3 of 4 "factory" wheel lock nuts broke yesterday
04-07-2008, 08:35 AM
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3 of 4 "factory" wheel lock nuts broke yesterday
I took off my snows and put on my stockers yesterday. I always clean the threads with a wire brush and spray them off with WD-40, letting it dry before replacing the nuts. I hand-torque to 80, and I've never had a problem with many sets of McGards (I did have a Gorilla Nutz socket break on me once).
The first wheel went on fine. But the locking nut on the second one torqued with an indistinct click followed by a slight grinding noise. When I looked at the locking nut, there was a crack running from the face down the shaft. I was able to get it off so I put a stock nut on and moved to the next wheel. The same thing happened to the remaining two - and big enough chunks came off to prevent the key from grabbing either one. I had to hammer a 3/4" deep socket over each one and back them off with my big air impact wrench.
Has anybody else had a problem with the dealers' wheel locks? They gave them to me when I bought the car. Now that I've had trouble with Gorillas and McGards, I don't know what other kind to try. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
The first wheel went on fine. But the locking nut on the second one torqued with an indistinct click followed by a slight grinding noise. When I looked at the locking nut, there was a crack running from the face down the shaft. I was able to get it off so I put a stock nut on and moved to the next wheel. The same thing happened to the remaining two - and big enough chunks came off to prevent the key from grabbing either one. I had to hammer a 3/4" deep socket over each one and back them off with my big air impact wrench.
Has anybody else had a problem with the dealers' wheel locks? They gave them to me when I bought the car. Now that I've had trouble with Gorillas and McGards, I don't know what other kind to try. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
04-07-2008, 01:04 PM
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Nissan's are McGards - I called McGard to confirm.
McGard denied any knowledge of a bad batch and told me to discuss it with Nissan.
The service writer told me the locking nuts broke because I didn't lubricate my lug studs! When I explained to him that no one lubricates lug studs and that all wheel bolt & nut torque specs are dry, he told me I was wrong and that they put moly grease on all the wheel studs that come thru the shop. As they've inspected my car (and my son's) since delivery, I guess all that grease ran off ours between state inspection and my putting on or removing my snows....
The service writer told me the locking nuts broke because I didn't lubricate my lug studs! When I explained to him that no one lubricates lug studs and that all wheel bolt & nut torque specs are dry, he told me I was wrong and that they put moly grease on all the wheel studs that come thru the shop. As they've inspected my car (and my son's) since delivery, I guess all that grease ran off ours between state inspection and my putting on or removing my snows....
04-07-2008, 03:19 PM
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well i lost two lug nuts when i was driving so i had to buy couple lug. 
i have a OEM lugs/lock = 16 lugs + 4 lucks + 1 key. if you need them PM me.
i have a OEM lugs/lock = 16 lugs + 4 lucks + 1 key. if you need them PM me.
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04-07-2008, 04:49 PM
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Thanks, but it's the OEMs that broke.
They were definitely not overtightened, 350POWER. I've been an SCCA racer and building my own cars for 40 years - I think I know how to wrench, and these suckers were at 80 on clean, dry threads. I even backed the others off with the torque wrench from my race trailer, thinking maybe the one on my garage rack was broken, It wasn't.
At this pint, I'm just writing off the cost of the two sockets I had to ruin. The dealer gave me the locking lugs with the car, so they didn't cost me anything. I'll find another brand - the Kics look great, but they're about $200 a set so I may hold off for a while. My wife has McGards on her Infiniti, and nobody's going to steal the stock 18s from an FX (I hope). I'll take her locks for my car and hope they're OK. OI've used McGards for years and never had a problem before, which makes me think there was a problem with the batch of Nissan-branded locks mine came from.
At this pint, I'm just writing off the cost of the two sockets I had to ruin. The dealer gave me the locking lugs with the car, so they didn't cost me anything. I'll find another brand - the Kics look great, but they're about $200 a set so I may hold off for a while. My wife has McGards on her Infiniti, and nobody's going to steal the stock 18s from an FX (I hope). I'll take her locks for my car and hope they're OK. OI've used McGards for years and never had a problem before, which makes me think there was a problem with the batch of Nissan-branded locks mine came from.
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