Swollen lug nuts!

[TobyU]

WAIT!! Let me check. Nope. OK. Mine feel fine.

 

[TobyU]

WAIT!! Let me check. Nope. OK. Mine feel fine.

Ohhh my. The first sign you have a problem..when you quote your own posts or reply to your own posts of Facebook.
Yep, I just went there.

I have been thinking about rotating mine around though.

I have two excursions and the one I'm getting rid of has gorilla ones ( cue monkey grunts) on it. Big Bad 8 lugs. I don't even know if the other one has lug nuts. The plastic hub caps have zip ties holding a couple on them on.
Life is so fun!!

AHHHHOOOOOGGAAAA

 

[jeff kushner]

I finally got around to replacing my front pads....found the issue....not rust or anything built up under..........just that the chrome sleeve/cover will slide over the base, causing a situation where nothing will fit. As soon as the 1st began to slide over itself, I removed the socket, reapplied the lug wrench with a rubber mallet and saved it. Lesson learned.

Pretty basic issue...use the lug wrench only to get completely loose, then use a socket for less than hand tight-for speed....

I sure did appreciate knowing ahead of time that there might be an issue.....or I most certainly would have fudged that 1st lug nut too much to save it......that's for posting OP!

jeff

 

[UniqueTII]

I got a puncture on my way to work a while back and discovered that the my nuts on that wheel had swollen. Many of the others had lost the chrome caps so it's not like the previous owner or the dealership I bought it from were not aware. I managed to get the truck to work before losing all of the air in my tire and figured I'd change the wheel quickly before I went home. The tire change took about 2 hours between figuring out what was going on and trying to find the right tools from friends at work and our tool crib. I ended up having to hammer a socket onto all of the swollen ones and hammer the lug nut back out of the socket once I removed it. Good times had by all. I am just thankful I didn't need to do the work on the side of the road or have it towed somewhere for something so stupid.

My new lug nuts are from Wheel Adapters USA and are working great. They stick out a little farther than stock but still look good.

 

[Dustin Gebhardt]

I replaced the ones on my girlfriend's 2012 Focus last year. After messing with them a few times (brake jobs, suspension work, etc.) and fighting them every time, I was fed up. A new set from Amazon and I am now a happy camper.

 

[Flight-ER-Doc]

OK, on Amazon to buy a set of Gorillas..... Amazon says they don't fit my 2015 4x4 EL....

14x1.5, 60-degree

What's wrong? https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Auto...5+lug+nuts&qid=1563200314&s=automotive&sr=1-9

And if there are better options, please let me know...Thanks!

 

[Plati]

I think they should fit …? Computers make mistakes? Contact Gorilla via email to clarify?

I guess you want locking lug nuts, otherwise I would buy the LIFETIME
just an opinion, I can't be held legally liable for any of this or my Tweets

 

[Flight-ER-Doc]

I think they should fit …? Computers make mistakes? Contact Gorilla via email to clarify?

I guess you want locking lug nuts, otherwise I would buy the LIFETIME
just an opinion, I can't be held legally liable for any of this or my Tweets

Great idea: This is what Gorilla said:

For your 2015 Ford Expedition with factory alloy wheels if you are looking to purchase a Wheel Lock System similar to part number 71644N, the part numbers we recommend are:

76644N - Duplex 2" Long Lock System, Chrome 24 pack
96644DX - Factory Style Bulge Lock System, Chrome 24 pack

Part number 71644N would not be recommended for truck applications as the locks can be too short and may bottom out. We only recommend our Factory Style or Duplex length locks for that application.

Thank you,

 

[Plati]

For anyone who finds difficulty with boogered up swollen nuts … I think the best way to remove them from the vehicle would be ----> use a Dremel Tool cutting wheel and cut all the way around the stainless steel thin cap , lopping off the top 1/8". Use a chisel or something to drive down between the stainless steel cap and the steel lug base lug nut to get that out of the way. Then use the appropriately sized socket to take the steel nut off.

Would this work, has anyone done this?
I've never done and hope to never do it, but I still have original OEM nuts on my 2003.

My nuts are still ok, indestructible!
I have 1.5 pound balls made of solid copper from the old days in the Electroplating shop.

 

[HawkX66]

For 15-17 Black five or six spline look and work great.

https://www.amazon.com/14x1-5-Splin....5+six+spline&qid=1563225070&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

[jeff kushner]

Yes Sticker, that sounds pretty much they way I was formulating as Kerry skipped off to get my rubber mallet to try to save the one beginning to go off the rails............the unknown is how strong the side metal is...I was envisioning a needle-nose and rolling it back allowing it to tear itself.....

