Wheel studs and lug nuts
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 676
Likes: 111
Wheel studs and lug nuts
On a GS, how long the wheel studs and lug nuts usually last?
I did 3 HPDE weekends, and I am planning on 4 more this year. I take the wheels off before and after each event. I am curious on how long the stock studs and lug nuts last.
I did 3 HPDE weekends, and I am planning on 4 more this year. I take the wheels off before and after each event. I am curious on how long the stock studs and lug nuts last.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,775
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I have been running about 15 track days per year for the last 3 seasons and haven't changed the studs yet. I don't expect to change them for a while. Lug nuts are another thing. The GM lug nuts are made from a steel nut surrounded by a stainless steel shaped cover. That shaped cover tends to fall apart after you use an impact wrench to take the wheels off a number of times. They are only designed to stand up to being wrenched on a couple of times per year not 15 or 20 twenty times per year. Once you lose that shaped cover you have an odd ball lug nut that doesn't fit any wrench size (metric or standard). It isn't a matter of the nuts failing and letting the wheel come off it is a matter of maybe not being able to get the nut off without sacrificing a socket that has to be hammered onto the nut to get it to turn.
When I take the car to a track event I use aftermarket Extended Thread lug nuts that let me use spacers (up to 0.3 in) without needing to go with longer studs.
Bill
When I take the car to a track event I use aftermarket Extended Thread lug nuts that let me use spacers (up to 0.3 in) without needing to go with longer studs.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 366
From: Montoursville Pa
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
Too often vehicle service personnel will inadvertently zap your lugs nuts with their impact driver resulting in the lugs being torqued down to over 400+ foot-pounds. It's good to have a torque wrench on hand in your garage. I'll always double check my lugs whenever my tires have been removed during a vehicle service.
