308 Wheel bolts....

Well, long and short....

They are different lengths...you need ten long and ten short....literally.

And I do have one set that has 'standard' non chromed bolts, but they do need to have the conical boss on the shank under the drive hex, to center the wheel properly...

OR I have a set of studs and nuts that hold my BBS set on, I never investiogated this as I have not used them, but that would be a conversion alternative too

Hill Engineering replicates the Factory ones nicely, IIRC Ricambi handles them, and I have actually personally paid $400 for a 'take off' set of OEMs, that run $65.00 each at the Dealer Counter!

But my mild steel ones work fine, but pay attention to construction details I cite above...

 

You've seen one in your hand, right?

It's pretty special......shape wise. The chrome finish on only 'half' of it is tedious, too.

Not some basic stud as fitted to most axles or rotor discs in a Chevy or something...

 

I've got 1 that's messed up and I've been looking for a replacement for a couple months. Here's what I think I've figured out.

Aftermarket cheap bolts don't look like the OEM bolts. There's a shoulder behind where the hex head is on the cheap type. It's not really bad, just different. Mixing OEM and cheap aftermarket wouldn't look right cause they'd be different.

So, if you need all 20, I'd try here: http://www.wheelcomponents.com/lugbolts. If you only need 1 or 2, and want OEM, they're expensive. Superformance seems the most reasonable, but Ebay sometimes has used ones.

I can't believe lug bolts need to cost $100 each to keep the wheel from falling off, but I'm sure some will disagree. I think a $2 bolt would do the job.

I'm holding out for a single used bolt on Ebay at a reasonable price that I can have rechromed.
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Hill Engineering. (via Daniel at Ricambi if you are in the USA)

http://www.hillengineering.co.uk

 

Well, as your pic shows the hex head has to match OEM or you need a new tool...

The shaft has to be smooth for the dimension thru the wheel casting....

Come on guys, these hold your WHEELS to the CAR......save money on your oil filter if you have to!

It took a long time, and some minimal 'begging', but I bought a whole set, used, for $275.00, once....it matched the rest of the Ferrari, it was 'used' too!

 

Check with a wrecking yard...TRutlands maybe....

 

I bought H&R brand wheel bolts and they work fine.

 

Try FIAT and Alfa suppliers -- many of those cars use bolts, too; maybe some of them will have the same lengths.

 

Those will work. If the ricers can use them for drifting they shouldn't be a problem on the Fcar. I have also seen somewhere ones that have a similar size hex as the OEM's. Can't remember where but thing it was on ebay under lug bolts. Good luck and keep us posted .

 

Yes, I did too, and I think they were only about $5 each. They look identical to the stock bolts, except the chroming is definitely inferior from close up, though adequate from normal viewing distance (standing).

 

I highly recommend these guys:


I bought a 2nd set of wheels bolts to put the aftermarket wheels on my 308 from http://www.wheelcomponents.com/lugbolts.

These guys were great and the bolts were a perfect fit (I was very careful to correctly measure what I wanted).

Made in China but for $60 for 20 bolts, it was a steal. Like the other guy said, the finish is not 100% concourse, but the bolts are buried in counterbored holes so you can't see them anyway.

 

Last time I was getting a rotation/rebalance at a national chain tire shop, the kids working there asked if I knew what the lug bolt torque specs were for my 308. Uh, jeez guys, I didn't think to bring the manual with me. They said that the lug bolts were the same ones used on some Volkswagons, so they just tightened them to VW specs. Worked for me. They've held up to some pretty serious driving and haven't fallen off yet. So if they were right, certain VW lugs could be an alternative source.

 

That's just plain silly. Even if they look similar and are both 22mm hex, the seats may not be the same and VWs have steel wheels and the Ferrari has magnesium alloy wheels.

REMEMBER THIS NUMBER: 72 (ft-lbs)

That's less than cars with steel wheels.


EDIT: I just looked up the VW specs, and there are two of them. You might now be torqued at 80 ft lbs, which isn't too far off, but you just as likely might have been torqued to 90 ft lbs, 25% over spec!

 

In my dreams there's a local tire shop that knows what they're doing and has a nice selection of V rated 14" tires for my 308. (Yes it would be easy to upgrade to 16"s, but I kinda like the way the original wheels and big tires look.)

Last time I was in the aforementioned tire shop for a free rotation and rebalance, they give me the line "You don't drive this car much do you? Even though your tires look new they're too old for us to work on." Fortunately, I had the original sales receipt with me that proved that they had to provide the guaranteed services, since they hadn't sold me the tires too long ago. Then, as I watch the kids work from the waiting area, they're rotating the tires but not rebalancing them. Good thing I was watching. At least everytime I told the kids what they should be doing, they listened.

Maybe next time I'll have tires air freighted over from Europe (as posted on another thread) and have Costco install them. I've always gotten good service there.

 

Look on eBay. Some guy (ahem....) has an assortment of what I believe to be Hill Engineering bolts for sale very cheap, no reserve. I am cleaning out the remaining odds and ends of my 308 resto project.

 

Big Tex, can you tell me the measurements of the long and the short bolts? I have a 79 308 and want to fit the original wheels but I do not know the length and diameter of the original front and rear bolts. Thanks very much

 

Which bolts did you buy for the front and for the rear?

 

Which bolts (measurements) did you purchase for the front and for the rear? Trying to figure out what I need for my 79 308 wheels. I have aftermarket on the car right now and want to install the original wheels but the wheels did not come with the lugs.

 

Well, if I told you it would not do you any good, because I was using these wheel bolts with volvo wheels (made by Voxx, from America's tire) and volvo brake discs, not exactly stock, but I like to mix and match.

I think you need to assemble your stackup and measure it to determine the right bolts, if you are using all original parts, that's one thing, but my setup is quite different.

 

I'll try to pull them and measure.....

The car is wrecked, and freezing now.......

 

Thanks very much.