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View Full Version : Does vehicle weight sit on the hub or the studs or both?

high888
12-05-2005, 09:43 PM
I had one of my wheels off today, and measured the length of the hub (spindle?)
otherwise known as the round thing sticking out which centers the wheel. It is
5/16 long. I can't imagine that the entire weight of the vehicle sits on this little
piece of metal on each of the four corners. To me it seems that this hub is only
to center the wheel. How much weight is on the hub? How much weight is supported by the 5 studs?
createdbyone
12-05-2005, 10:03 PM
your spindle is less than an inch? you sure bout this?
high888
12-05-2005, 10:16 PM
The round part protruding outwards which the wheel sits on? Yes, it

is 5/16 of an inch.
done
12-05-2005, 10:52 PM
I had one of my wheels off today, and measured the length of the hub (spindle?)
otherwise known as the round thing sticking out which centers the wheel. It is
5/16 long. I can't imagine that the entire weight of the vehicle sits on this little
piece of metal on each of the four corners. To me it seems that this hub is only
to center the wheel. How much weight is on the hub? How much weight is supported by the 5 studs?

All of weight should be supported by the hub. The hub contains the wheel bearings which is really the contact between the car and the rotating wheels. This is the way it has been done for more years than either you or I have been alive. Worry about something really important like starving kids in Malawli
Clutch-n-Throttle
12-05-2005, 11:59 PM
your spindle is less than an inch? you sure bout this?

Easy now.:p He's just looking for some help. Good one though
Davesatdoasisbar
12-06-2005, 12:20 AM
Worry about something really important like starving kids in Malawli

I'm sorry but did Angelina Jolie just jump in the fray?:deadhors: Dinners served.
His 'n' Hearse
12-08-2005, 04:50 PM
I think the question is a legitimate one and deserves a proper answer (for which I'll offer MHO). The question revolves around "hub centric" vs. "lug centric" wheel mounting on which there are numerous threads both here and on other similar forums.

I think the stock wheels are "hub centric", i.e., the weight is on the hub, as most, if not all, cars have been for quite some time. However, if you mount aftermarket wheels with a hub bore larger than the vehicle hub (to accomodate "fits all. . ."), or which have an offset that necessitates the use of spacers (which I have), it means that the lug nuts have to center the wheel (hence, "lug-centric") and take the weight and this requires a little more care and attention when mounting.

The above is what I concluded after researching the subject before I bought my 20"-ers. Just my $.02 worth. If I'm off base here someone please jump in.
Rev.Hammer
12-08-2005, 05:37 PM
once the wheel is clamped correctly to the hub by the lugnuts it acts like a solid structural element.
The load then acts primarily on the spindle and bearings.
For all intents the wheel-hub is now a single unit
fnkychkn
12-08-2005, 05:55 PM
the tapered lug nuts serve to distort the wheel rim enough for it to clamp itself around the hub boss. essentially becoming, as the good REV. said, a single unit.
high888
12-08-2005, 06:05 PM
Thank you reverend and Mr. Chicken. FINALLY, a real reply. I am no expert,

however I always thought it was stupid when people would say "All of the weight is centered on only the lugs". Now, that would be true if you lowered the car down on the lugs with no nuts attached. Then I could see lugs snapping off easily. But once they are torqued down, it is as if the wheel and
the hub become one. It appears that the SRT-8 wheels are lugcentric, as
the nuts are tapered, as well as the tapered holes in the wheels. This centers
each lug nut in each hole. The hub boss centers the wheel as well, but it does
not seem to support the weight of a 4,000 lb. car.
Black on Black
12-09-2005, 02:48 PM
I would contend that it is not the center of the hub that supports the weight of the car, but the face of the hub against the inside face of the wheel. Once the lug nuts are tightened to the correct torque specs, the two faces are compressed against each other to the degree that the friction between the two surfaces will not allow the wheel to move, thus supporting the weight of the car and ensuring that the wheel remains centered.
Rev.Hammer
12-09-2005, 03:30 PM
Thusly the wheel and rotor are one unit supported by the spindle and bearings
GasGunR
12-09-2005, 04:47 PM
Where the heck is Mona Lisa Vito when you need her?
Rev.Hammer
12-09-2005, 05:13 PM
A boy from Gonad Mississippi got to her and she opened a cosmetology and body shop school over in Taintville...
high888
12-10-2005, 05:02 AM
YES! I am glad we have figured this out and can move on with ours lives.

