These lugnuts s*ck!

[stenerson]

That TPMS system came in handy last night. I must of hit a nail driving home in a dark, country road. It flashed telling me I was losing air from front right tire very quickly. I got a full size spare which I knew was good to go since I lowered it last week to undercoat the truck. Any way 3 of my bolts were bulged or distorted, I blame the guy that does state inspections going nuts with impact gun. Two of them I was able to remove but the last was impossible. Fortunately have a friend that lives 10 mins away from where I was and he came up with some tools. Long story short we had to chisel away at that cheap, soft chrome cover and beneath it was a a 20mill bolt, a little distorted but good enough to work loose. I just ordered 20 new lugnuts on Amazon that reviewers say are more durable than stock. We'll see.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Might try here

Wheel Spacers, Wheel Adapters, Wheel Lug Nuts, Lug Bolts

Alpha Wheel Accessories, Inc

www.alphawausa.com

 

[BossHogg]

Any way 3 of my bolts were bulged or distorted, I blame the guy that does state inspections going nuts with impact guy.

A very common problem for those of us driving in the winter climates where they salt the roads. This issue isn't limited to RAM either, my wife's Chevy did the same thing and so will her Bronco after enough time passes. The issue is the lug nuts are capped, the lug nut rusts and expands under the cap causing a 22mm socket to not fit the lug nut anymore. I carry 1/2 sized sockets and for the extreme case, a 7/8s socket. Once the 7/8s socket starts feeling tight, I replace the lug nuts which took 7 seven years on my no longer owned 2013 RAM.

 

[stenerson]

Might try here

Wheel Spacers, Wheel Adapters, Wheel Lug Nuts, Lug Bolts

Alpha Wheel Accessories, Inc

www.alphawausa.com

Thanks. those are "Made From SCM 435 Cold Forged Steel One Solid Piece Construction." Twice the price of the ones I just ordered but might only have to buy them once.

 

[BossHogg]

When I bought new lug nuts, like in the link, I was surprised that after one year they started to rust where the lug nut socket put pressure on the nut causing a disturbance in the chrome coating. Looked like crap. The only solution I found was staying with the OEM stainless steel capped lug nuts but that is $$$.

 

[stenerson]

A very common problem for those of us driving in the winter climates where they salt the roads. This issue isn't limited to RAM either, my wife's Chevy did the same thing and so will her Bronco after enough time passes. The issue is the lug nuts are capped, the lug nut rusts and expands under the cap causing a 22mm socket to not fit the lug nut anymore. I carry 1/2 sized sockets and for the extreme case, a 7/8s socket. Once the 7/8s socket starts feeling tight, I replace the lug nuts which took 7 seven years on my no longer owned 2013 RAM.

Good tips BossHog. I told my wife when I got home I'm gonna carry more tools in case of emergencies.

 

[stenerson]

The only solution I found was staying with the OEM stainless steel capped lug nuts but that is $$$.

Some dealers want 30 bucks per lugnut. Cheaper to replace them every year with Amazon clones.

 

[Daw14]

Mcgard or gorilla both have one piece lug nuts .

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Mcgard or gorilla both have one piece lug nuts .

My mcGard's showed signs of edge rust from socket impact after about a year. Still a great product but not certain you could escape wear patterns with how tools are.utilized today. I still have them on the truck, but I am aware of the wear

 

[Wild one]

Good tips BossHog. I told my wife when I got home I'm gonna carry more tools in case of emergencies.

https://www.amazon.com/ARES-59065-1-2-Inch-Drive-Socket/dp/B0B8B5FCN9?th=1

 

[bgenlvtex]

The Big Three have all been using that aesthetically pleasing but functionally poor design since at least the early 70's.

Ford had a class action suit over it just a few years ago. They argued (and won) that lugnuts sole purpose is to hold the wheel on, and since they did that it's all good.

What tears up lug nuts is impact tools, whether tin sleeved, or solid. I'm not saying don't use them, I'm saying that lug nuts are common collateral damage when they are used.

Break them loose manually, torque with a proper torque wrench and even the sleeved nuts will last the life of the vehicle.

Or don't and accept that your lug nuts are going to get beat up.

 

[turkeybird56]

Thanks. those are "Made From SCM 435 Cold Forged Steel One Solid Piece Construction." Twice the price of the ones I just ordered but might only have to buy them once.

Went to site, they only got "black" OEM style, one piece, no chrome.

 

[stenerson]

https://www.amazon.com/ARES-59065-1-2-Inch-Drive-Socket/dp/B0B8B5FCN9?th=1

Interesting, a set made specifically for this problem. Very cool. I'm gonna get the

Drive 21.5 x 22.5mm . Perfect!​

 

[stenerson]

Went to site, they only got "black" OEM style, one piece, no chrome.

That's weird. You'd think the RAM 1500 would sell the most.

 

[diymirage]

Thanks. those are "Made From SCM 435 Cold Forged Steel One Solid Piece Construction." Twice the price of the ones I just ordered but might only have to buy them once.

Buy once, cry once

 

[Wild one]

Interesting, a set made specifically for this problem. Very cool. I'm gonna get the

Drive 21.5 x 22.5mm . Perfect!​

Throw a 23mm in with it to,once they get beat up,even a 22.5 doesn't fit all that good. I ran Gorilla's ,but even they leave a bit to be desired after you've had them on and off several times.I used to swap tires every week-end when i went to the dragstrip ,the street tires would come off,and the drag radials would go on,and by the time the summer was over,the gorilla's were showing some wear,but at least a normal socket would still fit them

 

[turkeybird56]

That's weird. You'd think the RAM 1500 would sell the most.

IF they had a set of "chrome", since I got Chrome rims, I would buy.

 

[Scottly]

The greatest act of government thievery....State inspections. Worthless from a safety perspective. Florida has proven that for the last 30 years.

 

[diymirage]

The greatest act of government thievery....State inspections. Worthless from a safety perspective. Florida has proven that for the last 30 years.

I take it you never heard of property taxes ?

 

[Jeepwalker]

Been there! (on other vehicles in the past). The original lug-nuts have a stainless cap over a nut. They're actually great at looking good for many yrs "IF" you treat them right. If you live in the N. they're really the best bet. When I rotate my truck's tires the first time, I put a thin bead of RTV at the base of the stainless cap, to keep moisture (esp salt) out. Then they don't rust/expand underneath. I started doing that many yrs ago after going through that on my snow plow truck. I also apply a little anti-seize to the *threads* (only)...and hand tighten by wrench. Most aftermarket chrome lug nuts don't do well in the salty north either. Give them 3 winters and they'll most likely look like crap (unless they were the REALLY good one$).

Your best bet is to buy a bag (kind of like 'bulk'), set of OEM 'take-off's' off ebay and do as I suggested above with the RTV and replace the ones that bulge, as they bulge.

Since you have that going on, you might want to squirt oil in your truck's box frame. I just saw a guy's Chevy truck box frame and it was totally 'gone' on the bottom side. Any box frame in the salty N will end up that way unless treated with some rustproofing. Best of luck.