Thread: Spare Wheel Carrier / Studs

I use M16, fine thread bolts with same thread as the Land Rover wheel nuts.

Put bolt in from the back and some tack welds between the bolt head and mounting plate to hold the bolt in place and stop it from turning.

One of mine studs snapped off when I was replacing the spare. It hadn't been welded 100% and so rust had gotten into the weld join. I've replaced the studs with:
3 x M16-1.5x60mm hex head high tensile bolts (in hindsight I should have got 70 or 75mm bolts as 60mm is a little short to fit the plastic spare wheel cover);
3 x M16-1.5 hex nuts;
3 x M16x5x3.5 spring washers;
6 x M16 flat washers (you can use the equivalent imperial sized one from a hardware store)

The M16 bolts, spring washers and nuts came from a specialist nut and bolt supplier. The bolt pitch is the same as the existing spare wheel nuts.

It didn't take too much torque to remove the two remaining studs. A little filing of the holes to insert the bolts (not more than 5 mins in total for this). I fitted a flat wast both sides and then the spring washer and nut. Tighten that all up. I'm not sure the actual torque but it was good and tight. I left one original spacer washer between the spare wheel and the nut that I just put on. Then the spare went on and tightened the original spare wheel nuts up.

OK The spare wheel stands out about 15mm more than originally but then my work light bar was rubbing on the spare wheel and now it doesn't. Also with the spare wheel sitting out a little if worse came to worse and one of the bolts started to spin I can now get a long socket down there to hold the bolt.

Attached are some photos for reference. (note to break the weld of the original two studs I placed 4 flat washers between the spare wheel carrier and the nut and tighten that up to break the weld)

The OP has a D2, don't they have a different size wheel nut to the D1 and defender?
From memory the studs are 14mm not 16 like the others.

Some one with a D2 might be able to comment further.

Never assumed that they could be different but a good point, someone may be able to clarify what the difference is between D2 and D1 spare wheel carriers. Certainly my D1 spare wheel carrier is M16 studs.

Yes they are different.
I think it's 14Mm but just take a nut along to your nuts and bolts store.

Regards Philip A