Hey all,

I've got aluminum wheels on my jeep, 5x5.5 pattern, the front lug nuts keep loosening up. Back ones stay fine, so I'm assuming the additional torque of turning w/ 38's is causing the aluminum to give or something. Talked to the guys at Les Schwab, they were totally clueless. Anybody have experience with this?

-J

use the search I've seen this before not sure what the outcome was though. lug nuts to long or something like that

I didn't get anything useful off the search, even using astericks...

I believe you're referring to the thread about lug studs being too long for the lug nuts... I might try clearancing the studs if they have a "blank" end, but i don't think they're too long...

Other ideas?

-J

two basic suggestions that you prob already checked... make sure the lug nuts are not bottoming out (like you mentioned above) and make sure they are the correct type of lug nut for that type of rim....

Also make sure you check and retorqe them after the first 50 miles or so....

If thats not it, I don't know :)


:usa:

I was talking about the shank? the smooth part of the lug nut that goes through the wheel. hope you figure it out that be scary stuff. I know guy who's 38" swamper flew through the sky and hit a car been going to court over it forever.

I was coming home from work the other day, shit was clanking. I stop, front left wheel had 1 stud left and no lugs. Was banging on the rotor/caliper... I tossed new studs in and new lugs, tightened it all down. Drove for 20 miles, tightened down again. Went snow wheeling for 4 hrs, tightened it down again. Drove to work, tightened it down AGAIN. WTF

-J

both sides are coming loose by the way, but the rears are fine.

....

Originally posted by xBabyJesus
I was coming home from work the other day, shit was clanking. I stop, front left wheel had 1 stud left and no lugs. Was banging on the rotor/caliper... I tossed new studs in and new lugs, tightened it all down. Drove for 20 miles, tightened down again. Went snow wheeling for 4 hrs, tightened it down again. Drove to work, tightened it down AGAIN. WTF

-J

one, are you torqueing to spec.

two, are you using the right type of lug nuts for the aluminum wheels?

I seem to remember aluminum wheels requiring a special type of coating on the cone part of the lug nut.

There was apost on this not too lomg ago, but don't remember what it was called. Same thing w/ aluminum rims. It was one of the ladies on the board that was having this problem, but I don't remember of anyone having a solution besides loc-tite, which most people would not recommend. Good luck, cause that has to really suck!

USE SEARCH: TripleBGirl Tire fell off on Freeway!
This was the last post on the topic.

I think the title of the thread, that had lots of good tech, was called

:tire fell off on highway" or something like that

not much help for you right now but on my chero i had aluminum rims and the fronts kept loosening and i just kept checking them almost daily and then after a few months they stopped backing off. All i found out was that the aluminum heats and cools and expands and contracts which loosen the lugs.

I have generic lug nuts, I didn't see any special lug nuts for aluminum wheels when i went to replace the lost ones. I have the tapered end ones.
I've been tightening them down pretty tight by feel, I'd say 120lb/ft... I'll check today.

Yeah, I remember the earlier thread. What I got from it was that there are different types of lug nuts. The main difference is apparently with the profile where the base of the lug nut meets the hole in the wheel itself. Some are straight taper, some are more spherical, etc. You may want to call the manufacturer of your wheel and get a recommendation. Forget the tire monkeys at Les Shwab. They're clueless usually.

My lugs are the tapered kind, like a cone with the nose cut off...

Originally posted by Screwzer
there are different types of lug nuts. The main difference is apparently with the profile where the base of the lug nut meets the hole in the wheel itself. Some are straight taper, some are more spherical, etc. You may want to call the manufacturer of your wheel and get a recommendation.



if i remember correctly Kerry got those @ discount... so checking with them about the wheels might be a good start...

yea, that Discount Tire 10% deal bought me some Mud Terrains not that long ago =D I'll give them a ring, thanks dave.

-J

HOLY $#@$

120 ft lbs is WAY too tight !

try about 75 or 80, or check with your wheel manufacturer.

Too tight will not hep things, especially with aluminum (there's a long winded technical explanation I can't be bothered to type :flipoff2: )

So use a couple drops of blue loctite on each lug...NOT the red.

the other thread is in the toyota board. Try over there. It's even titled "lug nuts keep falling off". The end result was just make sure you have the right taper on the cone end of the lug nut, and you might try a little blue loc tite

Originally posted by xBabyJesus
Hey all,

Talked to the guys at Les Schwab, they were totally clueless.

-J

No Du! com awn!:flipoff2:

I had a similar problem. My solution : Steel Wheels!

Try replacing the studs. I am having the same issue all the way around and I lost a wheel and bent a hub. It gave me a excuse to go fullfloater for flat towing. Someone told me it might be stretched threads. I just keep torqueing them. it sucks.:confused:

I've been tightening them down pretty tight by feel, I'd say 120lb/ft... I'll check today.

Heard of a torque wrench?

SG

Originally posted by lttlbddy


Heard of a torque wrench?

SG

I have one, but torque specs vary with the weather...

Oh, and I replaced most of the studs. Still doing it. Fawking POS..

-J