Lug Nut Caps
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville AL
Lug Nut Caps
I have a 2003 convertable and the lug nuts have the chrome plastic caps on them. That is most of them do. I ordered a new set and am ready to install them. There is corrosion on the lug nuts that makes installation difficult. I plan to remove each nut and clean the bulk of the corrosion off with a wire brush. I'm thinking of putting a light coat of grease on the threads to keep them from corroding. Has anyone done this? Any instructional comments? Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
Do you mean that you ordered a new set of chrome plastic caps and that the exterior threads (the threads that the plastic caps thread on to) on the existing lug nuts are corroded?
As far as removing wheel lug nuts, I believe that all five should be loostened sequentially and incrementally. Example, bring all five lug nuts down from 100 ft lb to 75 or so, then 50 ft lb then off. The reverse of installing them. I would not take one lug nut off, leaving the other four at full torque.
I do not think you should grease the threads between the lug nuts and the mounting studs. Anti corrosion grease on lug nut exterior threads between lug nuts and plastic cap might be OK so long as you do not contaminate the stud threads. I do not do that but I do torque the chrome plastic caps dry to 50 inch lb.
Some say that it is a good idea to grease the cone mating surface between the wheel and the lug nut, but again, without contaminating the threads on the stud.
As far as removing wheel lug nuts, I believe that all five should be loostened sequentially and incrementally. Example, bring all five lug nuts down from 100 ft lb to 75 or so, then 50 ft lb then off. The reverse of installing them. I would not take one lug nut off, leaving the other four at full torque.
I do not think you should grease the threads between the lug nuts and the mounting studs. Anti corrosion grease on lug nut exterior threads between lug nuts and plastic cap might be OK so long as you do not contaminate the stud threads. I do not do that but I do torque the chrome plastic caps dry to 50 inch lb.
Some say that it is a good idea to grease the cone mating surface between the wheel and the lug nut, but again, without contaminating the threads on the stud.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 254
From: Lake Tapps WA.
I have a 2003 convertable and the lug nuts have the chrome plastic caps on them. That is most of them do. I ordered a new set and am ready to install them. There is corrosion on the lug nuts that makes installation difficult. I plan to remove each nut and clean the bulk of the corrosion off with a wire brush. I'm thinking of putting a light coat of grease on the threads to keep them from corroding. Has anyone done this? Any instructional comments? Thanks.
