what are the lug nuts made of?

[psuarmy]

I had a 2015 focus and sister-in-law an escape. Both had chrome covered lug nuts that by the 3rd time taking them off spun on the steel underneath and I had to replace them.

For anyone who has taken their tires off are these lug nuts solid or is there a chrome cover on them?

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[Whitenight]

I had a 2015 focus and sister-in-law an escape. Both had chrome covered lug nuts that by the 3rd time taking them off spun on the steel underneath and I had to replace them.

For anyone who has taken their tires off are these lug nuts solid or is there a chrome cover on them?

I had the same issue on my previous Fiesta, so I replaced the lug nuts on both my Maverick and my Bronco Sport. They are two piece lug nuts.

 

[Decayed]

I'd rather have solid stainless steel. You can buy them.

 

[psuarmy]

I had the same issue on my previous Fiesta, so I replaced the lug lugs on both my Maverick and my Bronco Sport. They are two piece lug nuts.

I was afraid of that. Thank you. I will have a new set of lugs for the first tire rotation.

 

[TSAINTS1115]

I had a 2015 focus and sister-in-law an escape. Both had chrome covered lug nuts that by the 3rd time taking them off spun on the steel underneath and I had to replace them.

For anyone who has taken their tires off are these lug nuts solid or is there a chrome cover on them?

If you're destroying the lug nuts in only three times of taking them off then you need a proper lug nut socket.

 

[psuarmy]

If you're destroying the lug nuts in only three times of taking them off then you need a proper lug nut socket.

I am using an impact gun. Ford uses junk 2 piece lug nuts. I was hoping not on the maverick, but I guess they do.

 

[TSAINTS1115]

I am using an impact gun. Ford uses junk 2 piece lug nuts. I was hoping not on the maverick, but I guess they do.

Update: I see you changed your reply. My answer still stands though.


No.....................You asked what they were made of. And others have answered you. They're a stainless shell over a steel nut. They have been used on all makes of cars for generations and will generally last the life of the car IF they are treated properly. To have the situation of " by the 3rd time taking them off spun on the steel underneath and I had to replace them." destroy them then that means you're not doing something right. Odds are an improper socket, especially a 12 point instead of a snug fitting hardened 6 point.

Mmkay?

 

[Darnon]

Odds are an improper socket, especially a 12 point instead of a snug fitting hardened 6 point.

It's not simply a "user error" issue. These style of lug nuts just suck by design. What inevitably happens is the steel nut inside rusts and swells. This deforms the jacket causing it to become oversized so the proper socket no longer fits or the edges split and more (salt)water can get in to make matters worse. So you're either no longer able to engage the full length of the nut or if you use a size larger socket it spins the jacket. If you're lucky the jacket comes off easily and you can get the rusty nut off with a size smaller socket. If you're unlucky you need to chisel the jacket off or the nut is so rusted that it still wants to round off.

 

[Bj517]

Any suggested replacements?

 

[TSAINTS1115]

Any suggested replacements?

McGard or Gorilla brand make a nice solid lugnut.

 

[TSAINTS1115]

It's not simply a "user error" issue. These style of lug nuts just suck by design. What inevitably happens is the steel nut inside rusts and swells. This deforms the jacket causing it to become oversized so the proper socket no longer fits or the edges split and more (salt)water can get in to make matters worse. So you're either no longer able to engage the full length of the nut or if you use a size larger socket it spins the jacket. If you're lucky the jacket comes off easily and you can get the rusty nut off with a size smaller socket. If you're unlucky you need to chisel the jacket off or the nut is so rusted that it still wants to round off.

True. But not in the after just three uses that the OP speaks of. Impact and a 12 point socket, especially one that's not as snug as it should be will destroy them.

Tip: when you rotate your tires, soak those two piece nuts in oil before you put them back on and they wont corrode.

 

[oneinch]

D'oh! This issue slipped my mind. The two-piece lug nuts suck and can leave you stranded. I replaced these on my F150 and Navigator. I'll be doing the same on the Maverick. I suggest everybody else do so too.

 

[Thumper477]

It's not simply a "user error" issue. These style of lug nuts just suck by design. What inevitably happens is the steel nut inside rusts and swells. This deforms the jacket causing it to become oversized so the proper socket no longer fits or the edges split and more (salt)water can get in to make matters worse. So you're either no longer able to engage the full length of the nut or if you use a size larger socket it spins the jacket. If you're lucky the jacket comes off easily and you can get the rusty nut off with a size smaller socket. If you're unlucky you need to chisel the jacket off or the nut is so rusted that it still wants to round off.

Yup,capped lug nuts SUCK!!! I work in a busy auto shop and we replace hundreds of capped nuts in a years time.We use solid chrome nuts to replace them.The capped nuts swell up from rusting internally and convential sockets and lug wrenches will not remove them.They have sucked for the last 40 years and should be outlawed.What happens when a customer has a flat and can not get the lugs off?What happens if it is a life threating emergency?Who gets sued?Answer...The last shop that worked on the car,thats who.We replace the bad lug nuts or we get the customer to sign off declining the new lugs.You can not be too careful as a shop owner.

 

[psuarmy]

True. But not in the after just three uses that the OP speaks of. Impact and a 12 point socket, especially one that's not as snug as it should be will destroy them.

Tip: when you rotate your tires, soak those two piece nuts in oil before you put them back on and they wont corrode.

you can say what you want, but I have a good 6 point impact socket and I know how to use it. After the third tire rotation the outer pieces of the lug nuts started to warp and rotate. By the fourth time I took the tires off I had to replace 2 or 3 lug nuts and the rest were going bad.

Though I am not a mechanic I am quite capable of properly changing a tire. Most assuredly in the 25 plus years I have been driving the ford lug nuts on that focus were the lowest quality I have ever had.

I do not want to soak lug nuts in oil. I can only imagine the spray and dripping from that. I would rather just replace them with a quality lug nut. Thank you for the suggestion for replacement lug nuts.

 

[Motorjunkie]

If you're destroying the lug nuts in only three times of taking them off then you need a proper lug nut socket.

What happens in Pennsylvania is that as it gets old the steel under the stainless covers rusts, makes the stainless bulge, then the proper sockets do not fit! I always replaced them on my Rangers so that I wouldn't be stuck along the road unable to change a flat because the lug wrench wouldn't fit.

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