996 Wheel bolts

[Smokey Boyer]

Recently got my first Porsche. It is a 2004 plate, Lapis Blue 996 C4 Tiptronic with 74000 on the clock and a full OPC service history apart from the last major service at an indie. It is an epic car and makes me smile every time I press the go pedal.

I had a TVR Chimaera 500 and TVR S3 before this. The Chim500 was brutal and brash in every way and incredible at the initial launch and low and mid-speed acceleration. The 996 is quick and keeps pulling where the Chim would start to run out of steam and feels much more planted than the TVR.

Did Porsche get TVR to make some of their components, bolts and fasteners from the scrap and leftovers TVR discarded from their chassis tubes on a rainy day in Blackpool?

On my long list of things to replace and fix are the wheel bolts. I was shocked to see how badly the floating collar had corroded when I took the wheels off. How this car got through a major service less than 12 months and 1000 miles ago is beyond me. A few of the bolt collars were more dust than metal.

So, the reason for the post, what to replace them with? I am looking for 16 standard bolts and 4 locking bolts, ideally with 19mm hex heads and want to retain the floating collar to prevent damage to the wheels. Wheels are standard silver alloys so will perhaps avoid the black bolts.

Do I go for a cheaper set of eBay specials, zinc plated bolts and locking bolts for about £70?
Do I stick with the Porsche/OEM style - a full of OEM bolts and Porsche locking bolts from FrazerParts is about £120?
Are the DesignTek bolt kits worth the money at £185 from Design911
Original Porsche bolt sets are approx £220 I believe.

Is there any other supplier or bolt type I should consider.

Thanks in advance of your replies and guidance.

[gwsinc]

Smokey Boyer said:

Do I go for a cheaper set of eBay specials, zinc plated bolts and locking bolts for about £70?
Do I stick with the Porsche/OEM style - a full of OEM bolts and Porsche locking bolts from FrazerParts is about £120?
Are the DesignTek bolt kits worth the money at £185 from Design911
Original Porsche bolt sets are approx £220 I believe.

Is there any other supplier or bolt type I should consider.

Thanks in advance of your replies and guidance.

I'd stay away from eBay specials, you never know what you're getting. If you're not going down the titanium route (minimal benefit on a road car), then original Porsche ones will do the trick. I've no experience of DesignTek bolts but Design911 are a reputable company so would expect them to be good quality.

I bought a full set from an OPC recently and have no complaints...

[Smokey Boyer]

gwsinc said:

I bought a full set from an OPC recently and have no complaints...

How much did you pay from OPC?

[gwsinc]

Smokey Boyer said:

How much did you pay from OPC?

£192 all in with Porsche Club discount, this is for 16 bolts and 4 locking bolts, in black.

[Paynewright]

I recently cleaned all of mine up and sprayed with silver paint so they are protected again and look like new. I only had one where the collar had started to bulge so just got from opc. There is a good ‘how to’ write up on 911UK.

Whilst investigating bolts I found that some of the german car parts websites are quite cheap for OEM bolts (febi bilstein) - Autodoc quite good. Also look at GSF and ECP as with their sale codes can be very reasonable.

I got my McGard locking bolts, via Amazon, from one of the discount houses too 28177, £25.19 delivered. Quite a few people throw the locking bolts away and just fit std ones.

Edited by Paynewright on Thursday 13th June 11:50

[Paynewright]

And dont forget to aluslip under the collar and threads too.

[John Laverick]

I posted this a couple of months back:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I bought these eBay onces which state they're Grade 10.9 and compliant with TUV approval (but they didn't come with certs so who really knows).

Anyway .... I'm very happy with them. Been on the car 4000 miles now with no complaints.

[G-996]

I’ve got a set of the DesignTek bolts including locking bolts, they were on my 996 when I bought it 5 years ago. They seem fine.

[nebpor]

My indy put new OEM ones on mine 3 years ago, about 120 quid

[Smokey Boyer]

Opted for a full set of genuine Porsche wheel bolts including locking bolts from Leicester OPC. Figured that was my safest bet - the bit that keeps the wheels attached to the car is not something to compromise on really.

Thanks for the guidance.

[nebpor]

I must admit I just binned the locknuts on the basis no one would steal a set of twists!