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04-08-2015, 08:03 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
North Central Texas
, USA
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,003
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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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04-08-2015, 08:13 PM
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#2
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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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.
Jim
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04-08-2015, 09:25 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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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.
Cannonball, Deep in the Heart of Texas!
WBCCI #4387, Air #84080
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04-08-2015, 09:26 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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That might be spelled "McGard". Not sure.
Cannonball, Deep in the Heart of Texas!
WBCCI #4387, Air #84080
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
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04-08-2015, 09:27 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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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.
1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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04-08-2015, 09:50 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
2006 30' Classic
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 96
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I used McGard #64010 found on Amazon when I switched to 16" wheels.
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04-08-2015, 10:19 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Southwestern
, Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,671
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Morgan
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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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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04-08-2015, 11:08 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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For sure.. All chrome is not created equal,,,, not even close to equal.
1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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04-09-2015, 05:04 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2000 30' Excella
Toledo
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 493
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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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04-09-2015, 06:12 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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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.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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04-09-2015, 06:21 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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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.
Perry
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04-09-2015, 06:31 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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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..."
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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04-09-2015, 07:12 AM
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#14
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Regular Guy
1978 31' Sovereign
Hot Springs
, Arkansas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 603
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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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04-09-2015, 07:55 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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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?
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture277.jpg
1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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04-09-2015, 07:59 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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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.
Perry
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04-09-2015, 08:12 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,656
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Please don't use any lubricant on lugs.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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04-09-2015, 08:36 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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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. )
1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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04-09-2015, 08:43 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,656
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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.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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04-09-2015, 08:59 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
North Central Texas
, USA
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,003
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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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