What is Bolt Pattern?, Yeah, I asked it Options

[Random_Stranger]

I thought it was the spaces between bolts, but others say it is the length of the bolts (Cuz they say any 5 lug can fit any 5 lug). So now, I am asking. Oh wait! Wait! LOL Let me do this like how they do it in my shop class to prepare you for ASE Certification. *Ahem*

Two technicians are discussing bolt patterns. Technician A says bolt patterns are the distance from bolt to bolt (lug to lug). Technician B says they are the length of the bolts. Which technician is correct?

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Dec 24, 2009 - 3:31 AM

[808celica]

this makes me wonder who made the decision to use 5x100. why couldnt they use 5x114.3 cuz of the availability in rims
Im glad you asked Faust, i know some people are shame to ask Q's like this.

[Hanyo]

this makes me wonder who made the decision to use 5x100. why couldnt they use 5x114.3 cuz of the availability in rims
Im glad you asked Faust, i know some people are shame to ask Q's like this.

they decide the bolt pattern by the weight of the vehicle and the brakes it requires.

If you have a super heavy car it would need larger brakes. So it would not make sense to use a tinny bolt pattern because you would need to fit larger wheel bearings, brakes and rotors on such a small stud pattern.

Also if you have larger bolt patterns require larger rim sizes. You will not find 5x114.3 bolt patterns on cars with smaller then 15" rims. It simply would make the brake rotors too small and leave too little room for the brake caliper and the rims.

With our celica, they design the car with low cost in mind. They wanted the base model to have 14" steel wheels, so 5x100 had to be use.