Swelling lug nuts
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 503
Swelling lug nuts
Last time I was in for tire service, the Discount Tire guy said my (lug) nuts were swollen. Seems over time, the Ford two different metal lug nuts swell after repeated heating/cooling cycles. Who would have thought that? (Well, about anyone with any mechanical/metallurgical background. )
But I digress.
Is there a good recommendation for single metal lug nuts that won't do this?
But I digress.
Is there a good recommendation for single metal lug nuts that won't do this?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,266
Likes: 2,188
Mine are steel with an aluminum washer….sure the washer will bulge (aka steel) but that has no impact on the function of the washer…service staff pitches to change them is just a money grab.
and, going to all steel , if you have aluminum rims, will soon turn your rims into rims that will need ball lug nuts.
and, going to all steel , if you have aluminum rims, will soon turn your rims into rims that will need ball lug nuts.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 503
Mine are steel with an aluminum washer….sure the washer will bulge (aka steel) but that has no impact on the function of the washer…service staff pitches to change them is just a money grab.
and, going to all steel , if you have aluminum rims, will soon turn your rims into rims that will need ball lug nuts.
and, going to all steel , if you have aluminum rims, will soon turn your rims into rims that will need ball lug nuts.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,975
Likes: 4,052
This is an age old issue. Been like this since the 70's. Caps get banged up and loose from impact sockets, water gets in, they rust, balloon up and next thing you know, you're busting caps to get them off.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,100
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Yep. When they went from hubcaps (which did a fine job of keeping water out) to exposed lugnuts, they needed to keep the threads clean. Solid lugnuts are more expensive, much cheaper to press a cap on them.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2025
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Yep, age-old enough that you can buy 20.5mm impact socket so that you have something that fits what's left after you have chiseled off the chrome cap!
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 949
Likes: 330
From: Colorado Rockies
Last time I was in for tire service, the Discount Tire guy said my (lug) nuts were swollen. Seems over time, the Ford two different metal lug nuts swell after repeated heating/cooling cycles. Who would have thought that? (Well, about anyone with any mechanical/metallurgical background. )
But I digress. Is there a good recommendation for single metal lug nuts that won't do this?
But I digress. Is there a good recommendation for single metal lug nuts that won't do this?
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 503
I know that happens a lot but could see what he was talking about and he said right off he didn't have them in stock. So, wasn't much of an upsell opportunity.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,975
Likes: 4,052
Ones that have exposed lugnuts. Those with caps of the lugs have open washer style lugs. Frankly I have yet to see a Superduty with exposed lugs, all trims seem to have a cap on them. Maybe on steelies?