INTHERED

I decided to embrace my cars black trim look by adding a set of black lug nuts but I have a question.
The black lug nuts arrived and I noticed that the conical lug nut area that engages the wheel is black which I assume is paint or powder coat.
Should I lubricate the black area, remove and polish the black area or what ?

Thanks >>>> Inthered

juanvaldez

Leave it alone. I'm using Gorilla lugs that are black. I would retorque the a couple of times after you change them out.

C7-Beast

I would not add anything to the lugs.


I'm using McGard lug nuts in black. I purchased the Gorilla lugs but sent them back as they were all packed in one bag and got scratched up. I got the McGards and they seem to be of higher quality.

sycraft

I paid 14 bucks on Ebay for a set of black lugnuts, all individually wrapped. No issues, holding torque after 1500 miles

Sydwayz

I use a little bowl of car wash soapy water to lubricate the all of my black lug nuts before installing. When you are done installing, wash the wheels well and hose down as usual.

C8Jake

Flame Red

- You get what you pay for. Mcgards will not chip even after years of removing / reinstalling.

C7-Beast

JerryU

The finish on the McGard black lug nuts I put on my C6 were all black, torque held fine for 5 years. I never lub lug nuts. Torque requirement is based on dry contact.

Maxpowers

And definitely dont get lube on the threads. It will cause over torqueing during install. I learned this the hard way 20 years ago.

JerryU

Found this graph. Shows antiseize significantly increased bolt stress at the same torque.




Lubricating Nuts Will Increase Bolt Stress.

juanvaldez

Interesting! I had always heard to reduce torque when using anti-seize but never realized it was that much.

I'm using the black spline drive Gorilla lug nuts. Very high quality, much better than the stock lugs imho. Mine came bulk packed off ebay but they were all in pristine condition.

JerryU

Yes more than I expected for antisieze. The Moly lub produces about 25% more stress from this graph, which as I recall is about the same as motor oil.
From my wire drawing development days I remember the order of lubrication ability is oil lowest, grease, wax then soap highest! Soap liquefies in the wire die interface. That's why you use it versus oil when putting a screw in wood! In fact if I remember correctly a sodium stearate soap (like Ivory as I recall) is not as good a lub as calcium stearate (like Tide!) Actually you use mixtures of soaps and fillers like lime in wire drawing.

INTHERED

The McGard design does not have the conical area of their lug nut finished in black which is my main concern about the black lug nuts that I received.

Black&White

These black caps do the job just fine for me. Unless you get on your hands and knees a foot away you would never know what they are.

INTHERED

How deep are the black caps and how hard are they to remove ?
.
Thanks >>>> Inthered

INTHERED

I put those black rubber caps on and I decided that I do not like the black rubber caps or the black lug nuts now
especially after I bought the 2016 all black center caps it was just too much black for me.
The stock chrome lug nuts add just enough of an accent, If I had the machine face wheels then it would be a different story.
Anyone want to trade machine face wheels for all black wheels ?

sycraft

this, I know they are dirty...

HANNY

bottom line is torque and re-torque after some miles to be totally safe and confident they are good and snug. I also agree with the guys that say you get what you pay for, use a good company for lugnuts and if it costs you a little extra it is your wheels and you life so a small price to pay. paul

INTHERED

Yep but how do you sleep at night without black valve step caps ?