Speed nuts
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Speed nuts
Who ever came up with the name speed nut they are the pain in rear. Especially the ones on the tail lights on the mid years. I was about ready to glue the lights in. 
JIm
JIm
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
They were probably quite handy when installed under force with a powered tool of some sort. But if installing them with a manual wrench, on a new stud necessitating the cutting of threads, well they sucko mucho.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,073
Likes: 9,398
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
if they wont hold tight on the stud. take the speed nut and gently tap down to close up the hole
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,015
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
If you're installing them back where they came off of, it usually helps to turn it backwards just enough to where you can feel it catch the old thread it came off of, then, turn it clockwise to put it back into the same thread it was removed from. (Make sense??)
If they're going on a new stud that has never had threads cut into it, it usually helps to apply a little pressure on the nut to help it engage the stud.
If it slips or doesn't catch, refer to the above post suggesting you tap it to close up the opening slightly in the speed nut.
This is what works for me.
If they're going on a new stud that has never had threads cut into it, it usually helps to apply a little pressure on the nut to help it engage the stud.
If it slips or doesn't catch, refer to the above post suggesting you tap it to close up the opening slightly in the speed nut.
This is what works for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,356
Likes: 870
From: Norcal CA
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
I use handle type socket wrenches. The ones with the plastic handles and the socket at the end. Also, it helps to put the speed nuts onto the part before putting the part onto the car.
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Army
If the nuts are going onto new/repro parts to cut threads (e.g. side spears of fender windsplits) I spray WD40 onto the studs on the new part and carefully screw the nut ALL the way down very carefully and very straight BEFORE installation. Its too easy to break those cheesy studs off if you are trying to thread them with speed nuts while laying upside down under a dashboard...