MatraSport Forum

I have performed a search on this forum to find out the thread pitch for the wheel bolts.  Unfortunately, the search gives conflicting information.  The thread is either 12mm x 1.5 or 12mm x 1.25. Which is correct?  eBay has plenty of Renault bolts at 12 x 1.5 but I don't want to order until I am sure. 

Same as Peugeot 205.
M12x1.50

Ordernumber Peugeot 5405.38

Herman is correct (1.5mm pitch), and this data is also on my webpages in the FAQ section. (page on wheels and tyres)

Roy

I find it difficult to line up and fit the wheels using wheel bolts - especially as my car has the guide pin on the hub removed for some reason.  As my bolts were pretty rounded and horrible I started thinking about fitting studs and nuts instead of the standard bolts.  The studs have a short threaded section which screws into the hub and bottoms out on a non threaded section so I don't think it needs to be Loctited in.   I found that the 44 mm stud was exactly the right length.  The nuts have a 60 degree taper and are quite short so the assembly sits at the same depth as the original bolts.  I find it much easier to fit the wheels now!

I find it very hard to line the wheels up as well. I don't think the presence of the guide pin helps much.  I got a bolt of the correct size and pitch and simply cut the head off.  I can then screw it into one of the bolt holes and use it to line the wheel up.

I was going to do this - using 2 bolts - but I drove around bolt suppliers in Sydney looking for a suitable length 12 x 1.5 bolt.  Sadly, I could only find ones 12 X 1.75 so I ordered a couple of suitable ones from eBay.  In my travels, I found a place with a wide range of wheel studs and nuts so, unfortunately, when the bolts finally arrive they will be surplus to requirements!

I can't believe somewhere the size of Sydney can't supply a M12 x 1.5 bolt.  I walked into Suffolk Fasteners in Ipswich  and bought one over the counter.  As an aside, does anybody know why bolts are used instead of studs?  Every British car I've owned up to the 1980s had studs, but the French seemed to favour bolts.  Is there a technical reason?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Alloy-Wheel-Bolt-Stud-Alignment-Align-Tool-M12-x-1-5/231410252033?hash=item35e1203901:g:gWMAAOSw7BNZ3eQy

or even 2 x of these. (Obviously of no use now though!)

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Stainless-Steel-Car-Wheel-Mounting-Aid-Tire-Change-Tool-Replacement-Accessory-AU/183924878353?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D60718%26meid%3Df6dd535904404df7a123fbfb4fea5004%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D333301646806%26itm%3D183924878353%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

I think you'll find that as in most cases with the motor manufacturers, it comes down to cost!  Yes they can save fractions by just drilling and tapping holes in the hub and providing bolts to fasten the wheels on.  To have the original and much better system involves drilling holes in the hubs and then machining splines in them, then making studs with splines on the inner end, and these have to be accurate for an interfernce fit, then fitting the studs into the hubs, and then producing wheel nuts with the right taper.  So much more expensive.

But fitting wheels, holding them in place, trying to align the holes and then using wheel bolts is a bl***y pain!  So the best way is to carry a mandrel which you can screw in one hole, slide the wheel on that and fit three bolts, then replace the mandrel with the final bolt.  I made a mandrel some years ago with an M12x1.25 thread one end and an M12x1.50 thread the other end and it can be used on either type fitting.

FIAT used to actually provide an M12x1.25 mandrel in their tool kit, to make fitting the wheels on their cars easier.

Roy

Peugeot and Citroen still do provide a mandrel.