VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Wheel hub/lug bolt sizes

I needed a couple of hub bolts for a 29 and started looking through my sack of hub bolts. Separated them all out and managed to find 3 matches. I separated them by size, length of serrated section, and length. There were also sub groups of different head shapes.

The 39 catalog had some sizes and some were still in GM packaging but I ended up with about 10 sizes of hub bolts unidentified.

So checking the filling station catalog I see they have consolidated most of the passenger cars to one part number.

Sorry for the long build up but my question is how important is having the exact length of serration and overall length in fitting these hub bolts?

Thanks

Dave

I would expect there is some ideal relationship between the length of the serration and the hub thickness. If the serrations are not long enough they might not grab and hold in the hub like you want. If the serrations are too long they could prevent the lug nut from properly tightening the wheel to the hub.

Likewise there will similar concerns with overall length of the wheel stud. There should be enough exposed thread length that the lug nut is fully engaged. If the overall stud is too long it might interfere with installation of a hub cap or wheel cover.

Thanks Rusty,

I suppose if you can press the hub bolt flat against the hub and like you said fully engage the wheel nut they would work. Maybe a case of OE engineering using the exact correct bolt and the aftermarket consolidating to reduce part numbers and inventory.

Dave

In addition to Rusty's comment above with some Chevs the brake drum is secured on the inside of the hub so the serrations need to reach through the drum and hub to hold everything in place correctly.
Tony

Good point, thanks Tony