TheSamba.com :: View topic - Help- I stripped 2 lugs in one rim!

Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:25 pm

I have a '78 beetle- just got it back from minor rust repair and repaint- took a long time and couldn't wait to get her back! The car has "cal chrome" rims which were on the car when we bought it- it has double threaded stems for the bolts (not sure if that's the right name)- one end goes into the brake drum (hexkey hole allows tightening), then the rim goes on the stem, and bolts go on to hold the rim onto the car.

Anyway, since the car was just re-painted, I wanted to change the rusty lug nuts and center caps. When I went to put the first rim on I was using a torque wrench for the first time, and thought it would click like a ratchet and not turn the lug anymore once it reached the set torque amount. Well, I now know quite well that the torque wrench gives just a slight click and sensation (like cracking a knuckle) that you hear/feel while turning it very slowly. At any rate, 2 of 4 lugs are now stripped. How do I repair this? With a new brake drum? I will say that one of the lugs stripped and a complete circle coil came out, leading me to believe that maybe it was stripped in the past and repaired with helicoil- can I do that again? Also, are the double threaded stems something I can get as a replacement, or are they something unique to an aftermarket rim?

I'll attach a pic of the double threaded stem I'm talking about and the car- the paint job came out great! I'm in idiot for not being more careful with the torque wrench :oops:

Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:33 pm

Here is the double threaded stem:

Here's the car- drove it for about an hour then started lug change project- now I'll only drive it to the shop to get fixed- 2 lugs stripped on front wheel :(

Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:35 pm

Why not simply replace the drum?

I would not bring "Jerry" into this by welding something when it can be easily replaced.

Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:43 pm

True- a new drum can't be much money (relative to all I just spent on getting the car painted). Are those double threaded things common?

I was quite upset when this happened. Now I'm an expert at using the torque wrench- just switched the tires and rims on my wife's car (getting ready for winter & different winter tires/rims for her car...)

Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:58 pm

The two stripped "studs" may be stpripped themselves rather than the threads in the drum. Usually, the studs are the softer material. However, I would not trust thread in studs on a VW. Bumps and road vibration is likely to loosen the studs in the drum over time and could result in a much more serious problem. I'd strongly suggest that you remove both front drums and replace the thread-in studs with hardened units like ARP that are pressed in from the inside of the drum. These are designed not to pull out and can handle both high torque and road vibration. The cost of paint is one thing. Your safety is another.

Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:16 pm

Thanks- I'll bring this up with the garage. Anything with safety I always want done right- first thing we did when we bought the car was change all the brake lines/parts! The car doesn't handle or accelerate that well (ha!), but it better be able to stop- and I'll add not have a wheel or two fall off!

Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:28 pm

I have run stud kits on my last 4 vws and they have been great.
I always use blue threadlock. It makes custom wheel installation alot easier too. Finding lugnuts is alot easier than lugstuds.

Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:13 pm

Sway Away makes pressed in studs. A little more work but bullet proof.

Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:19 pm

A new set of drums is less than $70.......At any auto parts store..Convert it to disc already..

Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:46 pm

America's Tire sells lugbolts for $1.50/each

I just got some the other day to replace the stud kit that someone did on my super.

Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:40 am

Get regular lug bolt at napa.

I had a drum strip out and used press in studs, then had the studs tacked
on the inside of the drum for extra security.

http://www.vwparts.net/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTG...&char=