Wheel bolts secure a vehicle's wheels by passing through the wheel, the brake rotor hat, and directly into the hub, locking everything together without the use of a separate nut.
Here's a breakdown of how they function:
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Threaded Shaft: Like wheel studs, wheel bolts feature a threaded shaft. This threading is crucial for securely fastening the wheel to the hub.
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Tapered Head: The bolt has a tapered head. This tapered head mates precisely with a corresponding tapered insert in the wheel. This provides a secure and centered connection.
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Direct Hub Connection: The key difference from wheel studs is that wheel bolts pass through the wheel and the brake rotor hat and directly into the hub's threaded holes. This contrasts with wheel studs, which are permanently affixed to the hub, and lug nuts are then tightened onto the studs.
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Locking Mechanism: As the bolt is tightened, the tapered head centers the wheel on the hub. Further tightening then clamps the wheel against the hub, creating a strong friction connection. The threads on the bolt engage with the threads in the hub, preventing the bolt from loosening.
Summary: Wheel bolts are a direct-fastening system that uses a threaded bolt with a tapered head to directly connect the wheel to the hub, securing the wheel and brake rotor hat in place.
