Open or Closed Lug Nuts

[SicMonte]

I am about to purchase a front brake kit for my car when the question of what lug studs did I want came up. My options are the factory 12mm ones that are 1.63 inches long...or the ARP 1/2x20 Racing Studs that are 3.5 inches long. Do you all think that an open lug nut with an exposed stud would look correct on a CCW Classic's?? I am not sure yet if the better studs are required by any autocross/track day.

Here is my car...

[sik68]

I think an open nut will look good with those wheels!

FWIW, open nuts make it easier for the tech inspectors to verify that you have enough thread engagement with the stud.

[SicMonte]

anyone else have opinions????

[Bryce]

I run 3" long studs on my car because I run a drag wheel in front at times. The hub on that wheel is much thicker than an average wheel. I have to run open lug nuts. I think it looks ok. It would probably look good on your car.

I would go with good studs that allow at least 1 diameter threaded into the hex of the lug nut.

[SicMonte]

I run 3" long studs on my car because I run a drag wheel in front at times. The hub on that wheel is much thicker than an average wheel. I have to run open lug nuts. I think it looks ok. It would probably look good on your car.

I would go with good studs that allow at least 1 diameter threaded into the hex of the lug nut.

do you have any close up pics of the rims with the wheel studs??

[Bryce]

The best I have right now.

[srh3trinity]

Like I said on the chat last night, I think the opens would look cool and would be functional for track events.

[buickfunnycar.com]

That car give me a chubby...that's all I got to add.

[PTS]

Make sure if you use closed end lugs that they do not bottom out when you think they are tight. They will look tight inside a conical lug seat wheel but double check...

[SicMonte]

That car give me a chubby...that's all I got to add.

that is by far the best compliment my car has ever gotten...hahahaha

[GNon18s]

If long wheel studs look rite on any wheel, It would be CCW classics! Those wheels are well respected in the racing world and so are long studs so I say go with it. (a 2.5" stud would be a nice middle of the road)

[JRouche]

Seeing that you tracking the car I thing an open nut is benificial for some of the reasons said. And really, it will look good with your wheels also.

And if you wanted to keep it all blacked out (no shiny parts) paint the studs with a flat black. But they prolly already have a nice black coating on them if its like any of the other ARP fasteners I have seen.

But for the nuts you can paint them also. One product I have seen recently is meant for sliver colored metal (aluminum to give it an anodized look, and Ive heard even over chrome after prepping). Metalcast from dupicolor. http://duplicolor.anthonythomas.com/...metalcast.html

Dont know how well it would hold up to the wrench when installing the wheels but you could make up a cone type mask that fits over the nuts and lugs to shoot some paint and protect the wheels.

I had some 3" studs on my rear axles, but the wheels were all shiny billet aluminum. So the exposed studs would not have looked great. I removed them from the axles (strange axles and studs) and took off some length with the lathe so they would fit under enclosed nuts. Thats always an option. But I dont race or track the car so I dont have the issue of inspections. And if you do cut and stuff like the other guy said. Make sure you measure and have enough head room under the enclosed nut. You dont wanna bottom the nut on the stud. JR

[SicMonte]

I gotta tell ya...I am not sold on the look of the open lug nuts. After alot of research and technical talks with numerous car builders on this site I have decided to go ahead with the 1/2x20 ARP wheel studs but I am going to cut them to length so I can get full engagement on regular Acorn Style lug nuts. My stock wheel studs measure 1.63" long or 41.5mm. With my new Baer Track 4 brakes and my CCW wheels this stud only gave me 5 turns on the lug nuts. The people I have talked to said that seven turns would be considered full engagement and safe. The ARP studs are 3.5" long so I will trim them down to 2" and that will be good for the acorn lug nuts.

This car is a street car and will see track days and autocross events. How many of the autocross, speed/stop challenge and top speed winning cars on this site do you see with open lug nuts? I think the modified ARP studs are the way to go...what do you all think?

[Bryce]

Drag racing (the faster classes) do not allow closed lug nuts. The reason is you cant verify the thread engagement.

I dont know if SCCA or NASA events would would check for that or not. Something to consider.

[aronhk_md]

You could go with open nuts but still cut the studs so that they dont "stick out". In fact you can get perfect measurments as to where to cut easily that way. Would still have a functional look, you'd know you have engaged every thread possible for strength, but wouldnt look a bit odd like they do sticking way out

[SicMonte]

I ordered the brakes tonight with the ARP 1/2x20 studs...ans I will be trimming them.

[JRouche]

I ordered the brakes tonight with the ARP 1/2x20 studs...ans I will be trimming them.

When you trim them try to do it with a lathe instead of a cutoff wheel. Mainly so you can put a nice chamfer on them. And somewhat for heat issues. You dont want to heat them up much. But a nice chamfer will help with threading the nuts on. Not a deep one, a shallow one but aggressive still the same. Mimic the chamfer thats on the studs you bought. No burrs, just a nice smooth chamfer. File work when they are in the lathe works great after the final profile is cut.

If you dont have a lathe then the cutoff wheel works. Just make sure to produce a nice chamfer after cutting off. JR

[SicMonte]

When you trim them try to do it with a lathe instead of a cutoff wheel. Mainly so you can put a nice chamfer on them. And somewhat for heat issues. You dont want to heat them up much. But a nice chamfer will help with threading the nuts on. Not a deep one, a shallow one but aggressive still the same. Mimic the chamfer thats on the studs you bought. No burrs, just a nice smooth chamfer. File work when they are in the lathe works great after the final profile is cut.

If you dont have a lathe then the cutoff wheel works. Just make sure to produce a nice chamfer after cutting off. JR

I do actually have a lathe in the shop and that's exactlly what I was planning on doing!

[CarlC]

As a general rule of thumb:

1) When using a nut having two bolt threads extend past the end of the nut is a good practice.

2) When installing a bolt into a softer material (aluminum, cast iron, etc.) having 1.5 diameters of thread engagement is preferred.

3) I have never had a lugnut engagement inspection at an open track day or autocross day. It is therefore our responsibility to enforce proper design and inspection. In that light, try to shoot for a 1.5 diameters of engagement if possible on blind nuts.

[SicMonte]

well...due to time constraints and general laziness I don't think I will be cutting the wheel studs. This leads to the questions of what lug nuts to use? The studs are 1/2x20 so that part is easy but what type of open lug nuts do you all reccomend??