Wheel Mount Surface Question

[RyansToy]

So yesterday I had some tires mounted to 17" steel wheels (late model donor).

I noticed I was having a hard time torquing the lug nuts. They were loose every time I went around the star...

There appears to be "dowels" protruding in 3 spots on the front drums.


The image show's holes, but mine has what appears to be dowel pins sticking out.

This image shows the locations inbetween the lugs better. They are just holes on this drum. Two wheels on the truck have features to clear these pins. Two on the back do not. I drilled the new wheels to clear them. What are they??

[geezer#99]

Those 'dowels' are rivets. Used to hold the drum to the hub.
You can grind them off and tap them out (like in the pic). Then the hub is easier to remove.
You should be torqueing in the normal pattern and not round and round. Round and round never tightens up, it just stretches the studs.
Look here for tightening sequence.
https://tireguides.com/TireTips/TireDocument/2

[RyansToy]

I wasn't clear by round and round. regular X pattern, but go over twice to make sure.

My general rule of thumb is to visit the bolt an extra time after they reach the torque to make sure. Hence 2nd round...