Rusty Wheel Nuts....why does it bother me so?
Rusty Wheel Nuts....why does it bother me so?
Author
Discussion

T2R31

Original Poster:

181 posts

226 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
Chaps,

I'm wondering whether I seem to have developed an irrational fear/judgement of rusty wheel nuts!

In years gone by, when looking for a used car, the usual initial pointers would apply - panel gaps, unusual signs of wear etc.

More recently though, on this 911 search.....the sign of a couple of rusty wheel nuts seems to put me right off, the red light comes on and I loose interest!

At about £4 a pop, it's no cost to put right......but, the conclusion always seems to be 'lack of previous owner love'...

Am I alone in this oddity?

Perhaps my own ownership anality (do we know whether this word exists?) - and levels of upkeep/prep aren't setting me up well for used car purchases in my later years!!






Sandy59

2,733 posts

242 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
You think wheel nuts are bad !!


MrCooke

796 posts

226 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
If they're rusty they're aftermarket. Porsche only used aluminium wheel nuts.

Unless of course you're talking about water cooled cars, which use bolts.

/ pedant

nickfrog

25,429 posts

248 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
Maybe the OP means corroded. Even the original ones rarely stay in good shape for more than 12 month of proper use.

But there is a £10/car solution:


Lordglenmorangie

3,071 posts

236 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
T2R31 said:
Chaps,

I'm wondering whether I seem to have developed an irrational fear/judgement of rusty wheel nuts!

In years gone by, when looking for a used car, the usual initial pointers would apply - panel gaps, unusual signs of wear etc.

More recently though, on this 911 search.....the sign of a couple of rusty wheel nuts seems to put me right off, the red light comes on and I loose interest!

At about £4 a pop, it's no cost to put right......but, the conclusion always seems to be 'lack of previous owner love'...

Am I alone in this oddity?

Perhaps my own ownership anality (do we know whether this word exists?) - and levels of upkeep/prep aren't setting me up well for used car purchases in my later years!!
It's not a sign of owner lack of love. I love my car but not my nuts biggrin

993AL

1,939 posts

249 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
You're being too fussy. Wheelstuds are not where you should be looking. Find a car that you like and then get it inspected, if you buy it you can sort all the minor nigles like rusty studs. Good luck with the search.

F3RNANDO

5,186 posts

209 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Maybe the OP means corroded. Even the original ones rarely stay in good shape for more than 12 month of proper use.

But there is a £10/car solution:

+1

Just remember to remove them for services - how to confuse a mechanic!!

Pope

2,653 posts

278 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
T2R31 said:
Chaps,

I'm wondering whether I seem to have developed an irrational fear/judgement of rusty wheel nuts!

In years gone by, when looking for a used car, the usual initial pointers would apply - panel gaps, unusual signs of wear etc.

More recently though, on this 911 search.....the sign of a couple of rusty wheel nuts seems to put me right off, the red light comes on and I loose interest!

At about £4 a pop, it's no cost to put right......but, the conclusion always seems to be 'lack of previous owner love'...

Am I alone in this oddity?

Perhaps my own ownership anality (do we know whether this word exists?) - and levels of upkeep/prep aren't setting me up well for used car purchases in my later years!!
Rusting bolts are not generally a sign of abuse - if anything sometimes it is due to too much cleaning / wrong cleaner being used.

Porsche now supply black bolts instead of the silver painted items that seem to rust very easily. It seems it's a UK only issue - due to the type of salt used to keep the roads clear and when too high an alkali wheel cleaner is used - the recommended cleaners are pH neutral.

The black bolts can be retrofitted to earlier models but it's worth knowing they also have a higher torque when fitting.

nickfrog

25,429 posts

248 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
F3RNANDO said:
nickfrog said:
Maybe the OP means corroded. Even the original ones rarely stay in good shape for more than 12 month of proper use.

But there is a £10/car solution:

+1

Just remember to remove them for services - how to confuse a mechanic!!
Agreed although if that confuses the mechanic, I don't want him near the car!

Olicana

43 posts

202 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
Where did you get those covers?

nsm3

2,831 posts

227 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/wheel_nuts_b...

Note you will need to buy 4 extra bolts though, as they don't fit onto the locking bolts?

nickfrog

25,429 posts

248 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
Olicana said:
Where did you get those covers?
Chrome http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-SILVER-W...

Or black chrome http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-BLACK-CH...

The fit is perfect even on the anti-theft locking bolt so no need to replace those. A little grease inside for easy removal. Don't lose the supplied tool though.
Fitted to my car and they stayed on, intact for years.

tvrman

359 posts

315 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
Covers work well and do look good. My Boxster came with them and covered up some very rusty nuts.

To be fair the covers will help promote rust, so prob best to put a bit of grease on them if this worries you.

Cheers Ian

F3RNANDO

5,186 posts

209 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Chrome http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-SILVER-W...

Or black chrome http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-BLACK-CH...

The fit is perfect even on the anti-theft locking bolt so no need to replace those. A little grease inside for easy removal. Don't lose the supplied tool though.
Fitted to my car and they stayed on, intact for years.
These will not fit over a Porsche 996 locking nut.

doneitnow

663 posts

179 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
My Audi came with them as standard.

EvoSlayer

1,952 posts

216 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
Pope said:
Rusting bolts are not generally a sign of abuse - if anything sometimes it is due to too much cleaning / wrong cleaner being used.

Porsche now supply black bolts instead of the silver painted items that seem to rust very easily. It seems it's a UK only issue - due to the type of salt used to keep the roads clear and when too high an alkali wheel cleaner is used - the recommended cleaners are pH neutral.

The black bolts can be retrofitted to earlier models but it's worth knowing they also have a higher torque when fitting.
This is good to know, I've asked about black wheel bolts before but without any joy, do you know if black locking bolts are available?

Barry Ashcroft

1,958 posts

252 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
These ones will fit over a 996 locking bolts as I have a set on mine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TPI-CHROME-WHEEL-NUT-BOL...

turk1

219 posts

190 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
I had the same thing when i bought my car, All i did was paint the bolts with hammerite and they look so much better.

mrdemon

21,146 posts

296 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
quotequote all
MrCooke said:
If they're rusty they're aftermarket. Porsche only used aluminium wheel nuts.
horse st :-p ally bolts lol

stubbsy996

785 posts

244 months

Wednesday 25th January 2012
quotequote all
turk1 said:
I had the same thing when i bought my car, All i did was paint the bolts with hammerite and they look so much better.
+1 what he said!
That's what I did with mine. You can get away with just painting the heads of the bolts in situ, with a fine paint brush. Big improvement!!