quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:
Hysterical Sigmonkey.

If you had swollen lug nuts you'd be hysterical too.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
A great reason to keep a breaker bar with socket in the vehicle. Also for snugging up lugs after driving home from service work.

I keep a breaker bar with a socket in each vehicle because it is easier to loosen the nut than using the little factory tire iron.

After reading this thread will keep an additional socket with the wrench one size larger (or maybe one of those universal sockets with the pins).

Learned something new today. Didn't know that two piece lug nuts were a thing, or that they are prone to swelling.

It's a good thing that I have a nice luxury vehicle and they wouldn't cut corners on something like lug nuts.....

**Checks the lug nuts on his Land Rover**

motherfucker.

My local Discount Tire carries the one chromed one piece lug nuts. I replaced several sets of the OEM nuts on my Jeeps thru the years.

Weird. I didn't know.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Learned something new today. Didn't know that two piece lug nuts were a thing, or that they are prone to swelling.

It's a good thing that I have a nice luxury vehicle and they wouldn't cut corners on something like lug nuts.....

**Checks the lug nuts on his Land Rover**

motherfucker.

You're ok, it probably leaks enough oil to keep them from corroding.

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
A great reason to keep a breaker bar with socket in the vehicle. Also for snugging up lugs after driving home from service work.

I keep a breaker bar with a socket in each vehicle because it is easier to loosen the nut than using the little factory tire iron.

After reading this thread will keep an additional socket with the wrench one size larger (or maybe one of those universal sockets with the pins).

They make a thing called a flip socket set just for this issue.
LEXIVON 1/2-Inch Impact Socket Set, 6 Total Lug Nut Size | Innovative Flip Socket Design Cover Most Commonly Inch & Metric Used Sizes | Cr-Mo Steel = Fully Impact Grade (LX-111) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0..._encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Gorilla lug nuts will solve your problem, and keep you safe.

quote:

They make a thing called a flip socket set just for this issue.

Sadly with too much experience going up the size gaps in these sockets rarely works. They make sockets for this problem with much smaller gaps which are needed. For example the one I use most often has 21mm (the nominal size) and 21.5. same for other sizes.
Best answer is of course as you noted get rid of the poorly designed ones while you can.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
There's a time to buy cheap and a time to buy oem. Keeping your tires on your vehicle when you're doin' 80 seems like an easy answer.

And this is exactly NOT the time to use OEM.
Chevy, Ford, and Toyota have opted to use a 2 piece design on their trucks that is utter crap!!!
The result is swollen lug nuts and heaven forbid your flat is on the side of the highway and you find that your factory lug wrench does not fit your factory lug nut anymore.
If one never uses an impact the likelihood of the swelling is greatly minimized.

McGard or Gorilla is what you want to replace them with.

Ask me how I know? 2016 Ford Expedition, 2015 Chevy Suburban, 2014 Tundra all have been replaced in my stable.

Bingo right there. I replaced my swollen and beaten up factory f150 lug nuts with solid steel chrome units. Cost more but not bad if you shop around. Couldn't be happier. Wrapped lug nuts are just plain old stupider than dirt. Shame on auto manufacturers for stooping so low to save a buck. Perfectly shameful. I use my own impact wrench on them when I rotate my wheels, solid lug nuts, of any kind whether they're chrome exposed or beneath a hub cap, solids are the ONLY way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
A great reason to keep a breaker bar with socket in the vehicle.

Exactly what I do. The breaker bar with a deep socket weighs the same as the old 4 way cross, but is far superior in function!

Also, McGard or Gorilla lugnuts are fantastic choices vs oem junk.

I'll just leave this here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii8rC6CPCvM

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:

McGard for me.

Bump for edit and question.

You want to make sure the lug nuts are first and foremost a one piece design.
The cheap Amazon ones will usually start to rust rather quickly.

It’s tough but you really want to get McGard or Gorilla.

Many places like autoanything or carid will give you 15% if you give them your email.

In response to your updated question, perhaps the lug nuts are only beginning to corrode/swell and is only evident by removing each nut and inspecting from the back side.

The Costco guys wouldn't have put completely swollen lug nuts back on for safety reasons. He probably just spotted it with the lug nuts removed.

Last time that happened to me was about 40 years ago and I had just left the Urologist office after a vasectomy..........

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
A great reason to keep a breaker bar with socket in the vehicle. Also for snugging up lugs after driving home from service work.

I keep a breaker bar with a socket in each vehicle because it is easier to loosen the nut than using the little factory tire iron.

After reading this thread will keep an additional socket with the wrench one size larger (or maybe one of those universal sockets with the pins).

They make a thing called a flip socket set just for this issue.
LEXIVON 1/2-Inch Impact Socket Set, 6 Total Lug Nut Size | Innovative Flip Socket Design Cover Most Commonly Inch & Metric Used Sizes | Cr-Mo Steel = Fully Impact Grade (LX-111) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0..._encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Great idea ... and it comes in a box too !

What I will probably do is just buy one to have with me when I travel long distances, since I am the only one that does so with our vehicles.

* Update : ... just now ordered, with free one day delivery tomorrow.

Thanks Black92LX !

Got a call from my dad today, he says yesterday he got run off the road in the mountains of NC by some leaf-looker and his right rear tire was knocked off the rim. He pulled over at the next spot to do so and tried to change the tire(he had another guy with him) he was unable to get the factory tire tool over the lug. He has a 2017 F150. (I have a 2018). He said the guy who’s driveway they were in had a battery powered impact and sockets and managed to beat one of them onto the lug nut.

He getting new tire today and he called to have me check my truck. Sure enough I have those same two-part lug nuts. I just ordered some gorilla brand one-piece lug nuts for my truck. I said if they are of good quality I’d buy some for him and send them to him.

Ridiculous that ford would do something like that. Wouldn’t making two piece lug nuts take longer than just using one piece lugs? And now I gotta pay for their cheating cheaping out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
A great reason to keep a breaker bar with socket in the vehicle. Also for snugging up lugs after driving home from service work.

I keep a breaker bar with a socket in each vehicle because it is easier to loosen the nut than using the little factory tire iron.

After reading this thread will keep an additional socket with the wrench one size larger (or maybe one of those universal sockets with the pins).

They make a thing called a flip socket set just for this issue.
LEXIVON 1/2-Inch Impact Socket Set, 6 Total Lug Nut Size | Innovative Flip Socket Design Cover Most Commonly Inch & Metric Used Sizes | Cr-Mo Steel = Fully Impact Grade (LX-111) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0..._encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Great idea ... and it comes in a box too !

What I will probably do is just buy one to have with me when I travel long distances, since I am the only one that does so with our vehicles.

* Update : ... just now ordered, with free one day delivery tomorrow.

Thanks Black92LX !

Make sure the bigger sized end fits in the wheel pocket - on wheels with the chrome-covered 2-piece lugnuts, there's usually not that much space around the lugnut & sometimes even requires a thin-wall socked (usually only on aftermarket goofy-sized wheels, but OEMs do dumb shit too)

Also, stepping up a full 2MM isn't going to work usually, in my experience - it'll round off. Pounding the correct size on works better, but do that lugnut LAST in case you can't get the socket off afterwards. Also experience....