AAAArrgghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I was changing tires this morning and I stripped two holes where you put the FRONT wheel lugnuts on. This is on a 73 RX-3 wagon. I thought maybe either getting screw in studs and tackwelding them or drill the holes a little and putting regular studs. I have to run a spacer in the front hubs. For some reason, the RX-7 81-85 style 4x110mm rims will not clear the calipers unless I use a spacer!

I heard I can get a hub from a 12a RX-7 car and it will work, but if I am not mistaken there are wheel bearing differences.

Any input on studs, parts, part numbers, source will be greatly appreciated......

 

You can drill it out and use the hela-coil kit. It seems to work pretty good.

 

Damn Jerry. Your morning must really sucked! Having to change a tire, striped lug nuts, and all in the middle of a tropical storm. I would have just gone back to bed. Anyway, I believe there is a difference in the bearings. Your RX3, like my RX4, has larger bearings then a 12A RX7. In order to use the RX7 hub you have to change the entire spindle. I speak from experince. But you have a couple of ways to deal with it. One, you could change both front spindles (which is something I'm concidering because you the parts are easier to get and upgrades too) or two, you could drill and retap those or weld in studs and use "normal" lug nuts. If you need ANY help let me know.

 

what did you end up doing

 

The caliper from the first gen rx7 are larger than the rx3 and will not clear the wheel. I ran into this problem the first time I swap out the front suspension. You can use a spacer and it will work great simple solution. What I've done was grind the material off the caliper with an electric grinder enough to clear the wheel. Works great didn't cost me a dime, no problem with braking. Are you using 13" wheels?

As far as the wheel stud you can drill in new thread with a helic coil

 

old school bearings are wider than 1st gen IIRC so it wont work. But since this is a topic, I may as well measure them both to compare.

 

Just got the auto parts store and get some oversized lug bolt studs and press them in. It's easier to change wheels with studs than messing around with lug bolts. I converted my duece this way and it worked great.

 

Jay are they just over size or are they longer also? I've been looking for a longer wheel stud but cant seem to find any.

 

Got them too at local tire shop. Comes in 3 sizes: short, medium and long. I just installed the medium size studs on the RX-4. But you need an open end lug nut for a better grip. The stock ones (combo stud/nut) grabs about 2-3 threads max. No bueno for me.

 

pick up 8 of medium size for me, I'll give you the money this Saturday when I see you. Those are pressed fit right? Use a tuners lug nut they are longer and open end as well.

 

screw-in type studs like the one @ mazdatrix

 

never mind that wont work for me

 

I put new wheel studs in the repu. it's worth a shot. they're for a honda pilot, and they're 2 threads longer than stock.

hammered them in from the back.

all i did was search on napaonline.com various wheel studs for japanese cars and this one is a match. they're changiung their website and took out all the technical detail unfortunately.....

you might just go to your local napa store on a not-busy time of day with your digital dial caliper and start measuring.

 

I got mine at Napa and they have many sizes available. I think the factory mazda lug bolt is 11mm x 1.5- double check on that. Once you know that size and thread pattern, just go to your auto parts store and ask for press in wheel bolt studs in the size that you need. I drilled out the old threads in my hub and then pressed the new lug bolts in. I don't care for the screw in studs as I have seen them fall out. An easier way to find the lug bolt size is to bring you're hub in the auto parts store with you, that way you can see the length and oversize you need to press in. Good luck.

 

I went to all the local parts store here but not Napa, I'll be sure to check with them later.

Thanks

 

Hello

The stock mazda stud size is 12 x 1.50