Lug nuts stripped? Help

[Mattirs]

Luckily I discovered the nail in the tire in the driveway. I got three lug nuts out. One broke, see picture, two with effort are spinning, but not loosening. How do I get them off?

Any suggestions on a good brand of replacement lug nuts?

Thank heaven I am in my driveway and not in the middle of no where.

Matti

[Countryboy59]

Be sure you don't have left handed thread nuts on that wheel.

[woodfox45]

McGuard lug nuts for replacement . You need to get that SS sleeve of and then find a socket to fit the nut They are right hand 1/2"x20 thread .

[Mattirs]

No left handed threads, three came out fine. The one that the cap came off of was a lefty loosey one.

Do I drill a hole in the caps and pull them off leaving the nut to remove the two that are spinning?

I found a socket that took off the capless lug nut off.

Thanks
Matti

[perryg114]

Get a coal chisel and cut that Stainless cap off and put find a socket that will fit. I have had those covered lug nuts before and they don't hold up especially with tire apes over tightening them with impact wrenches. A little grease on the threads can help with seizing but there will be some torque wrench Nazis on here saying it is wrong to do it. Probably the stainless jacket is welding itself to the cones on the rim. Maybe new lug nuts will fix your problem when you get them off.

Perry

[GeeSag]

McGard 64000 Chrome Cone Seat Style Lug Nuts (1/2" - 20 Thread Size) - Set of 4

Need to buy multiple sets.

Those previous ones with the outer casings were a real pain.

[Bgibbs]

I cut the caps off with a Dremel and cut off wheel. I got stainless from Amazon for both the AS and my boat trailer used in saltwater. The ones on the boat trailer took a couple of hours to get off and a broken socket extension.

[VaTravelers]

Cut them off and replace them with solid ones. Pretty lame design in the first place.

[sb55]

I found a slightly smaller metric 12 point socket and hammered it on. Then I could spin off the bad ones before replacing.

[perryg114]

They are trying to be cheap instead of making the entire nut out of stainless steel.


Perry

[mykytiukr]

Originally Posted by woodfox45

McGuard lug nuts for replacement . You need to get that SS sleeve of and then find a socket to fit the nut They are right hand 1/2"x20 thread .

Right!!! Never had any contact with these exact parts that are used on Airstreams but I believe that the caps are supposed be pulled off then the socket put directly on the nut. Can’t tell for sure from the pictures but the cap may be crimped around the base of the nut. If this is the case then the caps are intended to be permanently fixed to the nut. Bad Idea!!! Good Luck!!!

[Silverflames]

Originally Posted by Bgibbs

I cut the caps off with a Dremel and cut off wheel. I got stainless from Amazon for both the AS and my boat trailer used in saltwater. The ones on the boat trailer took a couple of hours to get off and a broken socket extension.

Any problems with solid SS lug nuts so far? I was told that they tend to seize up?

[BARNEYCONE]

Pull the hub off. Have old ones pressed out and replaced with new. Maybe a machine shop. IF USEING SS STUDS USE AINT-SEIZE LUBE WHEN INSTALLING NUTS!!!!

[perryg114]

You have to lube them. Stainless is real bad about galling the threads. If you put a stainless bolt on a stainless nut they can and will weld on. I have had to break bolts on vacuum systems there bolts are not lubed. SST on steel is not as bad but there it still the chance. Anti-Seize is a good idea.

Perry

Originally Posted by Silverflames

Any problems with solid SS lug nuts so far? I was told that they tend to seize up?

[Wingeezer]

What is AS thinking to keep on using that rubbish! Changed ours out for solid years ago after much similar frustration!

Brian

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

What is AS thinking to keep on using that rubbish! Changed ours out for solid years ago after much similar frustration!

Brian

Same here on three different Airstreams that we have had over the years. Like others have said, why does Airstream do stupid stuff like this????

Brian

[rmkrum]

Because they can, and keep getting away with it?

[flamingoroad]

I had the capped nuts on my 34 aluminum rims and the tech at the JC service center recommended replacing them with solid nuts. So glad I took his recommendation. The capped nuts were a big pain when checking the torque and replacing a tire.

[Gearheart]

It is not just Airstream. Ford has the same "better idea" SS jackets crimped on over steel nuts. I wrecked 3 nuts changing a tire and replaced the works on my F150.

[John Woodrow]

I've always been successful removing the decorative caps using a pair of Channel Lock pliers with electrical tape applied to the jaws. Grip the cap at the 12 ockock position and gently wiggle it while pulling. Then grab it at 3 oclock and repeat.