Lug bolt refinishing

boston914 · 05-11-2006, 02:25 PM

I will have my 2.0 Fuchs back from Al Reed next week, fully polished.

I have a full set of used "long" lug bolts to use with the wheels, but they are crappy condition.

I was thinking of painting them with "chrome" paint.

Does anyone have any suggestions for prep before painting?

Will the paint hold up to torqueing the bolts when mounting the wheels?

Any info/opinions are appreciated.

BARRY MISHLER · BARRY MISHLER's Garage

I like the VW lug caps on my car

Headrage · 05-11-2006, 03:08 PM

That "Chrome" paint will just flake off if you show it a lug wrench. I would recommend either aluminum or black...

gint · 05-11-2006, 03:13 PM

It's probably too late now, but I would have sent the lug bolts to Al Reed also.

Headrage · 05-11-2006, 03:18 PM

If you want something that looks like this

Contact Boothe Design ...

Barber Dave · Barber Dave's Garage

I have a set from Booth Design, they look as good or better than the picture. They are pricey but you just spent how much money to have your rims polished. Why cheap out now. IMO
anything alse will take away from your polished rims. Dave

boston914 · 05-11-2006, 03:59 PM

I asked Al about the lugs, and he said that since they are steel, they would not polish well.

It sounds like chrome plating might be the way to go.

Thanks for the responses.

nimbus · 05-11-2006, 04:49 PM

What's the story with the additional "shoulder" detail on those Booth Design lug bolts? It doesn't seem to be coaxial with the threaded shaft of the bolt. (Note that the width of the groove between the two shoulders appears to vary from top to bottom.)

And why is does the ball-seat detail have serations?

Nicely plated, though.

djpateman · 05-12-2006, 03:31 AM

That is a two piece design with locking features.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Why not use the black plastic caps that originally came with the car?

boston914 · 05-12-2006, 11:29 AM

I am not sure what I will do.

I can have my current bolts chrome plated for $100 locally.

I might try to polish one myself and see what it looks like.

I may go with the caps.

I am a little ticked off because I bought a set of 16 chrome plated lugs from "theandante" on eBay last year in anticipation of getting my wheels polished this spring.

I read on the 914 club site that the bolts from theandante do not seat properly in 2.0 Fuchs. After test fitting one, I confirmed that they do not fit.

I plan to email the guy to ask for a refund, but I doubt I will get any satisfaction.

I would definitely consider buying new chromed lugs, but they cost big $.

Like George Costanza says "I'm not cheap, I'm just careful with my money"

BigDBass · 05-12-2006, 01:29 PM

I've been wondering about those "theandante" ones. thanks for the heads up... my lugs are fugly.

Tidybuoy · 05-12-2006, 02:41 PM

I don't remember the web site but you can get chrome or plastic caps that fit over your ugly lugs. They do a good job and you really can't tell that their just covers. Plus, with real chrome lugs, they tend to get schatched up with just a few wheel changes. With the caps, you can buy a coupld of sets for little $$ and you wheels will always look good.

Try searching google (lug nuts, or lug covers, etc...)

gint · 05-12-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by boston914

I am a little ticked off because I bought a set of 16 chrome plated lugs from "theandante" on eBay last year in anticipation of getting my wheels polished this spring.

I read on the 914 club site that the bolts from theandante do not seat properly in 2.0 Fuchs. After test fitting one, I confirmed that they do not fit.

I plan to email the guy to ask for a refund, but I doubt I will get any satisfaction.

Good luck with that! That guy is a DICK!

I can say that here because I'm not an admin here. LOL!!! I wonder if the bad word filter here will check that.

boston914 · 05-12-2006, 04:38 PM

It seems like the guy is still selling the bolts on eBay as a 914 part.

The diameter of the curved base of the bolt head is too big to fit in the lug holes in Fuchs wheels.

The lugs I bought would definitely be dangerous to use with 914 wheels.

Do not buy lug bolts from "theandante".

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by BARRY MISHLER
I like the VW lug caps on my car

That is what I am going to do, they look pretty good, is that how they were originally?

Headrage · 05-12-2006, 05:46 PM

I'm gonna only say it once.....

If you want really good lugs, get it from Boothe..........

JEEZ....... Are you freaking blind????????

djpateman · 05-12-2006, 06:19 PM

The original lug bolts were copper plated then cad plated. Chroming introduces a brittleness I wouldn't like to have on my car. The other alternative is to install studs like the 911 has, then use their nuts. A lot easier to install a wheel then also.

robby750 · 05-12-2006, 08:53 PM

I just cleaned mine up with a wire wheel and painted them with silver paint. A little touch up is needed after you remove and replace the wheels. I use a small paint brush for that and they look great.

boston914 · 05-13-2006, 10:57 AM

I just spent a couple of hours with a wire wheel on my lug bolt heads.

They actually cleaned-up pretty nice.

I finshed them using white rouge on a soft polishing wheel.

I was shocked that they came out pretty shiny.

The dark color on the top of the photos was caused by the flash on my camera. This is the best of the photos I took.