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I have put a set of C6-Zo6 wheels in the stock C5 sizes 17x9.5 and 18x10.5 on my 04 Z. They came from Factory Reproductions inc. Has anybody bought these same wheels? The problem that I'm having is that my lugs are backing off while vehicle is being driven. I tourqued my lugs to 100lbs and they still backed off far enough that had a grinding noise while driving. I thought it was a brake dragging or wheel bearing going. I decided to pull the right rear and see if I could solve the problem or identify what the dealer need to focus their search on. When removing the rear lugs I noticed that all five were way loose and came close to loosing a rear wheel while driving. Not a good thing!!
I would inspect the hub studs and lug nuts for signs they have been lubricated with something like WD40. That could cause the symptom you describe.
If so, get rid of all traces of lube.
Ranger
Not disagreeing with Ranger but adding additional comment. With a lubrication factor involved, tourque would be multiplied to a certain extent. If this did in deed happen due to lubrication of threads they more then likely have become stretched or damaged beyond repair. One way to tell is with a thread gauge. Also not all the lugs will spin on to the same stud freely.
Something to watch out for is that the taper of the lugs is "deep" enough. I just had that happen yesterday when I switched lugs on my 02 Z06 wheels. The nuts are supposed to have a 60 degree taper and these did, but it wasn't deep enough so the only part of the nut actually touching the wheel was a super thin strip of material only on the edge of the hole in the wheel.
I noticed right away that as I was tightening the lugs with the torque wrench that they were "skating", meaning I had almost no resistance.
Good thing I caugh it early and went to buy lug nuts that I belive are called "bulge" nuts. Basically they have a big cone on the side that contacts the wheel that "bulges" past the diameter of the nut a bit.
Lug nuts are 12 X1.5 conical seat
These are the ones that "look" right but are not..
I have always lubed my lugs with grease for the last 30 years of wrenching on cars for two reasons. The first reason is to prevent seisure or galling of the threads. The second is to get a consistent clamping force from all the studs. The lubrication will increase the clamping force compared to non-lubricated but it has never been a problem. Also I have never had a problem with nuts loosening. I beleive your loosening is due to the bolt circle of the wheel being off and the tapers of the nuts are not sitting square into their respective seats.
Thanks guys for all your replies. I'm going to replace these bad set of lugs with my originals lugs and see what happens. I will take a hard look at my wheel studs for any damage caused by these wrong size wheel nuts. I'll also look at the wheels themselves for damage from the these lug nuts. Keeps your responces coming and I'll do the same and I'll let you guys know if the old lugs amke a diffrence.
I have always lubed my lugs with grease for the last 30 years of wrenching on cars for two reasons. The first reason is to prevent seisure or galling of the threads. The second is to get a consistent clamping force from all the studs. The lubrication will increase the clamping force compared to non-lubricated but it has never been a problem. Also I have never had a problem with nuts loosening. I beleive your loosening is due to the bolt circle of the wheel being off and the tapers of the nuts are not sitting square into their respective seats.
I understand Ranger's post, and it must work because we all know he know's his car, but I've used a dab of anti-seize on threads for 10 years with no issues. I think you have something else going on. Follow the recommendations on the other posts, and when you find something, please let us know.
Here is another thing to look at. If the wheels are new they may not have hard enough seats (yet) they may need torqued several times after driving sessions till the seats (where the nut goes in) is work hardned. Just a thought.
If the wheels are new, it could also be that there is excess paint build-up in the lug seat area.
OR you might need a different type of lug. There are tapered lugs and there are "acorn" lugs, which have a rounded bottom.
I pulled the wheels off and looked at the wheel and lugs closely. I noticed that the center of each lug nut beyond the treads was a shiny round circle from the wheel lug bottoming out inside the lug nut. I replaced my old stock lug nuts back on my Z and drove around to see they would back off, but didn't drive far. I never had a problem with any of my previouse vetts wheel lugs. I called House of Wheels (B0b) and hhis reply was I never heard of the type of problem and " I sell these type of lug nuts by the pallet load". Basically not his problem, take it to a tire dealer and see what they can do to help me! Anybody dealing with this guy better get ready to give up your cash and don't exspect to much service but the bare mimimum. I even went back to the old school tourque wrench with the needle indicator to ensure that I was getting 110 lb's
I have used anti-seize on my Vettes for many years and never had a problem in any way. I have stopped the practice so as to get the true torque rating applied. It sounds like you are the wrong nuts.
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