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Old Nov 23, 2016 | 11:04 PM
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Default C7 lug nut

I have a 2014 Z51 and every winter I detail the wheels and the wheelhouse. I use USA tools and I noticed the lug nuts will not come out of the socket. I checked them out and they are junk. They must have been made in Japan. They are not 1 piece they are 2 . There is an outer sleeve that breaks loose of the inner one. What a joke. I will look for 1 piece ones. Just letting you all know. JJJ
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Old Nov 23, 2016 | 11:30 PM
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They are a metric size. You are using the wrong tool size, inches verses metric is close, depending on size however (close only counts with hand gernades, horse shoes and nuclear weapons).

Last edited by Larry/car; Nov 23, 2016 at 11:34 PM.
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Old Nov 23, 2016 | 11:57 PM
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Not far off. 19mm is 0.748 inches and I suppose the OP was using a 3/4 socket.

But I have not had a problem with the nuts on my 16Z. And they have had tires off and on 4 times in the 4 weeks I have had it. Another thing is really good tools are spot on to a size and really cheap Chinese junk can be quite a bit off.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 07:30 AM
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Make sure you are using a 6 point socket.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 08:35 AM
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19mm 6 point socket- No issues w/mine.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 08:46 AM
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I use a 19mm Craftsman socket and my lugs get stuck in the socket when using an impact gun to remove them.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 09:07 AM
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I use a 19 mm USA socket. The lug nuts are two piece, there is a sleeve on the outside. JJJ
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by sTz
19mm 6 point socket- No issues w/mine.
Have never had a problem with my C6 or C7. I do use a plastic inner lined 19mm deep socket designed for lug nuts. Not cheap and I always use a manual torque wrench in steps.



Used for 5 years on C6 black lugs, works great on my 3 year old OEM C7 chrome lugs. Not easy to find, suggest looking for image on net and visit the web page. Last I looked one was available in a Porsche accessory site for ~$30.

Last edited by JerryU; Nov 24, 2016 at 08:06 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by 6714
...lug nuts...are not 1 piece they are 2....
That's correct - and the OE Chebie lug nuts have been that way for decades.

I use a 19mm or 3/4" socket on them and never have had a problem on any of my Vettes.

However, I have switched to McGard or Gorilla chrome or black lug nuts on all my Corvettes because they are solid and I like the cosmetics of them better.

.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 08G8V8
I use a 19mm Craftsman socket and my lugs get stuck in the socket when using an impact gun to remove them.
That's just one of many reasons not to use an impact gun on lug nuts.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve_R
That's just one of many reasons not to use an impact gun on lug nuts.
Certainly not on decorative lug nuts. I did use impacts on open end one piece nuts for race cars but then again we bought those in lots of 100.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 6714
I have a 2014 Z51 and every winter I detail the wheels and the wheelhouse. I use USA tools and I noticed the lug nuts will not come out of the socket. I checked them out and they are junk. They must have been made in Japan. They are not 1 piece they are 2 . There is an outer sleeve that breaks loose of the inner one. What a joke. I will look for 1 piece ones. Just letting you all know. JJJ
GM has been using nuts like that on all their cars except the Vette since the mid 80s. The Corvette used to have lug nuts with a plastic cover that was removed and gave you a good solid nut to hammer on. They were rugged as hell. I used a set of those for track lug nuts on my 86 C4, 97 C5, 03Z and 08Z. One set with thousands of hammerings over two decades. GM didn't put them on the 97 through 99 model years and then continued did for the following two years until the they went to the old standby nut with the stainless cap. Not sure where they were made but the ones from the mid 80s were probably made in this country and weren't any better. It is a poor design problem not a manufacturing problem.

Bill
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by BEZ06
That's correct - and the OE Chebie lug nuts have been that way for decades.
.
Fords too. Usually the shell is stainless steel to resist corrosion. But the inside nut can rust if exposed to winter environments.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
GM has been using nuts like that on all their cars except the Vette since the mid 80s. The Corvette used to have lug nuts with a plastic cover that was removed and gave you a good solid nut to hammer on. They were rugged as hell. I used a set of those for track lug nuts on my 86 C4, 97 C5, 03Z and 08Z. One set with thousands of hammerings over two decades.
Bill
Bill, I still have bins of those old open ended nuts with the external threads for the 12mm X 1.25 pitch studs. And the next bin over has unopened packs of the extended ARP studs. They will still work on our cars and I can not imagine that tech inspectors don't ask for them to be on any HPDE car. How can you be sure there is good thread contact on a closed end nut?
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by pkincy
Bill, I still have bins of those old open ended nuts with the external threads for the 12mm X 1.25 pitch studs. And the next bin over has unopened packs of the extended ARP studs. They will still work on our cars and I can not imagine that tech inspectors don't ask for them to be on any HPDE car. How can you be sure there is good thread contact on a closed end nut?
A number of racing organizations require an open end to be sure it isn't bottomed. For my Street Rod I have long open end chrome lugs with a black plastic screw-in insert that can be removed to expose the stud.

Last edited by JerryU; Nov 24, 2016 at 08:12 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2016 | 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by RUU
Fords too. Usually the shell is stainless steel to resist corrosion. But the inside nut can rust if exposed to winter environments.
Jeep and Dodge too... I'd say that most have gone with the two-piece lug nut...
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Old Nov 25, 2016 | 07:45 AM
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For those that bought Gorilla or McGard lug nuts. Can you tell me what item number you bought? Looking at their web sites I am not sure. I know we have 12 X 1.5 lugs using a 19mm 6 point socket but there are a few on their site that look close but I am still confused. Simply looking to match a non-locking, original equipment in appearance replacement lugs. For example, What is our hex size and overall length of the OE lug? Thank you for any help.
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Old Nov 25, 2016 | 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Drive-C7
For those that bought Gorilla or McGard lug nuts. Can you tell me what item number you bought? Looking at their web sites I am not sure. I know we have 12 X 1.5 lugs using a 19mm 6 point socket but there are a few on their site that look close but I am still confused. Simply looking to match a non-locking, original equipment in appearance replacement lugs. For example, What is our hex size and overall length of the OE lug? Thank you for any help.
Good to be cautious! For my C6 I was ready to buy McGard "tuner" lugs because they looked neat. But although the cone taper and thread size was the same, their recommendations did not say they fit a Vette. Called the McGard tech who said they were designed for imports that have relatively short studs and in a Vette they "might bottom" in the nut. The last thing you want is a nut that just bottoms inside! That 100 ft-lbs you'll read on your torque wrench might just be the stud hitting the nut!

The tech indicated what part number would work. Bought black for the C6 and just chrome McGard locks for the C7. McGard locks are what GM sells under their part number for a higher price. Once you get the number you can buy from JEGS or Amazon. As you say there are several options.

Last edited by JerryU; Nov 25, 2016 at 10:07 AM.
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Old Nov 25, 2016 | 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve_R
That's just one of many reasons not to use an impact gun on lug nuts.
....I've use a 3' Snap On breaker bar and a Snap On Torque Wrench on my C5, C6 and now on my C7 without ANY problems whatsoever. Once you break them free....they come off with your fingers and go back on the same way till you Torque them down.
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Old Nov 25, 2016 | 10:49 AM
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Been thru this on my 2010 Hemi Challenger, 2014 Cadillac ATS and now my 2008 LS3. The OEM's cheap out on the lug nuts by adding a tin cover to the lug nut. So, unless you take special care in remove/install you will most likely destroy the tin cover trying to remove it from the socket.



I bought new ones of the net for about $25. They come in 2 flavors.. 3/4" and 13/16". I opt;d for the 13/16"

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