Loose lug nuts
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Are the wheel studs dry and free from grease or oil? Is the flange on the wheel smooth and clean and dry? Are the threads in good shape on both the stud and nut? Did you torque the nut to 100 ft-lbs and re-torque after about 30 miles of driving??
It may also be that the threads are simply worn out from years of removal and re-installing. You might want to get a new set of lug nuts.
It may also be that the threads are simply worn out from years of removal and re-installing. You might want to get a new set of lug nuts.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Are the wheel studs dry and free from grease or oil? Is the flange on the wheel smooth and clean and dry? Are the threads in good shape on both the stud and nut? Did you torque the nuts to 100 ft-lbs using the correct pattern and re-torque after about 30 miles of driving??
It may also be that the threads are simply worn out from years of removal and re-installing. You might want to get a new set of lug nuts.
It may also be that the threads are simply worn out from years of removal and re-installing. You might want to get a new set of lug nuts.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
What he said... those are what I'd start with. You may also want to see if the studs themselves may need to be replaced.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: DFW Texas
Years ago I had a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 that had the factory steel rally wheels. The wheels would loosen like your talking about. Very scary stuff. It turned out that the taper that the lug nut tighteen on was worn out. When you tightened the lug nuts they were actually tightening against the drum or rotor. It's been a while since I've had my vette wheels off so I can't remember if they have taper seat lug nuts or not. Good luck, I hope you figure it out soon. 
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
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Are they the correct lug nuts?
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Factory wheels?
I suspect once they come loose the first time for any reason, they oblong the holes, or chew up the taper, and never tighten well again after that.
Check your wheel's lug holes closely. The aluminum will stretch and wear faster than the lugnuts.
I'll have to double check mine, I ran with them loose for a bit.
I suspect once they come loose the first time for any reason, they oblong the holes, or chew up the taper, and never tighten well again after that.
Check your wheel's lug holes closely. The aluminum will stretch and wear faster than the lugnuts.
I'll have to double check mine, I ran with them loose for a bit.
the tires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 742
Mechanic told me to loosen all lugs and jack up car and then tighten
I lost two lug nuts from the same front wheel back in the fall. In fact, one fell off and rolled up against a mechanic's shoe while I was pulling into a dealership parking lot to look at their showroom Ford GT.
Being the nice mechanic that he was, he brought out his floor jack and had me loosen all of the lug nuts. Then he jacked up that portion of my 1990 Corvette and I re-tightened them. He said something about equalizing the pressure on all of the lug nuts. I had to buy a new lug nut to replace the other one for my Dayton wire wheels. But they've stayed tight ever since.
Zip Corvette, which I visit frequently, told me that aftermarket wheels have to be watched a little more than factory wheels. -- Eric
Being the nice mechanic that he was, he brought out his floor jack and had me loosen all of the lug nuts. Then he jacked up that portion of my 1990 Corvette and I re-tightened them. He said something about equalizing the pressure on all of the lug nuts. I had to buy a new lug nut to replace the other one for my Dayton wire wheels. But they've stayed tight ever since.
Zip Corvette, which I visit frequently, told me that aftermarket wheels have to be watched a little more than factory wheels. -- Eric
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
One good thing about the forum is people do different things that work for them! I tighten the lug nuts on aluminum wheels to about 35 pounds, then 70 and finally to 100. All five nuts are tightened to the same torque, but I skip a nut while doing the tightening process. I know this is controversal, but I always use anti sieze on the studs as this has never caused me a problem (unless I use to much of the compound and it makes a mess!). 
SAM
SAM
