Carry Wheel Studs for a Tandem Caravan?

PeterInSa · Guru

Carry Wheel Studs for a Tandem Caravan?

hako · Guru

I'm not suggesting it's a bad idea to carry spare studs, but in my 58 years of driving and towing I've never had a broken wheel stud though I never let a rattle gun near my car!

Regards

erad · Guru

I would seriously question why the wheel studs failed. Probably the nuts were not tight enough, and the studs fatigued under service. I would expect the remaining 2 studs to fail some time soon as well. Were the wheel powder coated? There is a recommendation to re-tighten the wheel nuts after 500 km or so, because the paint under the wheel nuts crushes down and thus the nuts come loose. Fatigue then follows. Alloy wheels can have similar failures. The other alternative is that they were overtightened.

aussie_paul · Guru

hako wrote:
I'm not suggesting it's a bad idea to carry spare studs, but in my 58 years of driving and towing I've never had a broken wheel stud though I never let a rattle gun near my car!

Regards

Only ever finish tightening with manual wheel brace.

Aussie Paul. smile

Dickodownunder · Guru

PeterInSa wrote:

One thing I cannot recall/remember is to get the brake Hub off using the adjuster/screwdriver to back off the brakes, is the up/down direction the same for both side of the van or the reverse.
Peter

Hi Peter,

if the brakes have been assembled correctly the adjusters will needed to turned in an opposite direction if compared from left to right hand side.

Some brakes can have the adjuster fitted the wrong way but depending on the backing plate you may or may not get access to the adjuster.

If the brakes are self adjusting (generally not on a caravan) then it is important that the adjuster is assembled so that the self adjusting lever will engage with the adjuster wheel when the brakes are applied in reverse.

A good hint is once you have determined which way to turn it, then mark the direction of adjustment on each backing plate with some white paint so that you will have a reference for adjustment or removal for next time.

swamp · Senior Member

Hi
Its not the rattle gun its the operator .
Chinese hubs which most are have very poor quality hardware studs and nuts
Nuts even on factory vehicles stretch but typically fitted to the cheaper junk . The studs rarely break on factory vehicles .

Studs do break on imported cheap discs /aftermarket replacement .

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Don't blame the Chinese, they will make whatever quality that the customer wants to purchase.
Blame the buyer of those studs and hubs. They are the ones who chose to sell the crap and the final customer who chose to buy it.

Cheers,
Peter

Craig1 · Guru

Once upon a time in Australia, if I said to a manufacturer, " make this as cheap and nasty as possible" he/she would tell me to P.O mate.!. Now that greedy importers and resellers can tell the Chinese to make it cheaper and nastier than ever, they do it. No conscience at all. We don't need $1 undies, or 20 cent wheel bearings, or indeed $115 solar panels for 130 watts( silly me for buying this from Altona). cheers Craig

swamp · Senior Member

Hi
Similar to a cheap car no matter what origin metallurgy is almost always poor .

Assuming u would buy Dexter brakes hubs only for better quality .
1/ U will never no if the parts are chinese or not ,many USA businesses deal with china and repackage .
2/ Many parts are cast in China and final machined else where

The comments on stud quality come from Replacement disc /drums for Fords / Commodores
Disc brake Aust DBA is one of the best
OEM are occasionally good
Chinese cheaper than DBA ,
studs break
disc wear life very short
disc runout/shudder common
Chew pads
poor bearing seats

The Dba discs /studs had no issue with many many times on a rattle gun

Desert Dweller · Guru

As boat owners we've always carried a spare wheel bearing kit (good quality) for our boat trailer & another different one for our caravan. A good idea.

PeterInSa · Guru

Re Nuts " Not Tight enough"

Wondering if the number of wheel change overs/punctures and the undoo/tightening up of the wheel nut/stud makes the threads worn (stud/nut) and more prone to the nut coming loose even if the nut is tightened up to the correct tension.