Better buy your wheel bolts now

[Tool Pants]

In my next parts order I was going to order 4 standard wheels bolts to get rid of the locking ones on my 1997. So I looked up the part number, and scratched my head as the wheel bolts for a 2004 have a different part number than a 2003 and older. No clue as to why there would be different part numbers depending on the year.

Loren just sent me a Porsche bulletin. The height of the head of the bolt is now 14.5 mm instead of 16.5 mm, about the thickness of a tooth pick. And Porsche says the reduced height is to reduce un-sprung mass. :lol: And you are not to mix the new bolts with the old bolts or you will get a wheel imbalance.

Guess I'm going to take my wheel bolts to the grinder and grind away 2 mm so that I can go faster.

The supply of the old bolts is to be used up and then no longer available. If you buy the new reduced height bolt then you cannot mix it with the old, so you have to replace all the bolts on the wheel so that they match.

Anyone with a very accurate scale? I would like to know the weight of the locking and normal bolt to test Porsche's claim.

[jnc]

I measured a standard MY99 wheel bolt at 99 grams. The locking bolt is 96.

[Tool Pants]

Bought 4 normal wheel bolts today at my dealer. Locking ones are off.

5 part numbers for wheel bolts - only Porsche.

They only had in stock the original version that came on my 1997. Too bad as I wanted to take pictures of all 5 versions side-by-side. Looking at the parts computer they almost doubled the prices from the original version.

[Tool Pants]

So, almost a year later.

The new style bolt with the shorter head is ..... on the right.

[jefla]

So almost a year later.

The new style bolt with the shorter head is ..... on the right.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm doing this from memory so maybe I'm wrong, but I think the bolts on my 2000 have no slip sleeves (or "washers"); they are one piece. Is that possible?

[ar38070]

You can buy with ball shoulders that are one piece though they are not Porsche parts. If you are the original owner they should have sleeves.

[Tool Pants]

This is an aftermarket one-piece wheel bolt.

[porscheguy05]

This is an aftermarket one-piece wheel bolt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The aftermarket ones in the pic do not fully seat. I found this out by ordering them and testing them myself. Only about 1/5th of the supposed seating surface actually comes into contact with the wheel for seating purposes.

[mee]

Bought 4 normal wheel bolts today at my dealer.  Locking ones are off.

5 part numbers for wheel bolts - only Porsche.

They only had in stock the original version that came on my 1997.  Too bad as I wanted to take pictures of all 5 versions side-by-side.  Looking at the parts computer they almost doubled the prices from the original version.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are the 5 versions:

Standard length 16.5mm head

Standard length 14.5mm head

Standard length wheel locks

+5mm length (GT3/550 SE 16.5mm head)

+5mm length wheel locks

I think there is a new "universal" theft-deterrent star-shaped wheel lock for the standard length 987/997. Maybe those only go with the lighter bolts? That makes 6 bolts or is there also a +5mm longer version making 7 and/or a +5mm 14.5mm head bolt and universal lock making 8 or 9 versions?!

Good grief!