MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - longer wheel studs

hi everyone, my 68 gt has 185/65/15 tyres and i wish to have wider ones fitted. trouble is that the 185's tnd to rub on the "inner" rear wheel arch. i improved it by using a spacer as it only happens on one side, but i want to fit wier tyres and hence beed a larger spacer(s). I dont want to end up with just a few turns on the wheels nuts. ive looked around for longers rear studs but cant find anything
A P New

You surprise me 185s rub the inside of the well, but they can rub the outer arch on cornering. My V8 had 195s and they didn't rub but then they have a higher ride-height, and I have seen 205s on a special axle that only just fitted both sides. Do you have stud hubs on a wire-wheel axle? That would explain it, what clearance do you have between the tyre and the outer arch?
PaulH Solihull

ive definately got a later axle as i used to have a wire wheel axle and noticed it was shorter than mine. ive got a decent amount of clearance between the tyre and outer arch so with spacers and longer studs should be able to get some decent width tyres on there.
A P New

AP. What wheels are you running? Longer wheel studs and spacers would be, to me, an unattractive modification for two reasons:

Many of the modern fasteners I have seen have been decidedly inferior to the older fasteners.

The MG was designed to use a 1/2"-20 tpi stud of a certain length. If the overall length is make longer, more force can be exerted at the junction of the hub and stud, possibly resulting in breakage. (This possibility would be increased with the use of inferior materials.)

My understanding is that the axle system, which includes the bearings and the studs to hold on the disc wheels or the wire wheel hubs, were designed to use a wheel of a certain offset (i.e. the wheel, when bolted up to the axle will be off set with either the outer side or the inner side being larger than the opposite side). With this in mind, might it not be better to use the factory original wheel studs and combine that with wheels having the same bolt pattern and a different wheel offset?

My 79 LE came with 185 tires and the LE wheels from the dealer and I have never had a problem with tires rubbing. It would be interesting to know if anyone has measured the offset of the LE wheel as compared to the Rostyle wheel.

Les
Les Bengtson

im using minilite wheels, my axle is offset which is why it only rubs on one side. i heard in another threat a while ago there was a dodgey batch of axles which had there mountings slightly off resulting in an axle located off to one side. im using a spacer at the mo on one side to bring that wheel out to where it should be but still occasionally rubs. i called speedshack and they said they can supply longers studs but they would be the equivalent metric which i dont want.
A P New

What's wrong with metric studs if they fit the purpose?
Roger T

i just figured that as they are pressed in they may not fit quite as snug as the imperial type. I may try and get hold of a second axle, as mine needs rebuilding anyway as theres lots of play in the diff, and experiment. they're very cheap so could be woth trying.
A P New

Dodgy axles are an urban myth - at least on the majority of cars with an offset. Two axles on the roadster and one on the V8 show an offet to the left of half an inch or so, but measuring the axles themselves only shows an 1/8" or so. Some have gone to the trouble of moving the mounting points on the axles without considering just how many panels there are between the chassis rails and the outer arches that are more likely to be contributing to the apparent offset. In that case moving the axle to line up with the arches is simply making the car crab on the road.
PaulH Solihull

I have a rear axle from a 1979 GT 54k miles if it is any good for you. I also live in kent.
a goldup

hi, im definately interested. My email is mgb_gt1968@hotmail.com
A P New

oh your not from maidstone by any chance are you? if so, any relation to kieren goldup with a blue rubber bumper gt?
A P New

Yes my son !
a goldup

Is it not a small world! But going back to the axles, If you have the opportunity, yes, try another or at least measure another. On my GT 1972 I run Australian superlites 185 X 65 X 15 and it has also been lowered. I have no problems and no extended studs or spacers! There must be a lot of variation. Mike
J.M. Doust

This thread was discussed between 25/01/2011 and 31/01/2011

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now