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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 01:41 AM
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Tdoggindahouse's Avatar
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Default Lug nut caps

I keep losing my lug nut caps. Ok, $5 is no big deal (unless you are buying a gallon of gas), but three this year?--I tighten them finger tight. Any one have any idea why I am losing them? Do they fly off naturally at over 100 mph (heh, heh)?
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 02:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Tdoggindahouse
I keep losing my lug nut caps. Ok, $5 is no big deal (unless you are buying a gallon of gas), but three this year?--I tighten them finger tight. Any one have any idea why I am losing them? Do they fly off naturally at over 100 mph (heh, heh)?
You are not tightening them enough. Use a 19 MM socket on a 6 inch extension and hand tighten the caps with the socket. You can feel when they get tight and the socket with extension gives you the leverage to get them tight enough. When you do this they will never come off unless somebody takes them off. Been installing these caps like this for 20 years with no problems. Trust me you will not strip them out.

Bill
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 02:20 AM
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Thanks--I'll give it a shot. Always seem to find great advice from this site.
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 08:11 AM
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with Bill.
Mine were always tightened that way before I went to Stainless Steel lugnuts.
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
You are not tightening them enough. Use a 19 MM socket on a 6 inch extension and hand tighten the caps with the socket. You can feel when they get tight and the socket with extension gives you the leverage to get them tight enough. When you do this they will never come off unless somebody takes them off. Been installing these caps like this for 20 years with no problems. Trust me you will not strip them out.

Bill
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 09:35 AM
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I don't have lug nut caps on my C5 with wagon wheels.

If the lug nut caps screws directly onto the lug nut after it's installed then yes, just not tightening them down enough.

I don't have lug caps on the C5 but I do have them on another GM car that we have and yea, they have fallen off in the past after I have like tires installed or something like that.
I always have to go back and re-tighten them. I also have been using a little lock-tite on them, works good, never lost one yet, even at over 100 mph .... I mean degrees ( heh heh )
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 09:45 AM
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my 95 pace car has plastic caps and the manual goes as far to tell you how many foot pounds to torque them down,, mine is 20 ft lbs.. later rj
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 10:16 AM
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A few months ago, I saw a post that said to put some grease on the threads. I have not yet done that because I am afraid of the covers coming off even sooner.
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I dab a little spot (1/8" or so) of Permatex Gasket Sealer on the inside threads of the cap before screwing them on. Haven't lost one yet, and they still come right off if needed.
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