Lug Nuts Oversized?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 162
Likes: 9
From: New Braunfels, TX
Lug Nuts Oversized?
I own a 2008 C6 Base Coupe with the Z51 package. The car came with the chrome wheels. The lug nuts have a decorative cap over each nut. It appears to be aluminum but I don’t know for sure. I brought the car into Costco as I bought the tires from them (albeit in another state where I used to live) to have them repair a slow leak on my Michelin Pilot Sports. They called me out to the shop to tell me they couldn’t remove the wheel from the car because the standard 19mm socket couldn’t slide over the lug nuts very far because the decorative sleeves added just enough thickness to prevent the socket from fully engaging the lug nut. I’ve removed the wheels before and know this sleeve can be an issue. Is there a special tool/lug wrench that should be used on these lug nuts to fully engage them? Or, do you just have to accept minimal engagement and hope to not round off the lug nut?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 12,759
Likes: 10,657
From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
You should remove the caps and then remove the lug nuts. Once wheels are put back on and lug nuts torqued appropriately put the caps back on - or just keep them off.
Last edited by JABCAT; Apr 22, 2020 at 11:28 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 3,485
From: Granada Hills CA
The caps which are not removable are tin and swell due to corrosion underneath. Common on all makes of cars including GM, Ford, Dodge & Toyota. I replaced mine with one-piece solid metal lug nuts. I did not want me, my wife or kids to be faced with having to change a tire where the supplied lug wrench would not fit over the lug due to expansion.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 314
From: Morris Co. NJ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18,'21
The "caps" are just decorative to make the lug nuts look like they are chrome. You need to use a deep socket to take off the lug nuts. If you don't you will damage the cap.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 12,759
Likes: 10,657
From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
The caps which are not removable are tin and swell due to corrosion underneath. Common on all makes of cars including GM, Ford, Dodge & Toyota. I replaced mine with one-piece solid metal lug nuts. I did not want me, my wife or kids to be faced with having to change a tire where the supplied lug wrench would not fit over the lug due to expansion.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 162
Likes: 9
From: New Braunfels, TX
So that I can avoid an extended search, would you mind directing me to some good forum vendors for such lug nuts? There have been some less than flattering reviews of some vendors and I don’t want to get tangled up with a bad supplier.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tonawanda New York
https://www.westcoastcorvette.com/co...lug-nuts-locks
https://www.westcoastcorvette.com/co...lug-nuts-locks
Last edited by Don-Vette; Apr 23, 2020 at 04:21 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
Sounds like he is talking about the factory nuts that have chrome covers on them.They end up being damaged by half wits using a impact wrench on them and over torqueing so that they end up deforming the chrome cover.If you use a torque wrench set for the correct torque of 100 lb/ft you will never damage them
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
Sounds like he is talking about the factory nuts that have chrome covers on them.They end up being damaged by half wits using a impact wrench on them and over torqueing so that they end up deforming the chrome cover.If you use a torque wrench set for the correct torque of 100 lb/ft you will never damage them
Last edited by BadAV; Apr 23, 2020 at 07:27 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 84
From: Ohio
Caps on oem lug nuts are stainless steel, but the ferrous metal underneath rusts and swells the cap until it possibly splits. Idiots at garages don't care and overtorque destroying any attempt to get them off later.