Prob is....I'll bet a lot of guys get screwed because they aren't aware of how easy these are to screw up.

jeff

 

[Plati]

Yes Sticker, that sounds pretty much they way I was formulating as Kerry skipped off to get my rubber mallet to try to save the one beginning to go off the rails............the unknown is how strong the side metal is...I was envisioning a needle-nose and rolling it back allowing it to tear itself.....

Prob is....I'll bet a lot of guys get screwed because they aren't aware of how easy these are to screw up.

jeff

Yes, that sounds like Plan A. I would try that first also. I suspect the problem comes in when people attempt a "too large" socket and end up rolling the corners of the steel nut. Then you really are in the "oh shit" situation. Maybe that's when you do the welding someone spoke of in a post about broken off manifold studs? Ford should write a pamphlet on this.

Is there anything like a vise grip that screws down and would have enough purchase to take a boogered up lug nut off? Super turbo vise grip.

 

[OGBobbyJohnson]

Tire Kingdom gave me a quote today for $260 dollars to replace mine when i was throwing on a new set of Michelins.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Shop suggests I replace all of mine because they are shot. (Not a dealer, my go to guy who I trust)

Any suggestions on which ones to get for a 2016 Platinum with the 20” rims? Leaning toward the Gorillas; seems like the best bet. Just not sure exactly which one to get.

If you're ok with the cost, then they're as good as any. For a more budget-conscious route, you can usually pick up a set of OEM lugs for about $50 shipped on eBay. Dealers and wheel shops pull them off new/newer vehicles that get custom lugs.

 

[Flight-ER-Doc]

Tire Kingdom gave me a quote today for $260 dollars to replace mine when i was throwing on a new set of Michelins.

Wow. Considering they have to remove the lug nuts to change the tires all they have to do is use new lug nuts to 'replace' them.

And I just bought a set for $60 from Amazon.

 

[TobyU]

That's just because all shops are Crooks. Crooks I tell you. Crooks Crooks crooks. Ask a friend of mine just got a quote to replace a condenser on a 99 Town Car. Just the labor. 250! Anything over 150 is a rip off.

 

[jeff kushner]

The key is 6 sided sockets, no 12 points as I quickly learned as the cover began to twist over the core ....your lug wrench is correct unfortunately and nothing else will really be safe.

I think what amazes most of us that spin our own wrenches is that something this easy to get wrong even came to market! This while inventive, should have been caught at the proving stage where they initially tested these style lug nuts.....guess no one there had a socket wrench...


jeff

 

[TobyU]

The key is 6 sided sockets, no 12 points as I quickly learned as the cover began to twist over the core ....your lug wrench is correct unfortunately and nothing else will really be safe.

I think what amazes most of us that spin our own wrenches is that something this easy to get wrong even came to market! This while inventive, should have been caught at the proving stage where they initially tested these style lug nuts.....guess no one there had a socket wrench...


jeff

Everytime I look at socket sets in a store I get disgusted by the 12 points. It's hard to even find six points in a set and if you do you're lucky a half of them are six points. I have zero use for 12 point sockets and I've been through this with other people over the years. People argue that a 12-point holds better and I'm sorry, they are mistaken. I have despised 12 points all of my life. There have probably been four times maybe only three in my entire life a wrenching on cars and lawn mowers and bicycles Etc where I have needed a 12 point socket. I do remember the rod cap bolts on a 75 Buick Electra being a 12-point.
Yes, you can find some test where they show a 12-point or some other design socket holding better than a 6 point but this is not the real world and this is not on Fasteners that are already partially rounded off or stripped because over the years people have messed them up or they have rusted. I will always go for a 6-point hex head socket because that's all you ever need.
I went out probably almost 20 years ago for the Craftsman socket set that I was using with a nice big plastic box with the set a reminder removable tray and all of that, and replaced all my 12 points with six points.
So many sets on the market today only give you hex heads for very large sockets. They're kind of do I get backwards. They be doing any more of a favor to give you the six points on the smaller ones under 7/8 or 3/4 and give you the 12 points on a larger ones but I believe the reason they do that is is cheaper and easier to make the six points. Well good! Because that's the only ones I'm buying.

 

[plumcolr]

Yeah, I got them, too. Factory wrench does not fit, 21mm does not fit, 22mm six-point is real sloppy. I don't believe it's corrosion underneath causing it as they have no bulge. Gonna take one apart and look

 

[Rod Smith]

I saw the following “work to be performed” in a confirmation for an oil change appointment at my local Ford dealer.

“VERIFIED LOCKING LUG KEY RETURNED TO ORIGINAL LOCATION”

Is this in any way related to the lug nut issue?