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Old 04-08-2015, 08:03 PM   #1
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Stainless Steel Lug Nuts?

Has anyone found a source for replacement stainless steel lug nuts? I've gone through 2 sets (in about 6 years) of 'lifetime' chrome plated sets that keep rusting, & I live in Central Texas.

I cannot seem to locate any that have the 'bulge' before the taper. There are plenty with the taper but no bulge, if that is important. ??

After a bad experience with the A/S OEM 2 piece lug nuts, I'm not going there again.
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Old 04-08-2015, 08:13 PM   #2
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Thanks for asking this question. I have the same issue with the lug nuts on the replacement wheels we bought a few years back. Wheels look great, lug nuts bad.

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Old 04-08-2015, 09:25 PM   #3
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There is a post or two on the Forums about McGuard lug nuts. I have purchased a set, but have just not gotten around to putting them on. Appear to be very high quality. They have a website, or are on Amazon.


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Old 04-08-2015, 09:26 PM   #4
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That might be spelled "McGard". Not sure.


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Old 04-08-2015, 09:27 PM   #5
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They probably cant be found because they are likely not made.

Stainless threads have a way of galling and seizing up. They would be bad news as lug nuts.


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Old 04-08-2015, 09:50 PM   #6
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I used McGard #64010 found on Amazon when I switched to 16" wheels.
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Old 04-08-2015, 10:19 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Morgan View Post
They probably cant be found because they are likely not made.

Stainless threads have a way of galling and seizing up. They would be bad news as lug nuts.
Interestingly, the McGard lug nuts referenced above are not stainless steel. Their claim to fame, among other things, is their triple nickel/chrome plate. Lug Nuts/Lug Bolts

I can readily believe this; there's chrome plate and then there's chrome plate. If you've ever looked at an OEM chrome bumper next to one replated by a real chrome plating shop you know what I mean.
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Old 04-08-2015, 11:08 PM   #8
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For sure.. All chrome is not created equal,,,, not even close to equal.


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Old 04-09-2015, 05:04 AM   #9
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I got mine from Discount Tire in 2013 they have held very well they said they were SS .
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Old 04-09-2015, 06:12 AM   #10
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Easy enough to test for stainless. Put a magnet to them. Also remember that stainless does rust, it just takes it longer.
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Old 04-09-2015, 06:21 AM   #11
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A little steel wool brillow pad scrubbing and then a coat of wax will fix most rust problems. Unless something is Chrome plated really well it will chip and come off and as soon as there is a pinhole, it will rust. Impact drivers used to remove lug nuts will chip chrome because it is brittle.

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Old 04-09-2015, 06:31 AM   #12
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Deforming the metal on top or beneath the surface will increase "rust" and peeling. I saw this a lot on "bad chrome" on motorcycles. It is really difficult to build things which cannot be "over tightened". A stainless "cover" crimped over the lug will be the closest compromise IMHO.

To me, I would like to see a removable cover like on my truck wheel lug nuts. That should be "doable..."
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Old 04-09-2015, 06:57 AM   #13
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I put these on my boat trailer than gets dunked in salt water:
http://www.amazon.com/10-pack-SOLID-...steel+lug+nuts
No rust yet.
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Old 04-09-2015, 07:12 AM   #14
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Stainless is a "softer" metal, and is not designed to withstand the loads encountered as a wheel fastener. I have stainless roller rockers in one of my engines, but the loading is less and different than a wheel.
You WANT hardened steel. There is a reason you don't see stainless or aluminum lug nuts.
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Old 04-09-2015, 07:55 AM   #15
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Stainless Steel Lug Nuts?

If you look at the link where the lug nuts are sold you will see that customers who bought the nuts also bought Anti-seize thread lube......

It would be a must,,,, and the threads would still be subject to galling and seizure at a reduced rate.

My experience has been that stainless is no good for high tension fasteners, and this is even more true as the diameter of the fastener increases.

Imagine yourself on the side of the road with a flat tire.... And one or two lugs..... Anyway, my bet is that if a person uses these leg nuts without anti-seize every single one would be terminally galled to the point where not only the nuts would be trash, but all of the studs as well.

I think stainless is too brittle for threads. My theory is that the sharp tip of the thread starts fracturing off, clogging the path causing more fractures,,,, the result is that the fastener tightens ok,,, but becomes irreparably jammed up in the first two or three turns on removal.

It is a sickening feeling. And nothing I have ever seen locks up so tight.

Stainless fasteners are pretty, but there is a huge downside.

Take a look at the picture. See the large bolts that hold the suspension at the ends of the bars?

I thought those would be cool in stainless.

On the first mock assembly I had a friend who installed the axle while I went to buy a bottle of anti-seize...

I stated at least three times to leave the nuts finger tight...

He tightened them....

Do you have any idea how hard it was to break those 5/8" bolts?

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Old 04-09-2015, 07:59 AM   #16
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Stainless can be made strong but it costs more and corrosion resistance goes down as strength goes up. Stainless is used all the time in aerospace but you don't want to pay $1000 for a set of lug nuts. Cheap stainless like they make sinks out of is weak and soft. If a magnet sticks to it you know it is cheap. Stainless also does not crack as easy as most steels.

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Old 04-09-2015, 08:12 AM   #17
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Please don't use any lubricant on lugs.
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Old 04-09-2015, 08:36 AM   #18
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In my experience, if anti-seize is not used, stainless lug nuts will be "tighten once" and then break off, and replace all wheel studs.

Like I said, I would never use stainless lug nuts or recommend that anyone does.

While I would not recommend using lube on lug nuts, I doubt they would back off. There are too many engine fasteners that defy this idea. (I.e. Connecting rod bolts and main bearing caps. )


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Old 04-09-2015, 08:43 AM   #19
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Unless specified in the torque value chart for a particular engine, no lube or anti-seize for head, intake, mains, nor rods either. Torque values will be off if you don't follow specs for lube or no lube.

Stainless lugs nuts are a bad idea....I'm, quite frankly, surprised they are available. I wonder if those who think they have stainless, have good quality chromed steel.
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Old 04-09-2015, 08:59 AM   #20
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Stainless Steel Lug Nuts?

I am aware of the inherent issues with stainless steel seizing, many years working on boats. If the S/S fasteners and surface are not square the threads will stretch/distort & then it's time for the Dremel. Not fun. For wheels, only the lug nuts would be stainless, also I think the tapered seat of the wheels and tapered lugs will mitigate this problem.

The S/S lugs for boat trailers don't have the bulge on them. To me that 'bulge' looks like a way to increase surface area to disperse stress, just a guess on my part.

I think any type of lubricant on lug nuts is not a good idea.

My reason for the post is to find out if S/S is a possible solution & what issues exist. Also how have others solved rusting lug nut issues, they just look ugly on nice wheels. I check torque often, that's a lot of contact between the lugs & a socket, chrome has not worked for me. Wax has not seemed to help either.




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