Printable View
I have difficulty lifting wheels and trying to align them with the studs so I made one of these simple but very effective fitting aids. It's small enough to keep in the car in case of a puncture. No skill as such required in making it.
Here' the link:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xrAUrfC92Q&t=5s
First off, the wheel doesn't have "studs" (and that's the problem). I've never seen a car where the tires were mounted with bolts as shown. Most cars have real studs which serve the same purposes of support and alignment that your device provides.
I'm surprised when you say that you've never seen hubs without studs and using bolts instead. Here (in U.K.) a great many cars are like this.
I'm guessing many on this forum are just too young to remember that cars particularly Chrystler corp. had wheel bolts and not studs in the 1940s Nash Ramblers were the same way Also Volkswagen beetles and micro bus, Packard from early on through late 40s and Buick in the mid 50s I think Dodge even tried it again ion one of their compact models in the 2010's At least Chrysler and Packard were smart enough to add an alignment pin sticking out from the drum to fit in a small hole in the rim
The thing about wheel lug Bolts is you can't install them upside down
Lug bolts are somewhat commonly used on trailers and farm equipment in the US, in addition to what Frank S said above.
Chrysler/DeSoto and some others also used left-handed thread on the left side of the vehicle for a few years. Very frustrating.
The only part that made it frustrating was not all cars used left hand thread on their cars. Semi-truck manufactures adopted the idea of lefthand thread early on with the idea that the lug nuts would not have a tendency to loosen if they were threaded so they would tighten in the direction of the rolling direction of the tireQuote:
Originally Posted by ductape
It must have some merit because I have had a trailer come in where the hubs had been installed on the wrong side the driver complaining that he couldn't keep the lug nuts tight on one of his axles of a trailer he had just bought I noticed that 1 axle had the hubs switched side to side I swapped them and his problem went away
Then you have never worked on or owned a European car.Quote:
Originally Posted by mklotz
To the original poster:
This is a brilliant tool, I can't believe it never occurred to me, I'm looking forward to next falls summer tire - winter tire exchange!
More than a few years actually, they were still doing it in the seventies.Quote:
Originally Posted by ductape
Yup. This happens a lot with European and German crap. My girlfriend's Audi and my Porsche 911 are both like this. Hateful things. Strangely enough, my old 928 and 944 both had proper wheel studs. So they USED to do it correctly, had a brain aneurysm somewhere in the 1990s, then made all their wheels stupid. Go figure. Funny side note, if you ever get a chance to pull the wheels off an old Porsche 944, do it. They use aluminum or magnesium lugs. It feels like they're made of air. It's absolutely bizarre holding them in your hand.
The absolute best part is the Audi HAS FLOATING ROTORS. Think getting the damn rim on the car is hard if you don't have wheel studs? Now try getting the wheel on, plus a rotor that spins out of alignment of the bolt holes every time you put the wheel on. Whatever engineer decided this was a good idea should be shot with a ball of their own ****.
Then you clearly would benefit from some of these...I just ordered a set, I never knew they were a thing, driving Saabs for forty years.Quote:
Originally Posted by nova_robotics
https://www.amazon.ca/OEMTOOLS-24233.../dp/B01FYG6AJ4
Porsche used an aluminum-magnesium alloy lug nut that had similar thermal expansion and contraction properties as the wheels in order to prevent loosening. They need to be replaced frequently. No problem for race cars, but one more little thing for every other owner to deal with.Quote:
Originally Posted by nova_robotics
Huh. The ones on my car were like 35 years old by the time I got rid of it. Oops.Quote:
Originally Posted by ductape
<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks brianhw! We've added your Wheel Fitting Aid to our Wheel and Tire category,
as well as to your builder page: brianhw's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:
<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-wheel-fitting-aid"> <img src="/uploads/259413/homemade-wheel-fitting-aid.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-wheel-fitting-aid">Wheel Fitting Aid</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/wheel'>wheel</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
My 2008 Mini Cooper has bolts and not protruding studs.
Now that is a neat idea.
The same concept could be used with a hollow tube for cars with lugs.
Many European cars use bolts. My 2001 BMW 740iL is this way.
Congratulations brianhw - your Wheel Fitting Aid is the Homemade Tool of the Week!
Simple, portable, and a good backsaver too.
Some more nice builds from this week:
Gravel Separating Rake by hemmjo
Dust Collection Network by Christophe Mineau
Grinding Wheel Balancing Fixture by Mazay
Dust Shoe by Christophe Mineau
Needle Threading Aid by Philip Davies
Nail Cutter by diy creative crafts
Belt Grinder by KOLT Workshop
Swarf Pick Up Tool by BuffaloJohn
Bar Straightening Jig by Improvised DIY
Zero Clearance Insert by Make Things
Panel Hoist by Mr. Factotum's Workshop
Horizontal Milling Attachment Installation by celsoari
brianhw - we've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll be receiving a $100 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.
This is your 7th Homemade Tool of the Week win! Here are all of your winning tools:
<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/home-made-filing-machine-die-filer-46679#post66803"> <img src="/uploads/152256/filing-machine-5.png"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/home-made-filing-machine-die-filer-46679#post66803">Filing Machine</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/pulley'>pulley</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/crankshaft'>crankshaft</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/file'>file</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/quick-acting-drill-table-vice-54820#post80639"> <img src="/uploads/161713/homemade-table-vise.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/quick-acting-drill-table-vice-54820#post80639">Table Vise</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/vise'>vise</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/damaged-thread-repair-tool-59529#post89486"> <img src="/uploads/167393/homemade-damaged-thread-chamfering-tool.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/damaged-thread-repair-tool-59529#post89486">Damaged Thread Chamfering Tool</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/threading'>threading</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/repair'>repair</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/wire-binding-tool-61983#post95257"> <img src="/uploads/201642/homemade-wire-binding-tool.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/wire-binding-tool-61983#post95257">Wire Binding Tool</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/hand-tools'>hand tools</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/homemade-plectrum-punch-66500#post107601"> <img src="/uploads/210793/homemade-plectrum-punch.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/homemade-plectrum-punch-66500#post107601">Plectrum Punch</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/punch'>punch</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/vice-grips-slide-hammer-69972#post120043"> <img src="/uploads/218595/homemade-vise-grip-slide-hammer-6.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/vice-grips-slide-hammer-69972#post120043">Vise Grip Slide Hammer</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/slide-hammer'>slide hammer</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/handy-car-wheel-fitting-aid-96885#post223859"> <img src="/uploads/259413/homemade-wheel-fitting-aid.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/handy-car-wheel-fitting-aid-96885#post223859">Wheel Fitting Aid</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianhw">brianhw</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/wheel'>wheel</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
Well, I'm working on a Lamborghini Countach that uses bolts. This is a great idea as the wheels and tires on this car are very wide, heavy and awkward. Thanks for the idea.
We're gunna need pictures. It's my dream to work on one of those. I've never even seen one in real life.Quote:
Originally Posted by lugnuts
My MGB had one big nut per wheel...