Plastic fake bolts for the wheels

[hoyin]

So what is the deal with these?

Can I remove them before I send the wheel for refurbishment?

Or failing that where do you get replacements?

I don't think I will go for a black - I will stick to plain old silver.

[Stella Artois]

Are you referring to the anodised nut? Pictured red here.



If so, they can be painted, so can the plastic trim that it holds on, to match your wheel colour choice. Remember that the thread cannot be painted on the inner diameter though

[MrCredit]

I would assume he's talking about the 3R wheels.

[joust]

Replacements can be got from the South Africa factory, but they are expensive....

J

[AMG Merc]

They are plastic, glued in at the base and usually break when they are removed - sometimes leaving the ends in the sockets. They are best removed by the wheel refurbishers via the acid bath process.

If you can find the right size (replacement bolts are upwards of 20p each and, AFAIR, there are 28 per wheel (so, additional £22 approx. plus 30-60 minutes per wheel extra labour cost) - leave them out, the look is just as good (in fact from a distance you can't see whether there are bolts in or not).

[hoyin]

Yes I am referring to the 3R wheels.

OK thanks I will leave as is then and not get replacements. Seems like I am going for black or Anthracite.

[AMG Merc]

hoyin said:

Yes I am referring to the 3R wheels.

OK thanks I will leave as is then and not get replacements. Seems like I am going for black or Anthracite.

That's the thing though, you can't leave them in if the acid bath process is being used (best process IMHO) to refurb the wheels - they will part-dissolve anyway. If anyone tells you they can refurb and leave the bolts alone then beware! And, if they says they'll just mask up to the rim below the bolts, it'll eventually peel and look rubbish.

[wessexrfc]

AMG Merc said:

hoyin said:

Yes I am referring to the 3R wheels.

OK thanks I will leave as is then and not get replacements. Seems like I am going for black or Anthracite.

That's the thing though, you can't leave them in if the acid bath process is being used (best process IMHO) to refurb the wheels - they will part-dissolve anyway. If anyone tells you they can refurb and leave the bolts alone then beware! And, if they says they'll just mask up to the rim below the bolts, it'll eventually peel and look rubbish.

So far so good!!!(bolts were masked, labour intensive though)

[hoyin]

But mine needs to be acid bathed. So I guess masking won't help me.

[alex s]

I have a bag of the fake nuts sitting in the garage, will have a count and see how many I have...

[funkybmx1]

noble said to me £1.13 each plus vat i thought 29 each wheel. and needed all 4 wheels. but prob counted wrong

[S26VE P]

funkybmx1 said:

noble said to me £1.13 each plus vat i thought 29 each wheel. and needed all 4 wheels. but prob counted wrong

29 in the wheel above. so thats right.

[Mick S]

When I did my M400 wheels I had to buy the fake nuts from Noble and they were about £1.20 each. In my experience as a plastic engineeer they'd cost about 20 pence each to make including the chrome finish (about 7 pence each if they were coloured with masterbatch). These are low volume manufacturing prices.
I'm unsure if the existing ones can be extracted as the idiots who powder coated my wheels melted them out before dipping them. I think if you are prepared to spend a little time they could be worked out as they are only a press fit.

Re fitting is by knocking them in, they are just a friction fit. I made a hardwood punch to use as they are so short you just keep hitting your fingers with the hammer.

[key750]

Stella Artois said:

Are you referring to the anodised nut? Pictured red here.



If so, they can be painted, so can the plastic trim that it holds on, to match your wheel colour choice. Remember that the thread cannot be painted on the inner diameter though

My "fake bolt" in one wheel spin free!!!!
The wheel it's braked -> ok
The 60mm key it's in -> ok
I push and -> bolt and central hub spins!!!!

Please help!!!!

[5paulmv]

have a look on my thread bussy times pic of wheel as cant get it to load up again nut kit after refurb consists of stainless allen cap heads a hacksaw about 1 hour and a part tube of stickaflex aprox 2 days drying and then balance wheels

[R0162]

5paulmv said:

have a look on my thread bussy times pic of wheel as cant get it to load up again nut kit after refurb consists of stainless allen cap heads a hacksaw about 1 hour and a part tube of stickaflex aprox 2 days drying and then balance wheels

I did same as Paul, we cut the heads of S/S bolts and glued them back in, the wheel guy was cutting them while i glued them in and we did it all in about 1 hour.

[Rob_W]

Oh God another one to add to the to do list

[5paulmv]

hi chris hows car comming on ive finally got mine painted still looking for a pair of door cards to use as a mould