What size lug nut?

[Doodad]

I should've mentioned it's a '59 Tradewind with no manual. Nuts are old skool - flat, no tapered end.

[prostar]

I just replaced the factory lug nuts. Everyone should replace the factory lug nuts. It took the guy over 10 min each on 3 of them to get off. The solid lugnuts are a 19mm socket. I am so glad this was done before I had to deal with it on the side of the road. Airstream really needs to step up to the plate and quit using crap parts.

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by prostar

.... Airstream really needs to step up to the plate and quit using crap parts.

My 2017 came withsolid wheel nuts.

[Life is a Highway]

An Airstream well it isn't Nascar- And a air gun in a shop unless using a torque stick with a calibrated air supply will not provide the proper tightening hold. For some reason flat rate or ego many do not use a torque wrench correctly.

Torque wrenches are used to stretch the wheel bolt to the proper yield so it always is twisting to stay tight. To loose they back and off to tight they can snap a stud. Most high end trained techs use a torque wrench. Those Nascar air guns have been tested with the air supply length of the hose and gun itself. They are calibrated with exact or very close torque to the correct ft lbs numbers. You must not hang with techs if you have never seen one used.

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I do have a torque wrench. (even though I've never torqued a lug nut in my life nor do I know anyone who has and I've never had one fall off.) But never mind that right now. Maybe torque wrenches cause loose nuts?

BTW, Nascar torques lug nuts before every race. During the race, never, since they're put on with an air gun in 12 seconds, and the studs are extra long so the nuts (glued to the rims) are aligned when hit with the air gun for .5 second. Lug nuts are checked after the race, but only to verify they have five, not that they're tight.

[jeffmc306]

I still have my Mac Tools torque wrench and always torque the log nuts after rotating tires. I think I’ve only found one that needed tightening when checking at 50 or 100 miles. If you’ve got one, why not use it?

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Life is a Highway

An Airstream well it isn't Nascar- And a air gun in a shop unless using a torque stick with a calibrated air supply will not provide the proper tightening hold. For some reason flat rate or ego many do not use a torque wrench correctly.

Torque wrenches are used to stretch the wheel bolt to the proper yield so it always is twisting to stay tight. To loose they back and off to tight they can snap a stud. Most high end trained techs use a torque wrench. Those Nascar air guns have been tested with the air supply length of the hose and gun itself. They are calibrated with exact or very close torque to the correct ft lbs numbers. You must not hang with techs if you have never seen one used.

I don't believe this is correct. The only toque to yield fasteners I've used were head bolts and 1 time use disposable items, not lug bolts.

A definition: A torque to yield fastener (TTY) or stretch bolt is a fastener which is torqued beyond the state of elasticity and therefore undergoes plastic deformation, causing it to become permanently elongated.

[Life is a Highway]

You’re talking torque to yield bolts. A torque spec on a bolt causes a stress that always wants to keep the bolt or nut tightened. To tight it can break to loose it can loosen.

Torque to yield bolts are a once and done bolt. If they were on a wheel you would be replacing wheel studs every time you rotated a tire

However both are important and to guess torque vs measure torque is the question. A tech who has felt torque’ broken knuckles and bolts can better guess tight enough from years of mechanical feedback feel. A stock manufacturer lug wrench in a car is calibrated in length so on the road the force a layman can apply would be tight enough. Unless one uses a pipe extension which multiples torque.

The OE wanted to know if they should have a torque wrench and how to use it. Which most people abuse that

Lugs should be tightened in a Star pattern and the torque broken up in thirds but few do this.

Test don’t Guess