Titanium wheel bolts tight to fit?

I bought a set of new OEM genuine Ferrari titanium wheel bolts, but when the tech tried to fit them, they "bind" after half a turn and won't go any further in just using your fingers.
I specifically didn't want them to use a wheel gun, but they are mystified as to why the bolts won't simply screw in like the stock steel ones.

The specs say they are identical and apparently haven't changed across all models for many years, but one mechanic reckons the pitch of the thread looks steeper on the titanium ones, which would explain why they bind.

Has anyone else encountered this or can offer an explanation?

 

From what you say I can't think of any explanation other than they are the incorrect thread.

 

That shouldn’t be possible, but yes I guess so.

 

Not OEM.

 

Measure diameter of threaded part and compare each bolt. Use a micrometer. Also a thread pitch gauge for metric thread. Probably not OEM and threaded diameter too large on major thread diameter. A good machine shop may be able to rethread the titanium ones to match the OEM threads.

 

So I took the bolt I bought to our local Ferrari dealer parts department where the guy was incredibly helpful.
He let me see the correct bolt, (part number 206274 if you're interested) and it had a VERY slightly finer thread pitch, i.e. the threads were slightly closer together than the ones on my bolts.
Test fitted one and it fitted perfectly as expected (can't quite hand tighten without using a socket, but no serious resistance).
He is trying to find out what other Ferrari titanium bolts there are, as he did think mine looked OEM.

 

Your wheels bolts should be M14x1.5x75mm equivalent to Ferrari part 000247702 and fits most Ferraris including the Ferrari 360, 430, 458, 488, 612, 599, F8, 812, 296 GTB, Roma, California Portofino and other Ferrari's. 75mm is the overall length and the shaft length is 52mm (length under the base of the cone until the end of the threads) for the standard length assuming you are using original wheels and have not added spacers.

 

Interesting, that is not the part number that fitted my car, it was definitely the 206274. We test fitted them.
Still don't know the part number of the ones I bought that definitely do NOT fit the F8.

 

M14 bolts come in:

M14x2mm (standard machine thread, DIN 13). Not that M14 is an usual thread in engineering to start with.

And fine threads:
M14x1.75mm
M14x1.5mm
M14x1.25mm

This can be confusing.

You cannot change the pitch by treading one pitch over the other. You ruin the bolt

 

The difference between these thread pitches should be very obvious to the naked eye. Rather than being the wrong thread pitch, I would suspect the threads are simply cut incorrectly or have some schwarf that is making them bind.

Can you try cleaning up the threads with a 1.5 pitch thread file? This would take care of a small inconsistency as well as any machining issues that could cause the binding?

 

It’s a subtle but distinct difference in pitch. The one I bought is on the right, the correct one for an F8 (and many other models) is on the left. Waiting to hear which models the one I bought fit.

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David I can verify that the threads for Ferrari 458 488 and F8 are the exact same. I had a 488 and then my current F8. I played around with putting my HRE wheels I used on my 488 on my F8 using the same bolts for both cars with no issue. I then sold these wheels and bolts to a 458 owner and we put them on his 458 with no issue.
You need to exchange the wheel bolts you received for ones with the correct thread pitch ...M14x1.5mm bolt length will depend on if you have OEM wheels or aftermarket wheels and have changed offset spec.

 

Looking at the pic, I am tempted to say it's the same pitch (hold them into each other), but your bolts look bad. Like Joe from Colorado assumes, too.
Try a thread file, or better a M14x1.5mm die. However, I would return them.

 

206274 is the titanium bolt listed on the Pista parts diagram - so that's definitely right.

247702 seems to be a superseded (replaced by 70006039) regular (not titanium) bolt part number.

For whatever reason, 70006039 is applicable to a certain 488 GTB assembly number, and then a 803384 is applicable.

The 206274 is listed for the 458 Speciale but the 458 Italia (which has the 247702 and 70006039, and no 803384, as regular bolts) has a part # 70004715 for titanium bolts.

 

I agree.... now that I am home and using a large high end monitor the threads on the bolt that is getting stuck look bad.

 

Thanks, I will see if the parts guy from the dealer has this on his system. Very strange that the 458 Italia alone had a different titanium thread pitch. Surely the steel bolts for that model would also have the same unique pitch?
I would just like to know so I can resell them for the right car.

 

Not OEM.

 

I can guarantee you that the 458 and 488 F8 are the same thread pitch. I’ve put my wheels from my 488 on F8 and 458 with same bolts.

 

The finish on the material on the left looks different for sure, that's how mine look exactly (smooth titanium). Do they weigh the same?

 

Stock F8 bolts are M14 - 1.5mm x 77mm

Have you verified OD and thread pitch? I run titanium wheel bolts and studs on my cars and never ran into an issue. They pretty much all come from the same place no matter whose name is on them.

Get a metric thread pitch gauge on Amazon if you don't have one and a set of digital calipers.

Most wheel bolts for all manufacturers are going to be M12 or M14 with a thread pitch of 1.25 or 1.5mm. Sometimes you will run across 1.75mm and as was stated, you can't rethread the bolt on a something that had to hold a wheel on a car. You have to measure and start with the correct size bolt.

 

So I ended up buying another set that fit the F8 (also confusingly listed as 206274!) and they've gone on fine.
Yesterday I test fitted one of the first set I bought on a friend's F430 and that fitted perfectly!
So the first set I've got definitely fits the F430 and according to Maranello Classics, a rather eclectic mix of other models including the 360 CS (but not regular 360), 599 GTO (but not regular 599) and this is what is really freaky, 458 Speciale and 488 Pista, but not regular 488 and definitely not F8!
https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/part/ferrari/206274?id=127767

So basically the parts listings cannot be trusted and Ferrari definitely did change pitch thread somewhere between F430 and F8. This set are 1.5mm according to my friend's pitch gauge.

Anyway, I guess I should advertise the spare set in the F430 section!