Longer Lugs for Wheels

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Is there a source for longer lugs? Prevost said no, but my lugs dont extend beyond the nuts due to the covers and the added Balance Masters. While having the Balance Masters installed, I intended for HFI of Atlanta to replace all the lugs with longer ones. However, HFI called Prevost and learned that the ones on the bus were the stock lugs and that there were no longer options available. Is that accurate? The MVI inspector mentioned that the lugs need to extend beyond the nut to be legal, but mine dont. Thanks for any insights. By the way, Im already liking the Balance Masters; they make the ride smoother.

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Lloyd, there are several variables to consider. What style rims do you have? Are they all aluminum, or do the duals have steel inners? If theyre the old style with inner and outer nuts, or the new style with just outer nuts, Im assuming, based on your coach’s year, that you have the old style with inner and outer nuts. Are you referring to the inner nuts when you mention lugs?

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Here are a few photos. One shows the lug with the cover mount and the other is a normal lug. All are short and were short before the Balance Masters were installed.

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That is the old style rim and nut.

I think your problem is the hub cap bracket is for the new style rims and the holes in it are not big enough to allow the nut to seat down into the tapered hole in the rim.

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Lloyd, you might have a potential issue with those studs, and the DOT here in Ohio would red tag you for them. Don’t worry; there are several lengths available, and you should be able to find them in the Atlanta area without much trouble. Are both the tag and front studs that short? Do you need 20 of each (left and right), or is it just for one axle? You might want to try Georgia Brake in Norcross or TNT Parts in Atlantamaybe Truk has a better contact in that area.

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Thanks for the call Joe. I will find out who manufactures the hubs. Best to you.

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Orren, I checked the studs on our tag and steer, and theyre the same. They both have the R8 stamped into them and are just shy of flush with the face of the nut. I bet if you check yours, youll find the same setup on those axles. As I mentioned to Lloyd, the inner nuts for the duels come in various lengths. Prevost states that theres only one length available for those other two axles. Take another look at those pictures; I think you’ll see that it’s the wrong hub cap bracket causing the issue.

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Orren, I checked the studs on our tag and steer, and theyre the same. They both have the R8 stamped into them and are just shy of flush with the face of the nut. I bet if you check yours, youll find the same setup on those axles. As I mentioned to Lloyd, the inner nuts for the duels come in various lengths. Prevost states that theres only one length available for those other two axles. Take another look at those pictures; I think you’ll see that it’s the wrong hub cap bracket causing the issue.

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Hey guys, it seems those studs were meant for steel wheels. Steel wheels are much thinner, around 1/2 inch at the holes. I swapped out my aluminum dual inners for steel this January due to a width issue with my fender flares, but I cant recall the exact thickness. Steel wheels are typically 8.25, while aluminum ones are 9.00. Is it possible that at some point, Lloyd’s bus had steel wheels instead of aluminum? Tom Chilcote Trans-Specialists RV Batteries tom@transpspecialists.net

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Those are his fronts or tag studs – no inner nut is visible and the R8 indicates grade 8. Maybe we run nut covers and hub caps because the studs are too short!?! I’ll pull my nut covers when I get to work and let you know Joe.

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Truk, thats not the case. I checked mine, and its the same situation. The studs are nearly flush with the lug nuts on aluminum rims, and according to someone who looked into it for Lloyd at Prevost, theres only one length available for the steer and tag. I still think the holes in the bracket for his chrome hub cap cover are too small. Theyre likely designed for the new style uni-lug rims and arent allowing the nut to seat properly in the tapered hole of the old style rim, making the already short studs an even bigger issue.

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Joe,

If you look at the photo to the right, it doesn’t have the bracket on the stud and is still short. He just needs to get 1/2 inch longer studs.

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Orren,

I knew they were the front and tag, I was using my changing out the wheels as an example of the difference in thickness between steel & aluminum. I will pull one of mine also, I don’t remember mine being short on threads.
Tom Chilcote
Trans-Specialists RV Batteries
tom@transpspecialists.net

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OK boys, here’s a picture of my front. I can’t imagine studs being to short as in Lloyds case being normal. Seems like a safety factor to me..

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Just testing you Tom, I pulled my nut covers this afternoon and I also have longer studs like those shown in your picture -and- I have the Centramatic balancers on all wheels.

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