Stripped Holes in Rally Wheels

[scrap--metal]

I'm guessing I'm not the only one whos had this issue, but I couldn't find any other threads on it.

One of my 15" rally wheels only has one hole left with good threads for mounting the center cap. I tried running it with a single screw, but the center cap wants to vibrate loose. I removed the center cap this morning until I can fix up the threads in the other holes.

I had used a teflon taped bolt to fill up the threads, and that worked for awhile. After rotating my tires last week, the threads in the hole are just too far gone to cheat 'em like that again.

I'm thinking of drilling and tapping up a size. Has anyone done this before? If so, what thread size did you go to? Maybe there's a metric screw that's only a slight increase in size?

 

[Big Chip]

You could try heli-coils. I'm not sure if it would hold but it's cheap enough and you can get the kit just at the parts store or hardware. I've had good success using heli-coils in aluminum in the past.

Heli-Coil® Wire Insert Systems | Screw Threaded Inserts | STANLEY® Engineered Fastening

Heli-Coil® Wire Insert Systems | Screw Threaded Inserts | STANLEY® Engineered Fastening

www.stanleyengineeredfastening.com

 

[Rickf]

I've thought about using nut-sert, riv-nut or what ever they are called. Before those things were around I JB welded bolts from the inside.

 

[CalSgt]

Taping up a size should work, If it were me I'd do all of the holes if I had to do it. I would inevitably thread one of the larger screws in an original hole accidentally and ruin it.

Sometimes a shim can do a lot of good too, a paperclip or one of the brass tabs from manila envelopes can be inserted in the hole before threading the bolt in. They are soft enough to smash into the threads of the bolt as you tighten it. Not a permanent fix but should work until you need to pull the caps again.

 

[Snoots]

I drilled and tapped mine for an 8-32 Heli-Coil. Set the coils with RED thread lock and the screws with GREEN.

 

[scrap--metal]

I drilled and tapped mine for an 8-32 Heli-Coil. Set the coils with RED thread lock and the screws with GREEN.

Thanks for the input, but 8-32 is quite a bit smaller than the screws that are in there (either 5/16 or M8 TBD).

8-32 has me a little confused...

 

[Grit dog]

Taping up a size should work, If it were me I'd do all of the holes if I had to do it. I would inevitably thread one of the larger screws in an original hole accidentally and ruin it.

Sometimes a shim can do a lot of good too, a paperclip or one of the brass tabs from manila envelopes can be inserted in the hole before threading the bolt in. They are soft enough to smash into the threads of the bolt as you tighten it. Not a permanent fix but should work until you need to pull the caps again.

Stranded copper wire works as well, with or without the insulation depending on the application.
But if the wheels will be with the OP for a while, tapping them out slightly larger and new crews all around is the best answer. And it's super easy to tap them. Soft metal and not very thick.

 

[Grit dog]

Thanks for the input, but 8-32 is quite a bit smaller than the screws that are in there (either 5/16 or M8 TBD).

8-32 has me a little confused...

That is the screw size. #8 diameter, 32 threads per inch pitch.

 

[scrap--metal]

Yes, but a #8 screw only has a diameter of 0.164".

Will an 8-32 heli coil will fill up the >0.3" hole and accept the 0.164" screw?

I'm not too familiar with heli coils, but that seems like a lot of space to fill up with the insert.

 

[Originalthor]

I have the same thing happen to mine that I got and all I did was take my welder and just add a little bit to the hole and retap. Tightened up nice now.

 

[mrdap]

Heli coils will be a simple and permanent solution to this problem.
The suggestions of tape and epoxy will not be a permanent solution.
It makes no sense to drill to the next size when you can simply insert a helicoil and keep all the bolts the same. It's easy to find a helicoil repair kit for the thread size that you have. If I remember correctly these are 5/16"-18 threads.
You can find an all-in-one helicoil repair kit that will include a drill bit to resize the hole, a tap to thread the hole for the helicoil, a helicoil installation tool, and the helicoils themselves.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SRDUU/

They might be quarter inch threads I can't remember now.

 

[Termite_Delight]

Since the caps only use 3 bolts, rotate them and drill/tap new holes in the rims. Done.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Rally wheels typically have 5 holes and 3 are tapped for the center caps, tap all the holes and use 5 fasteners for a better look.

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