This weekend I installed a fresh pair of Brembo's on the front of my RX7. When I attempted to torque the wheel nuts two of the threaded holes on the rotor stripped and the studs pulled out of the rotor. This was the first time the wheel nuts had ever been installed so it is very difficult to point to this being anything other than defective Brembo rotors.
In the absence of a source of fully threaded studs I used a die to thread the studs the entire length. You need to start from the hex end and work your way toward the rotor end of the stud. You then install the studs backwards. I.E. the end with the hex opening goes into the rotor(If needed, double nut the end of the stud to be able to use a wrench to install them). The reason you need to install them backwards is because the other end of the stud which is normally in the rotor now has a very weak thread on it because the die recuts these threads (poorly). However, if you are using studs that are long enough this weak area doesn't get used because it extends beyond the wheel nuts. This is the first time I've done this so I don't know if these studs are going to be reusable or removable, but I'm pretty confident my studs aren't going to pull out of the rotor because I have 100% engagement now. YMMV.
Never underestimate a man that owns a Sawzall and a welder.
Bookmarks