Lug Nuts and such

[4x4 Forever]

Just a general, 'please check your rig' thingy...Sorry, no pics!

I was pulling the tires off the rear axle on the deuce for a general inspection along with repacking the bearings and seals and liked to have had a cow! I found 3 of 6 lugnuts loose on BOTH axles, not a good thing! And by loose, I mean, put your fingers on them and start turning! I checked the rest of the axles and found at least 1 on each axle this way!

I had checked them all a couple of months ago and all was good, so this happened in about 1000miles...

So, as a friendly reminder, please check your lugs and nuts!

 

[DieselBob]

I sometimes wonder if the 5+ thick layers of paint that have been applied on the rims over the 30 + years contributes to the problem.

 

[CARNAC]

I would concur. I went 20+ years and never had a lug nut problem. This year, I've had loose lug nuts cause near disasters twice.

Also don't forget to turn the time back....I am up and on here cause I forgot to turn back my travel alarm.

 

[Heavysteven]

Could it be caused by the nut or studs being threads being worn? I wonder if replacing the lug nut with new ones might help.

I agree that it's a common issue.

 

[ODdave]

Mechanic by trade and have never had a lug nut loosen, everyone is HAND tightening there OWN lugs correct???? (to the proper spec)

 

[maddawg308]

To be fair, you can overtighten the lug nuts too. Those who put a 3/4" impact on them and leave the sucker on for a minute tightening the sucker are going to find out what happens to overtorqued studs when you hit a pothole.

Before a big trip (or once a month) check the lug nuts. If you own an impact wrench, 2-3 seconds MAX once the nut stops doing any major spinning, just to cinch it up tight. If you don't own an impact, and instead use the Budd wrench and a 4-foot breaker bar, LEAN into that sucker with your full weight. Make sure they are snug, but don't go to extremes.

 

[maddawg308]

And another error some guys make, even me once in a while: lefty-loosey righty-tighty on the RIGHT side of the truck only. (passenger side). Driver's side is OPPOSITE, lefty-tighty righty-loosey. I've seen folks with impacts on the driver's side saying "dammit this just won't come off" and they forgot the opposite rule.

 

[73m819]

I have seen lug nuts loosen, but most times ,if thay were put on right, the cause was a viberation caused by a bad bearing, another cause was lubed studs and over tighting that leads to stretched studs and buds