Wheels/Bolts Doubt

[lucascosta21]

Hi guys,

I am trying a quote for a set of Steel Wheels with guys of Specialty Wheels and he asked me a question that I didn't understand very well. Could you guys help me with that and also with the answer? 

My 68' Charger was a factory 318 auto trans (VIN XP29F8B262213). I don't know yet lots details about it.

Follow what Andrew, from Specialty Wheels, sent to me:

"do you know if you have alternating left hand and right hand threaded studs, and which wheels have them? There are plenty of Mopars out there I've seen that may have three wheels with a left hand thread, and one with a right hand, and any number of other combos."

Ah, he has confirmed a special discount (10% off) for members of the forum as other post mentions.

Thank you.

Lucas

[cdr]

when new our cars came with left hand thread wheel studs on the driverside of the car, the point is they sometimes get changed out to regular,right hand thread studs, they want to know so they can get you the correct lug nuts.

[lucascosta21]

when new our cars came with left hand thread wheel studs on the driverside of the car, the point is they sometimes get changed out to regular,right hand thread studs, they want to know so they can get you the correct lug nuts.

CDR,

So, from the factory, our cars came with left hand thread wheels studs? My car is not with me right now so I can check it out but I can suppose that, if the other owners didn't change the hubs, it is a left-hand thread in all wheels. Is that right?

[Daytona R/T SE]

when new our cars came with left hand thread wheel studs on the driverside of the car, the point is they sometimes get changed out to regular,right hand thread studs, they want to know so they can get you the correct lug nuts.

CDR,

So, from the factory, our cars came with left hand thread wheels studs? My car is not with me right now so I can check it out but I can suppose that, if the other owners didn't change the hubs, it is a left-hand thread in all wheels. Is that right?

Left hand threads on the driver's side only.

Right hand threads on the passenger side.

Starting in '71 it was right hand threads all the way around.

Left hand threaded studs will have an "L" stamped into the end of the stud.

Take off a lug nut and see.



Remember this:

Driver's side:

Lefty tighty, righty loosey.



Passenger side:

Righty tighty, lefty loosey.  

[lucascosta21]

when new our cars came with left hand thread wheel studs on the driverside of the car, the point is they sometimes get changed out to regular,right hand thread studs, they want to know so they can get you the correct lug nuts.

CDR,

So, from the factory, our cars came with left hand thread wheels studs? My car is not with me right now so I can check it out but I can suppose that, if the other owners didn't change the hubs, it is a left-hand thread in all wheels. Is that right?

Left hand threads on the driver's side only.

Right hand threads on the passenger side.

Starting in '71 it was right hand threads all the way around.

Left hand threaded studs will have an "L" stamped into the end of the stud.

Take off a lug nut and see.

Driver's side:

Lefty tighty, righty loosey.

Passenger side:

Righty tighty, lefty loosey. 

Thanks a lot for your help, CDR.

I know that a lot of people change the thread from left-hand to right-hand because besides being easier to identify your set you keep your car away of problems when you have to take your car for a check up and forget to say about that for the guy with the airgun!

[HANDM]

A good rule of thumb is to remember that pre 71 the nuts tighten to the front of the car...

Now my 70 challenger on the other hand, has 74 discs on the front so they are right tight left loose and the rears are still stock so they tighten to the front.... 

[alfaitalia]

Rolls Royce's did the same thing until fairly recently.....and many Formula 1 cars still do......so we were in good company!

[GreenMachine]

   If you've ever had a wheel come off your vehicle or trailer due to loosening lug nuts, chances are it was on the drivers side with right hand thread.
   Forward rotation of the wheel tends to keep loosened lug nuts snug with r/h thread on right and l/h thread on left.

[green69rt]

There are probably every combination possible on early Mopars.  Us old hot rodders know about the left hand threaded lugs but I bet a lot (make that most) people don't. As a result things got replaced with the wrong lugs.  Even one wheel may have different lugs!  A lug breaks and folks would replace it with the wrong thread direction out of ignorance.  So, figure out what you want on you car and make sure you document it so the next person will know.   Maybe it will help but maybe not, at least you tried.

[charge69]

My Charger is still configured with the left-hand studs on the drivers side and right-hand threads on the passenger side. Pretty easy to find left-hand wheel nuts in stock configuration but a little harder to get special ones for mags.  Cragar doesn't make them and I had to get a little help from Jegs and use a different manufacturer for my left-hand Conical nuts.

[John_Kunkel]

Forward rotation of the wheel tends to keep loosened lug nuts snug with r/h thread on right and l/h thread on left.

Yeah, they even made the differential ring gear bolts left hand.

But think of all the other makers who never did or earlier scrapped the LH lug idea....no epidemic of lost wheels.

[dual fours]

I think that the left hand lug nuts have a (L) stamped on them. Just like the left hand studs have a (L) stamped on the end.

[green69rt]

I think that the left hand lug nuts have a (L) stamped on them. Just like the left hand studs have a (L) stamped on the end.

I think you'r right,and it's not even that hard to look at the lug and see the left hand threads.  It's just that most folks don't think about them.  I've known since I had my old 69 and I still forget until I try to take off the driver side wheel and struggle, till I remember.  It might just be easier to make them all right hand and not have to remember, unless you're making a car for shows.

As far as the nuts working loose, just torque them per spec and have them re-torqued when the tire gets rotated.

[500Jon]

Good topic this on Wheel STUD threads!

Most Folks have swapped them out over the years to ALL RIGHTS!
But I heard some Folks were losing LEFT-SIDE wheels???

This can happen with modern Aluminum wheels but rarely with 5-bolt Steels...

One problem is finding a LEFT-Handed Torque wrench.

Not torquing wheel nuts is a BAD habit indeed!

[alfaitalia]

"One problem is finding a LEFT-Handed Torque wrench."

Joke surely??? All my torque wrenches...inch drive up to hoooooge for axle nuts etc are reversible.

[500Jon]

No joke alfalfa!

The amount of times I hear about 'non L/H torque wrench' busted bolt stories, still amazes me!
Can't name-names as Folks are funny about stuff like that!

There's a lot of cheap Chinese tools out there, as for me, I only buy SNAP-ON Tools.
I'm an American trapped in a LIMEY skin...

[alfaitalia]

Love Snap on...we use it at work. Out of my budget....and to be honest, overkill for me. I would rather put that cash into my "Project". Don't get me wrong ...I buy don't buy cheap (dangerous) tools ...but Teng and Draper Pro are more my level.....I don't break much! I've had my Draper socket kit since I bought my 50cc bike on my 16th birthday....34 years ago. Never replaced anything except a 17mm socket...lost it! I don't think I've got much to complain about there!