I, myself feel much better. Knowledge is a great thing. Thanks to all for
imparting these deep secrets of life. Wheel mated to hub becomes one.
Similar to a marriage between a man and woman.
da BoMM
12-10-2005, 07:35 AM
NEXT!
BrilliantBlackHemi
12-10-2005, 10:21 AM
Where the heck is Mona Lisa Vito when you need her?

Oh my gawd! I love that woman!

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/27/58/33m.jpg
DriveATransam
12-10-2005, 10:46 AM
all i know is that when i rotated the wheels on my dads ML and my moms SLK (dealer put the wheels on the wrong side!) that there werent even any lugs! the nuts were the freakin lugs. you ever try putting on wheels that dont have lugs. you have to hold the dang wheel up and try and thread the lugnut into the hole on the brakes. i would think those would be considered "lug centric" <shrug> thats just my story :)
hemiwagn
12-11-2005, 09:22 PM
Benz has a nice little threaded aluminum accessory that makes mounting the wheels a lot easier. It is a 4" or so post threaded on on end (knurled on the other) that you put into one of the lug holes to hold your wheel in approx position while you start the lug nuts in the other holes.
createdbyone
12-19-2005, 02:19 PM
Easy now.:p He's just looking for some help. Good one though

i didnt mean to be mean, i just realy didnt know!
Clutch-n-Throttle
12-19-2005, 07:22 PM
i didnt mean to be mean, i just realy didnt know!

I know no harm was meant but it was funny.
Teahead
02-17-2006, 07:03 PM
I need to order some hub centric rings b/c I have to run spacers.

What's the I.D. of the ring (or the O.D. of the hub) when you ordered your rings?

I know the O.D. of the ring is dependent on the I.D. of the wheel, which is different for every wheel.

I will use the I.D. of the SPACER for the O.D. of the ring.

Thanks.
Daniel454
02-19-2006, 04:00 PM
What's the I.D. of the ring (or the O.D. of the hub)?
LX Hub O.D = 71.8mm
LX HEMI
09-26-2007, 04:52 AM
So is it best to go with the "hub-centric" spacers? If so where do I get them and what do they look like?
jg
09-26-2007, 12:20 PM
So is it best to go with the "hub-centric" spacers? If so where do I get them and what do they look like?

If you have to use a spacer, and it's thick enough to enable a "hub" on the spacer itself, YES- this is the way to go. However, you'll need longer studs to get enough threads for a lugnut. OR, just use adapters if your wheel will accept them between the studs/holes.
LX HEMI
09-26-2007, 01:53 PM
Still confused. I use 3mm spacers right now b/c i'm running the SRT wheels on my RT. I bought the spacers at a wheel and tire shop for 7 bucks each. But I'm wondering if "hub-centric" spacers are different? Or if it doesn't matter.
jg
09-27-2007, 07:18 AM
Just quick disclaimer- I don't recommend using any of these parts. There, i've said it.


"If you install spacers, you should get hubcentric ones that replicate the lip on the hub." ...if the thickness allows.

The only issue with the spacers on the left in the image(link below) for our cars, is that you have to have enough meat on the spacer (10+ mm thickness) to have enough material for the protruding "hub" over the actual vehicle's hub. This usually means that you'll need longer studs, or require an adapter instead (the blue parts in the image below the link)
http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/Wheel%20Spacer%20Notes/wheel_spacer_notes.htm

http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/images/Spidertrax_whs_011.jpg
LX HEMI
10-02-2007, 02:22 PM
Ok, who sells them on the site?
Super T
10-02-2007, 02:58 PM
The weight is on the lugs once they're tightened down. Hubcentric wheel/hub setups ensure that the wheel is, well, centered. If you have tapered or ball-end lugnuts, then they will center the wheel themselves. You just have to take your time and make sure you tighten them evenly a little at a time for the last couple rotations.
IES99
10-02-2007, 04:15 PM
all i know is that when i rotated the wheels on my dads ML and my moms SLK (dealer put the wheels on the wrong side!) that there werent even any lugs! the nuts were the freakin lugs. you ever try putting on wheels that dont have lugs. you have to hold the dang wheel up and try and thread the lugnut into the hole on the brakes. i would think those would be considered "lug centric" <shrug> thats just my story :)

I did plenty of those back in the day: foreign cars such as VW, Audi, Mercedes did it that way with lug bolts that went into the holes in the hub rather than nuts that went on the studs. I hated changing tires on those things.

Also back in the day, MOPARs had left hand lug nuts on the right side of the car. :racing: