Is my lug nut split?

polishdon · 08-21-2016, 01:04 PM

I went out to check the torque on my wheels before we head out this week. I used a torque wrench set to 100lbs as the sticker says, when I cranked on one of them it was tight, then when I went to remove the socket it felt like I could move it by hand. Upon further inspection, I see there is a crack in it. I can spin the entire thing, but it does not come off, almost like it's a cover, but I can't get it to pop off to expose a real lug nut.
You cans see where it's cracked on the top, is this a cover or the real lug?

NO3putt · 08-21-2016, 01:11 PM

Looks like a cover, but would just get a replacement anyway.

**wmtire** · 08-21-2016, 01:30 PM

It's not really a cover, but more like a chrome veneer. It's cheaper than a full solid chromed lug nut. I hate em with a passion, as they are bad about messing up on vehicles, and once they come off, the underlying nut isn't properly sized and is easy to round off with a socket.

At this stage, you will have to get the veneer off, in order to remove the lug nut.

polishdon · 08-21-2016, 01:45 PM

Ok thanks for the reply. For future reference, do you need to remove them to tighten or remove the lugs??

**wmtire** · 08-21-2016, 01:47 PM

No, you do not remove them, as they are basically pressed onto the lug nut. It's when they crack or round, that you have to get the veneer off, in order to remove the lug nut, as you are seeing they are spinning in place. That's also rounding the edges off the underlying lug nut too.

I found a pic on google to show you the lug nut chrome veneer.

The lug nut on the left is what you have, with it's corresponding chrome veneer/cap to the immediate right, that you will have to remove. Sometimes if you can't get them off with pliers, you can use a flathead screwdriver and punch thru on the very end and try to get a way to pry it off. I have also used a flathead to just finish splitting it too, and it'll basically fall off.

The third item/lug nut is what you have with the chrome veneer still intact. You can also see how it's pressed onto the steel lug nut, and basically crimped around it. You can look back at the first lug nut and also see where it should be crimped.

The fourth lug nut is a solid one piece chromed lug nut. This may be what you want to buy, and replace all of the lug nuts that have the chrome veneer on them.

**wmtire** · 08-21-2016, 01:59 PM

I also need to emphasize strongly, you want to take care of this while it's still in your yard. You get out on the road and have a flat, you may be stuck because neither you nor roadside assistance can get the lug nuts off due to these messed up veneers and/or an underlying rounded off lug nut.

I speak from experience, as we have many vehicles towed in to us, due to the same.

Good luck.

Restcure · 08-21-2016, 02:45 PM

I had the same crappy lug nuts on my F150 when I bought it used.

polishdon · 08-21-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmtire

I also need to emphasize strongly, you want to take care of this while it's still in your yard. You get out on the road and have a flat, you may be stuck because neither you nor roadside assistance can get the lug nuts off due to these messed up veneers and/or an underlying rounded off lug nut.

I speak from experience, as we have many vehicles towed in to us, due to the same.

Good luck.

I got the veneer off, what a stupid, cheap set up.

**wmtire** · 08-21-2016, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishdon

I got the veneer off, what a stupid, cheap set up.

Now, you get to find out, that without the veneer, the lug nut doesn't really fit any size socket/lug wrench proper. It is real easy to round off the edges of the nut and then are going to be stuck. That's why I suggest in getting them off, and replacing with a solid nut.

Many times, what starts the veneer problem, is someone using either a 12 point socket, or the wrong sized socket/lug wrench on these.

BTW, this isn't just on RV's. Many vehicles have this same lug nut.

OldCoot · 08-21-2016, 04:24 PM

You normally have to find a 6 point socket that fits a good one and then DRIVE the socket on the bad one to re-shape the cover to get the lug nut off. Replace all of them with good ones. Have had to do a couple of them on an old car and it hain't fun.

Ford Idaho · 08-21-2016, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishdon

I got the veneer off, what a stupid, cheap set up.

I wonder how that worked out!.........

Glad you got the veneer off, now you need to replace the rest with real lug nuts.

fella10 · 08-21-2016, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmtire

I also need to emphasize strongly, you want to take care of this while it's still in your yard. You get out on the road and have a flat, you may be stuck because neither you nor roadside assistance can get the lug nuts off due to these messed up veneers and/or an underlying rounded off lug nut.

thanks for the info you've given in this thread,..... a few weeks ago I was greasing my wheel bearings and pulled the first wheel, thinking it was necessary to do the job right(it wasn't), ..... but on that wheel I did discover a loose "cap" on one of the nuts and believe it must have happened a few weeks before when I upgraded my tires and the tire shop used an air impact wrench to remove the wheels,.... with the info you've given here I now know what it is, how it happened and the importance of getting rid of those nuts while at home, than waiting and having to do it while on the road, ..... just completed an order for premium chromed, solid steel, one piece nuts from Amazon, .... again, thanks

**wmtire** · 08-21-2016, 08:07 PM

You are very welcome and glad it helped. As stated previously, I hate them.

tipakajohn · 08-21-2016, 08:55 PM

fella10,

Do you have a link to the Amazon lug nuts?

I am not sure what size and thread pitch I need for my 23LB.

Exlimey · 08-21-2016, 09:16 PM

I'll be checking mine out before my next trip! Thanks for the heads up!

I had a Pontiac Vibe that had the cover/veneer. They got loose on the lug nut, probably from water freezing inside over the winter and causing them to balloon out. I bought a complete set of solid lug nuts with locks but found those to be too long. I tried to resize the veneers using a vice and it worked well enough to use them but I replaced them with a good aftermarket set anyway. New lug nuts from GM were prohibitively expensive!

**wmtire** · 08-21-2016, 09:26 PM

Another reminder, as I look at the wheels in the OP, when you get other lug nuts...you need to make sure the socket that fits the lug nuts will have room to fit over the lug nut and be able to still turn inside the wheel.

If you get a lug nut with a wider shank, then you may not have room to fit a socket or lug wrench over it.

mlatter · 08-21-2016, 09:38 PM

I just bought replacement nuts for mine as well since the originals were all cracking.

Link on amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are one piece and are supposed to be the best.

fella10 · 08-21-2016, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tipakajohn

fella10,

Do you have a link to the Amazon lug nuts?

I am not sure what size and thread pitch I need for my 23LB.

we have a Micro Lite 25KS,
I pulled one nut off and 1/2"-20 is stamped right on it, yours should be the same,......the link below is the ones I bought,... full set of 20 for $20,..... 100% positive reviews(some folks won't give 5 stars for anything, so I add 5 and 4 stars together to get percent of positive reviews)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

tipakajohn · 08-23-2016, 08:16 PM

Thanks so much for the reply. I ordered a set tonight.

acadianbob · 08-23-2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD and Beastlet

I had the same crappy lug nuts on my F150 when I bought it used.

Yep, me too . . . .

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