This is a stupid question, and I should have asked in more detail when I was at the mothership. For those converting to the 365 tires and wider rims, some front hubs have to have smaller diameter wheel studs. The expression newell uses to justify 2000 extra dollars is that the studs have to be machined.
Does anyone know exactly what they do? Do they press them out and turn them down? Do they have some threading die and do them still on the hub? This is a mystery to me.
I am wondering why the studs can't be pressed out of the hub just like you would do if one were broken, and replaced with the smaller one?
The explanation I received lacked detail and none was offered. I never got an answer why new wheels with the same hole size and type couldn't be used. This would negate the need to do any machining. The wheels were available in 1998, why not now? Just haven't got that answer.
richard, have you determined you have thw larger studs?
tom
Yes I have the larger studs, and I am in the preliminary phase of determine if if it easier to fix the studs or machine the wheels.
I was hoping that a forum member had the studs machined and had watched enough to know what was done.
I mention to the owner of Herman Power Tire Co. here in Nacogdoches that when I need new front tires that I was going to have 365s installed, but I understood that I would have to have new studs and the price was about $3,000.00. He said it would be cheaper to have Alcoa make you the wheels to fit the studs you already have. Really can this be done? He said why not! So that is as far as I've got. Might be something to look into.
richard, knowing you i wouldnt be surprised if you cast and machined your own. or made them with a nail file.
tom
Russ White used to work for Alcoa. We tried to get some one to say weather they could or couldn't make a wheel for the 1 1/16" studs that are stud centering to fit the 365 specs. Got back a lot of engineering talk, but didn't get a straight "yes" or "no". Common sense tells me that since you have to get new wheels any way, replacing them with stud centering wheels is the way to go.
After weighing my coach I just gave up as the 315s are well within spec.
i have them on mine, but as i have said didnt need to do anything to put them on. i was only out the cost of the wheels minus what i sold the old ones for.
the upside is ride and capacity, the downside is if you have one go out, no one keeps them in stock.
tom
Tom,
I believe you have the wheels with 7/8" studs that are hub centering. Alcoa wheels to fit your set up are readily available. Many '99s had wheels with 1 1/16" studs and the wheels are stud centering--it is different and that is the problem. My belief is that Newell used a wheel that was not common and now 15 years later Alcoa does not want to manufacture some thing different that they are only going to sell a few.
I had my coach weight also and 125 lbs are within the limits. My front tires are 2013s so not going to do anything about them any time soon.
Fronts weight 16700, drive 21760, tag 9720 total 48,180