in the UK)
Ex 2011 Blue Jimny SZ4
Northumberland Jimny Blog
Yes they are both the same on the Gen3/Gen4 Jimny, so the nuts for Alloys and Steels can be interchanged.
However this is not necessarily true for aftermarket alloys or steels
Martin
2003 M13 early KAP build.
3" Trailmaster lift with 1.5 Spacers on front
Customised winch bumper and roll cage
235/85R16 Maxxis Bighorns on 16" Rims, 4:1 Rocklobster, Rear ARB locker and on-board air
Corrected arms all-round, rear disks, Recaro seats and harnesses
The type of lug nut is determined by the particular wheel it's being used with - most steel wheels take a nut with a 60* tapered seat, most, but not all OEM alloys, including Suzuki's take the same tapered seat nut, but in general, if choosing an alloy rim, it should be visually inspected to determine the correct nut.
Look at the surface of the wheel where the lug nut will seat - if it has a tapered seat, then it needs a tapered nut, if it has a flat seat and an "oversized" hole for the stud, then it needs a shanked lug nut with a flat washer.
This is really about how the wheels are "centered" on the hub, wheels with tapered seats are located by the tapered nuts and are known as "lug centric", wheels with flat seats need a hub with a protruding spigot and a centering ring to locate them, and known as "hub centric".
I'll have a good look at some point. The Jimny was originally fitted with alloys, which I have, but the previous owner has recently fitted steels, with what I think are the original nuts from the alloys.
I'll whip one out and take a look.
The intention, is to refit the alloys anyway
Cheers
Most hub centric wheels also have tapered (or spherical) seat nuts/bolts. The taper resists mechanical precession, which would otherwise tend to loosen the ones on the offside of the car.
Flat seat nut mounting used to be fairly common on alloys (and only alloys). The area providing friction is much bigger than on a pressed steel wheel, reducing the chance of unscrewing and, even so, you were supposed to check tightness regularly. Modern alloys usually have a hard steel insert with the female taper.
