Need engineers thoughts on wheel offset
Travel trailer wheels have either a centered or outside offset. My question is this. I have outside offset wheels and have sheared off wheel bolts on 2 different wheels I have weighed everything and I...
Forum Discussion
I know it seems counter intuitive, but cornering loads or offset wheels DO NOT increase the loads on properly torqued wheel studs until they become so substantial that the wheel deforms/deflects enough to cause it to lose contact with the hub. That will add tensile forces to the stud. Think about it. Suppose each stud provides 1000 lbs. of clamping force when properly torqued. That's what puts tension in the stud. The only way to add more tension to the stud is to deflect (stretch) it more. You could do that by adding torque to the lug or by pulling the wheel away from the hub which would increase the tensile force on the lug. (very difficult to do) Each lug would need more than 1000 lbs. of force (in this example) to counter the load all ready on it and stretch it further.
As correctly previously mentioned, the clamping force between the wheel/hub creates static friction which clamps/holds the wheel to the hub. Hub centric hub/wheel designs or conical lugs are only there to provide locating action. That's why everything goes bad when the lugs become loose or become over stressed due to being loaded (over torqued) beyond their yield strength.
Overly offset wheels will substantially add loads to wheel bearings though. Especially double row ball bearings typically used in front wheel drive cars. Trailer wheels less so but it does effect them. It also changes the vehicles stability concerning its center of gravity.
Chum lee
As correctly previously mentioned, the clamping force between the wheel/hub creates static friction which clamps/holds the wheel to the hub. Hub centric hub/wheel designs or conical lugs are only there to provide locating action. That's why everything goes bad when the lugs become loose or become over stressed due to being loaded (over torqued) beyond their yield strength.
Overly offset wheels will substantially add loads to wheel bearings though. Especially double row ball bearings typically used in front wheel drive cars. Trailer wheels less so but it does effect them. It also changes the vehicles stability concerning its center of gravity.
Chum lee
