Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

[elkhunter338]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

1/2 grade 8 on my 3500lb hubs.
These hubs came on some axles I ordered, but I replaced these hubs with kodiak disc brakes.
These lug nuts have the 6 marks on the back indicating grade 8.

So according to my chart I use for waxed grade 8 1/2 bolts you should torque to 65lbs.
I use 65lbs and have not had an issue.
If the stud still breaks then you know it is poor quality if you torque to a proper value. Use a torque wrench and torque chart. To lube or not lube us your choice but use the right torque value to get the correct clamping force.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Why do YOU feel that I need a new way to do what has been done here since wheels started being bolted on model A's? There is no law or regulation against lubing wheel studs, and it has worked good for everyone around here for generations. What makes your way right, and our way wrong?

Referring to my post? Sorry, wasn't preaching, just offering a better way. Per your own post, "I just back the torque down to the minimum spec and use lube. I have been on the side of the road with 4 of 5 studs broken off" Makes me think you might want to find a different way, if you are on the side of the road with 4/5 studs broke, something isn't working... Breaking studs is dangerous for your cargo and everyone else on the road, and as I mentioned, I have yet to break a stud. (using a good torque wrench and clean, dry threads)

As far as regulations, no, there isn't any law or regulations, but you are going against manufacturers recommendations. The guys who engineer/design/build this stuff all specify wheel stud values DRY.

 

[guy74]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Not refering to your post, Smoke. Just wandering about your method with the paint, how does that work with studs that stick out over 1/2 inch from the nuts? I know that paint in threads is really hard on the nut. My experience with the 4 broken studs was on the front of my old ford van, not a trailer. The fall before that I had tires put on at a tire shop, and by the spring, they had rusted on so bad that 4 of the 5 broke off before they would turn. Very little of my experience is on boat trailers, only 2 of those. I have never had a stud break on anything that I put together, and only when removing the nut on any others. Even had one of the 5/8 studs break off the first time I took a front wheel off my F450. The dirt in my area is called loam, it is an alkali soil, the dust get into everything, then gets wet and becomes very corrosive, our way of dealing with it is to oil, or use anti-seize on everything. I prefer anti-seize as it is easier to not get where I don't want it, I probably take off and reinstall 2000 nugnuts a year on my own equipment, trailers, and trucks. As long as I have had it apart before, it isn't a problem, when I buy something new to me, I take all the wheel nuts off, treat them and retorque them. It is much better to do at home than on the road If you ask anyone around here, they will tell you pretty much the same thing. The thing about recommendations is that they sometimes have to be ammended in the field.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Here is a quote from a GM service manual on the subject:

"Notice: A torque wrench or J39544 must be used to ensure that wheel nuts are tighened to specification. Never use lubricants or penetrating fludis on wheel stud, nuts, or mounting surfaces, as this can raise the actual torque on the nut without a correspondine torque reading on the torque wrench. Wheel nuts, studs, and mounting surfaces must be clean and dry. Failure to follow these instructions could result in wheel, nut, and/or stud damage."

Apparently you guys know more than GM.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

shoot... I've done LOTS of things GM says can't be done..... I may just start greasing lug nuts now LOL


FOLKS.... GET OVER IT.... THE OP asked a question and this isn't it!

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

I feel like Norm from Cheers started this thread. Are you guys really that bored??? Its a bolt and a nut. Its absolutely amazing to me how millions of cars go down the road everyday and the wheels don't blow off the axles because the lug nuts were not properly set to the specifications according to the page you downloaded written by a lawyer to make sure they couldn't get sued.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Would go to NAPA or another auto store and buy all new lugs, As far fetched as this may sound 12 lugs from same batch coud have a defectinherate to that batch. If the cutters were worn and torque went up cracking the stud. Wheels could be slightly warped so once againn torque not even. Have found many cars where they run the lugs on with impact set to high then the lugs break when trying to remove. Thinking one of the big 3 had a recall on this years ago because the impact was out of adjustment.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Its absolutely amazing to me how millions of cars go down the road everyday and the wheels don't blow off the axles because the lug nuts were not properly set to the specifications according to the page you downloaded written by a lawyer to make sure they couldn't get sued.

Its a service manual. Its the same manual used by the service shop at the dealer! You think a lawyer writes the torque values in there too?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Of course GM uses pre-set computer-controlled torque guns/wrenches for everything, and therefore no lubricant on any threads is specified so there will be a Consistency in all their torque readings. Agreed. But I don't use a torque gun/wrench for anything, especially lug nuts. The guy at the tire store uses a high-powered impact wrench that could/would easily over-tighten a lug nut to the point of failure, especially if the lugs are lubricated. I grease my lugs to help prevent corrosion and tighten carefully by hand. That's about it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

But I don't use a torque gun/wrench for anything

Not even for head bolts?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

I would definitely use a torque wrench for head bolts or similar applications. But I've never had to remove an outboard head so I don't own a torque wrench for that. You like 'em dry and I like 'em greasy, and that's O.K.!....we can be friends!...Enough said!

 

[skargo]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

You like 'em dry and I like 'em greasy

Wait, are we still talking about lugnuts here?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Wait, are we still talking about lugnuts here?

i was wondering when you were going to comment on that!

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Just remember that the factory does not know everything.
You go to put something on the threads to prevent rust or else you won't be able to change that flat tire along side the road.

See my posting for torque values, you have a torque for dry and you have a torque for lubed, which will apply the same clamping force. Use what you wish just torque according to the chart and all will be good.

 

[fred12]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Sorry it took so long to reply to your post. The studs protrude from the hub. And yes, they were imported! The third trip in to the supplier revealed that there has been a "bulletin" from the mfg about "possible defective studs". So I asked for a few replacement studs to replace if happens again and I was told that they are on backorder..........so they just gave me another hub and bearing seal! No charge except for the 45 mile round trip and my time to replace.

 

[lrak]

Re: Lug Nut Bolts Shearing Off

Could you share the brand of the hubs to warn others?