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Spigot rings on caravan wheels

Browser - 22/5/13 at 08:09 AM

I may be being paranoid, but I was disconcerted to discover my caravan wheels are held on by bolt clamping force alone as the centre bore of the wheels is way larger than the OD of the hub spigot. I thought it was just the spare I'd had to fit last year when I got a flat, but it seems the normal-fit alloys are the same.
I know it won't be subject to the same cornering/braking forces as wheels on a car would, but the maximum laden mass is 1400 kg and its a single axle (2-wheel) 'van.
Whaddya think, spigot rings and bloody soon or don't worry?

mcerd1 - 22/5/13 at 08:42 AM

there are two methods of holding a wheel on

1 - a spigot in the centre + bolts to clamp it (these bolts can even have flat washers) the spigot holds it central the bolts just provide the clamping force

2 - tapered nuts/washers that hold the wheel in the centre with the taper (as you tighten the nuts the taper pulls the wheel to the correct loation)
this is a bit of an old fashioned design these days, but it still works

in theory for both cases the shear on the bolts/spigot should be minimal as it should be taken by the friction provided by the clamping force of the bolts

so unless you've any reason to suspect that its had the wrong type of wheels fitted at some point in its life......

[Edited on 22/5/2013 by mcerd1]

MikeRJ - 22/5/13 at 09:05 AM

The spigot is usually for alignment only, as above the clamping force is what holds the wheel in place once the bolts have been tightened. Lacking a spigot when the wheel/bolt design calls for one will result in vibration due to non-concentrically mounted wheels.

britishtrident - 22/5/13 at 09:09 AM

The vast majority of cars and trucks built in the whole of the 20th didn't use spigot mounting, they were located purely either taper/bevelled nuts/bolts or in the case of alloy wheels sleeve nuts.

From the practical point of view spigot mounting is a dammed nuisance as it invariable causes wheels to seize on.

40inches - 22/5/13 at 09:41 AM

As a general rule bolts need a spigot ring (Hub centric), studs with tapered nuts are ok (Stud Centric). You can get any size spigot ring you like here

r1_pete - 22/5/13 at 09:52 AM

The after market alloys we bought for my wifes lexus had plastic spigot rings supplied to match the wheel to the car, presumably just for centering the wheel whilst fitting. The wheel bolts have tapered seats so presumably these in conjunction with the friction between wheel and hub keep things centred.

mcerd1 - 22/5/13 at 10:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
The after market alloys we bought for my wifes lexus had plastic spigot rings supplied to match the wheel to the car, presumably just for centering the wheel whilst fitting. The wheel bolts have tapered seats so presumably these in conjunction with the friction between wheel and hub keep things centred.

^^ actualy the plastic is doing the same job that the metal would be on an OE wheel

(but plastic is easier to change for different size spigots, most aftermarket wheels use the same even high quality makes)

but as MikeRJ and me said above the spigot is only there to hold the wheel central untill the bolts are tight - then friction does the rest (or at least it should do most of it) besides a little compressive loading on the plastic isn't doing to do anything

Peteff - 22/5/13 at 12:15 PM

We had a problem with a rear wheel on an old Corsa which would vibrate like mad till it was fitted with a set of spigot rings. The other 3 were fine but they all got a spigot ring fitted as we bought a set. They did cure the problem.

mcerd1 - 22/5/13 at 02:31 PM

^^ I take it the corsa didn't have the OE wheels fitted ?

ian locostzx9rc2 - 22/5/13 at 02:53 PM

I would fit spigot rings personally..

britishtrident - 22/5/13 at 03:21 PM

The only thing spigot fitting achieve is to increase the number of call outs for breakdown outfits to change wheels because the wheel is seized to hub.

Peteff - 22/5/13 at 04:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
The only thing spigot fitting achieve is to increase the number of call outs for breakdown outfits to change wheels because the wheel is seized to hub.

You don't need spigot rings to stick a wheel, my mate's 58 Fiesta had a puncture and the alloy wheel had to be beaten with a hammer to get it off. Our Corsa had some Halfords specials so the spigot rings were obligatory. They were plastic and only 1mm thick and didn't cause sticking.