License plate relocation

[SactoDave]

I bought the Rugged Ridge license plate relocation kit for my 2021 Willys. This involves replacing 2 of the lugnuts with their nut which is threaded on the outside for a screw. I’m not sure if there is a defect in one of these lug nut replacements but it was very hard to screw on. Now I am concerned that I may have damaged the threads on the stud on the spare tire carrier. My question is: can you replace the studs in the stock spare tire carrier? If so what is the replacement and how is it done? Thanks

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[Carolina Jeeper]

There is a thinner stamped steel piece that the studs are pressed through. When I swapped out my tire carrier and hinge reinforcement I removed it from the original plastic tire carrier to install on the new one. It's definitely removable as an assembly, but not sure about individual stud removal and replacement.

Appears you have defective threads on the new lugnuts in your kit. If you had a tap and die set, you could run a tap in them to clean up the threads.

 

[SactoDave]

There is a thinner stamped steel piece that the studs are pressed through. When I swapped out my tire carrier and hinge reinforcement I removed it from the original plastic tire carrier to install on the new one. It's definitely removable as an assembly, but not sure about individual stud removal and replacement.

Appears you have defective threads on the new lugnuts in your kit. If you had a tap and die set, you could run a tap in them to clean up the threads.

Thanks. I wonder if you can buy that stamped piece with studs separately. All I can find is the entire spare tire carrier. I was thinking about tapping that lug nut but not sure which tap I would need.

 

[blnewt]

Thanks. I wonder if you can buy that stamped piece with studs separately. All I can find is the entire spare tire carrier. I was thinking about tapping that lug nut but not sure which tap I would need.

It's possible your relocation bracket has mounts for a JK wheel since these use 1/2" studs, the JL uses 14mm x1.5 pitch, and this would be the tap size you'd need too!

 

[SactoDave]

It's possible your relocation bracket has mounts for a JK wheel since these use 1/2" studs, the JL uses 14mm x1.5 pitch, and this would be the tap size you'd need too!

Thanks! I wonder if you can buy that stamped piece with the studs as a unit anywhere?

 

[blnewt]

Thanks! I wonder if you can buy that stamped piece with the studs as a unit anywhere?

No idea, but you can just relocate it like I did for about $15 (and some wiring work) for a nice clean look back there
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/license-plate-relocation.62772/

 

[Carolina Jeeper]

Thanks. I wonder if you can buy that stamped piece with studs separately. All I can find is the entire spare tire carrier. I was thinking about tapping that lug nut but not sure which tap I would need.

Maybe someone that's not using theirs any more will sell that piece.

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