Wheel studs - Find longer or live with it?

[Jim]

While I have a rear axle out I thought I'd install longer wheel studs. The existing studs are 1/2-20 size and have about 1/2 inch of thread engagement with the nut. The front wheels have about 3/4 inch of thread engagement. The rears at 1/2 inch engagement always catch my eye as "too short". In ten years I've not had one failure with the rear but I want something longer (3/16 to 1/4" longer). I thought it would have been an easy-to-find item but the gent at Napa came up empty handed (and he spent about 30 minutes with his book and pulling stock to try). I've done some online searching and am too coming up empty.

1) Should I live with the current setup / or should I install longer?

2) If longer, where do you recommend I look to find longer? I'd like to find a vendor where I can readily filter (1/2-20, length, shoulder/knurl diameter).



EDIT: Google searching by "wheel stud 0.650 knurl" is coming up with a smaller list - but still no answer yet.

EDIT 2: Dorman has a spreadsheet of their wheel studs! It can be filtered for easy selection. This looks to be the best fit:
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-22272-610-255.aspx

I think I'll get one from a local store to test fitment.

[MillerL76]

I'd go longer. Look into ARP studs.

[open_circuit]

The "used threads" in that image look quite used. Clear wear compared to the lower threads. Yikes. Is that your actual stud?

[Jim]

Yes. Though, they do look a bit worse than actual through the image editing process to remove the background.

[FINOCJ]

My questions/comments would be related to the lug nut, and how much of the lug nut thread is being used. Do you have an open lug nut (the threaded hole goes all the way through), or are they blind thread holes. What kind of lug nut is it (i.e. is it mag style nut with the shaft that goes into the wheel, or is it a traditional beveled nut that presses on the rim?)...I don't really know, but I think 3/4" would be the ideal amount of thread overlap.

[Spieg]

Typical lug nut is about 1/2" so I think you should be fine as is. I have the same thing on my Jeep (even less than half inch engagement on all 4 wheels), but I was assured that it was okay. It's been like that for several decades now without a problem. I looked for some studs that were a little longer in the past but was not able to find anything off-the-shelf (and am NOT willing to pay $15 each for custom made wheel studs).

[Jim]

FINOCJ previously posted:

[Jim]

James - you were talking about nuts in your post that I didn't understand. Maybe these pix will answer your questions???

Addendum: A rear lug nut, from tightened to fall off... 6.5 turns.

[FINOCJ]

So with that style of nut - you don't want too long threaded lugs as they will hit the back end of the lug nut before the tighten properly (I casually called it a 'blind' hole nut earlier). At the same time, you have a traditional style lug nut that wedges down into and onto the face of the wheel as opposed to the a mag shank style with washer. Basically, with that style you I was guessing you will get a full amount of thread mesh with less of the lug protruding out from the wheel. All looks good to me...