Lugnuts

[duped]

Check the tightness of them periodically! For the love of god!

She was complaining of a clunk in reverse...WELL, didn't take long to see that all 5 of the lugnuts on one wheel were not even hand tight! The holes in the wheel were elongated, and the studs half worn through! How much longer until this was a disaster?

 

[raymondpickens]

Re: Lugnuts

NOT MUCH LONGER!

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Lugnuts

After replacing the studs do not use any lub or anti-seize on them. Good thing she heard the clunk. Usually the radio is turned up.

 

[QC]

Re: Lugnuts

Check the tightness of them periodically! For the love of god!

I lost a tire on a trailer a couple of years ago. I was busy and had someone else do work that I would normally do. I picked up the boat trailer and left at the same time and never checked it. Would've lost all four as none were tight, but of course one went first.

And . . . I can't believe I sent one into traffic after my wife went through this. This happened back 9 years ago or so. My wife was driving on I15 south when a tire/wheel jumped over from a car going north. Loose lug nuts. The problem is not the vehicle the wheel comes off of

Oh, she was fine after we picked all of the glass out of her. Bruises on her thighs where the dash was driven down. They actually fixed that thing

 

[stackz]

Re: Lugnuts

been there done that on two cars I bought. one was a 96 ranger and one was a 95 mustang. both owners sold the vehicles super cheap thinking the transmissions were going out.

drove them home, tossed them on some jacks, and looked at the wheels. yep, loose lugs on a wheel. a used wheel off ebay and a tire change later and they were both just fine.

total in:
$500 ranger + $30 wheel
$800 mustang + $50 wheel

sold the ranger for $1800 and sold the mustang for $3500. then off to vegas for a bachelor party and lost it all :facepalm:

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Lugnuts

I'm sure there was enough rust to hold 'em on there for a lot longer

Enough rust, but not enough material in the stud ....

 

[robert graham]

Re: Lugnuts

Right before I leave on a trip pulling the boat I walk all the way around the vehicle about 3 times checking for all these small items that can kill somebody!...it's just so darn easy to get distracted and in a hurry and forget important items!...Glad nobody got hurt!

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Lugnuts

Right before I leave on a trip pulling the boat I walk all the way around the vehicle about 3 times checking for all these small items that can kill somebody!...it's just so darn easy to get distracted and in a hurry and forget important items!...Glad nobody got hurt!

When I was young I got into this habit. Now every time I go to get into my truck I do a walk around. A little silly but glad to say never had a problem. A couple of times I spotted something and made the fix before I took off.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Lugnuts

One spring in the early 70's my parents car developed an annoying rattle. When it came time to swap the snow tires for the regular tires we found that the source of the rattle was 3 of the lug nuts rolling around inside the hubcap.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Lugnuts

When I was young I got into this habit. Now every time I go to get into my truck I do a walk around. A little silly but glad to say never had a problem. A couple of times I spotted something and made the fix before I took off.

The walk around is something I learned in private pilot training, and lots of pilots still do this...not a bad habit! The older I get the more prone I am to forget or screw up, so a double-check behind myself seems like a good idea...of course my wife is always watching to catch me messing up!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Lugnuts

One spring in the early 70's my parents car developed an annoying rattle. When it came time to swap the snow tires for the regular tires we found that the source of the rattle was 3 of the lug nuts rolling around inside the hubcap.

It is a shame that we can't trust even the reputable tire dealers. I have never seen a lug nut loosen on it's own,it was either mischief or a damaged rim or not tightened from the getgo. I use anti-sieze (on the studs) and it takes just as much torque to break them free as it takes to put them on and has nothing to do with loose nuts. It is the combination of proper torque and taper-lock that holds them tight.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Lugnuts

I don't use any lubricant or anti-seize on my lugnuts. I do however occasionally through the year loosen each lugnut and tighten them back up with a torque wrench. This breaks any siezing that corrosion may be causing and verifies that the torque is correct.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Lugnuts

There's a reason Mopar put left handed threads on the lugnuts on the left side of their cars.

 

[Hydra-sport_Road-kill]

Re: Lugnuts

I was looking at the condition of that wheel in the pic and thinking how it begs for a picture of the rest of what it was on.

 

[GTS225]

Re: Lugnuts

There's a reason Mopar put left handed threads on the lugnuts on the left side of their cars.

****************************************************************************************************
Actually, all the major manufacturers did that even into the fifties. Mopar just happened to carry it into 1972.
The practice originates back in the Ford model T and A days, when the rim/tire assembly was held on with a single large nut in the center. A right-hand thread on the left side would slowly loosen due to directional rotation. After auto manufacturers went to multiple small bolts or lugs/ nuts, they still went with left-hand threads on the left side, owing to historical experience, rather than trying right-hand on the left side again.
This is also why you have a cotter pin on the spindle nut.

Roger

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Lugnuts

It is a shame that we can't trust even the reputable tire dealers. I have never seen a lug nut loosen on it's own,it was either mischief or a damaged rim or not tightened from the getgo. I use anti-sieze (on the studs) and it takes just as much torque to break them free as it takes to put them on and has nothing to do with loose nuts. It is the combination of proper torque and taper-lock that holds them tight.

Correct. I've used anti-seize for decades on studs and lug nuts with excellent results. It also inhibits corrosion which prevents problems.