Wheel stud kit on order ... now worried about them breaking on the track?

[bigjae46]

I wonder if the newer ones are worse? I have Apex studs I installed in 2012 and since then I’ve done several track days, tons of spirited driving, and had the wheels off a couple of dozen times. I never considered studs a wear item since they aren’t on any car that came with them as OE. This is concerning to hear of them breaking.

I don’t consider studs a wear item if they are properly cared for. But...the consequences of a failure are high which is losing a wheel at high speeds. There’s no way to tell if they will fail until they fail.

So preventive replacement mitigates improper care.


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[Ramps]

I wonder if the newer ones are worse? I have Apex studs I installed in 2012 and since then I’ve done several track days, tons of spirited driving, and had the wheels off a couple of dozen times. I never considered studs a wear item since they aren’t on any car that came with them as OE. This is concerning to hear of them breaking.

[foolio]

I do about 5 track events a year. I had Apex studs for three years with no issues. That was before I was told these should be considered a wear item. I changed them out for Apex again at the beginning of 2019. After seven events, I had two break. I am very careful about torquing my wheels. I don’t touch them at the track unless the wheels are cold. A buddy of mine had two break as well this year with just 4 events. I replaced mine with the MSH ones from FCP. Well see how they do after a year. FWIW l run coil overs and NT01s with 12mm spacers rear and 5mm spacer front. That could cause extra stress.

[r4dr]

https://www.core4motorsports.com/product-page/core4-e46-m3-ulimtate-press-in-stud-hub-conversion

Another choice that converts it OEM-style.

[Nate047]

I broke a couple of studs once because I had been very lazy and bad about my torquing habits. Someone above mentioned how easy it is to over torque them by just the slightest extra amount of turn on the wrench, so be extra careful. I have Bimmerworld race studs now and I would change them once a year if you track often.

[zivagolee]

Damn now I'm debating to buy on FCP, MSH's 15% BF code is still active and was about to buy them direct from them just now. Does FCP have any discount on them?

Seems like MSH is slightly cheaper. I am a bit confused since it says 78mm but the extended description says 75mm. Gonna guess this is the 75mm since the 78mm on MSH is on clearance and they have a similar clearance 78mm on FCP too.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-m12x1-5mm-wheel-stud-kit-78mm-motorsport-hardware-12x1578mmbrskt

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/78mm-wheel-lug-stud-m12x1-5mm-motorsport-hardware-12x15-78mm-brs

[BigRussia]

I also haven’t had much issues with the Apex studs (75mm) and I do around 12 track days a year with multiple wheel changes/swaps ie. change out brake pads at home, swap wheels at the track.

I do replace them yearly as a preventative measure. Didn’t know MSH was on FCP so that makes replacements nicer!

Damn now I'm debating to buy on FCP, MSH's 15% BF code is still active and was about to buy them direct from them just now. Does FCP have any discount on them?

[zivagolee]

I also haven’t had much issues with the Apex studs (75mm) and I do around 12 track days a year with multiple wheel changes/swaps ie. change out brake pads at home, swap wheels at the track.

I do replace them yearly as a preventative measure. Didn’t know MSH was on FCP so that makes replacements nicer!

[BigRussia]

Ugh I hate how these threads always make me second guess purchases. I just bought apex studs. No plans to track the car, just spirited back roads for maybe 4-5k miles a year. Think I’ll stick with them since I shouldn’t have any crazy forces on the studs. I guess Ill need to inspect them every spring.

You'll be fine, look at my post above yours. My car came with the Apex 90mm and Ive done multiple track days and wheel swaps no issues, not even counting how many miles the previous owner mustve put on them driving the car before.

But to be safe I am now looking at the Motorsport Hardware 90mm stud kit, only as a preventative since I do track my car and run wide (12mm) spacers.

[Inizes]

Ugh I hate how these threads always make me second guess purchases. I just bought apex studs. No plans to track the car, just spirited back roads for maybe 4-5k miles a year. Think I’ll stick with them since I shouldn’t have any crazy forces on the studs. I guess Ill need to inspect them every spring.

[BigRussia]

Never understood the point of studs, no reason to run them on a track car and taking the risk. Especially if your reason is "it's easier to put on my wheels", with some practice it's not that hard, even with spacers. Or use a wheel hanger?

Well if you have multiple sets of wheels and use multiple different sized spacers it's alot better than keeping track of a bunch of different length lug bolts sets for each setup.

My car actually came with Apex 90mm hex nose studs and I've done about 5-6 track days and an autox on them, and multiple wheel swaps. No issues so far but I've also always done my own torquing and never exceeding 88lb/ft, and no hot swaps since I drive to the track with my track wheels.

This thread is making me thinking of replacing them now, sounds like Motorsport Hardware is a good option? I just bought a set of their lug nuts for BF, should've grabbed a set of studs too d'oh

[eacmen]

Never understood the point of studs, no reason to run them on a track car and taking the risk. Especially if your reason is "it's easier to put on my wheels", with some practice it's not that hard, even with spacers. Or use a wheel hanger?

Even with wheel hangers I find studs much easier to work with.

You can also change spacer width without new bolts.

IMO bolts should also be changed on an interval if doing frequent or hot tire changes.

For a mostly street car that has one set of wheels/tires I completely agree. But if you're swapping wheels with different offsets/size on a frequent basis then there is a good argument to be made for using studs.

When the hubs need to be replaced I plan to swap them out with ones using press in studs.


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[dl.m3]

Never understood the point of studs, no reason to run them on a track car and taking the risk. Especially if your reason is "it's easier to put on my wheels", with some practice it's not that hard, even with spacers. Or use a wheel hanger?

[Rich022]

I’ve had Apex fail on me also. And I was the only ‘mechanic’ wrenching in them. Failure from stress cycles and spacers imo...Switched to MSI and no issues so far. Since Nov ‘18.

[bigjae46]

I torque my studs at home with a 1/2” Snap On Techangle Digital torque wrench. It doesn’t take much, maybe 1/8 of a turn, to go from 85 ft/lbs to 100 ft/lbs. If you’re leaning on or yanking on a clicker torque wrench, you’re way over the setting. The more leverage you have, the easier it is.

I’d recommend a 3/8” torque wrench which will require a lot more effort to significantly exceed the setting.

I think 90% of the people I see torquing fasteners are at least 15% over spec.


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