Everything You Need To Know About Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt

A lug nut is a type of fastener whose one end is tapered, though the exact shape may vary. Lug nuts are used to fasten the wheel hub to the studs on the car axle, securing the wheel in place and aligning it correctly on the axle. With the lug seat in contact with the hub, the lug is placed on the stud atop of the wheel.

Usually, lug nuts are made of chrome-plated steel, titanium or anodized aluminum lug nuts also exist as they are lighter and are mostly used in racing cars.

Lug nuts vary depending upon the type of vehicle you drive and the axle it possesses. The correct lug nut seat depends on the wheel itself. Conical/tapered, ball/radius, and flat-seat lugs are the most common types of nuts used. The lugs are important as they hold the wheel in place and must be replaced if they are damaged or stripped. Now a days locking lug nuts are used which require a special wheel lock tool to remove the nuts. Thus, one must keep the lock key at a convenient place, it the need arises.

Following are different types of wheel lug nuts and bolts available in the market:

1. Conical Lug Nuts - These are the most commonly used nuts and can be installed on a variety of cars and trucks. They are easy to recognize because of their cone shape and are also referred to as the acorn lugs due to their resemblance to the shape of an acorn. These are also called tapered nuts as the seat tapers down and become thinner. These nuts are very easy to work with as long as you buy the right sizes. Always ensure that the nuts don’t stick out past the wheel more than 40mm. These nuts are very reliable and are the choice of many drivers.
2. Spherical Lug Nuts - Another common type of lug nut are the spherical lug nuts. These nuts are known by different names and can sometimes create confusion. But it should not be a problem, if you know can recognize and know what you are looking for. Spherical lug nuts are also known as ball seat lug nut and wheel nuts. These nuts are identified from their spherical seats and are very easy to install. They don’t require any lock key or washer for installation and can be fixed using a simple 19mm wrench.
3. Mag Seat Lug Nuts - Mag seat nuts are very different nuts as they have a flat washer seat which makes them sit very flush to the installed object. Some nuts come with specific washer within the packing, making the work easier. These nuts are called mag nuts because earlier they used to be made from magnesium and thus, they inherited the name. These nuts are a more economical option over another lug nut and thus are used widely.
4. Flat Seat Lug Nuts - These are similar to mag nut in function and sit flat on the wheel hub. Due to this reason, removing them can be a bit tricky as you need to understand how to generate enough torque to loosen them. The basic difference between the flat seat lugs and the mag seat lugs is that the flat seat nuts sit on flat seat which are likely washers and mag seat lug nuts have extended thread with a flat seat.
5. Extended Thread Lug Nuts - Sometimes, people prefer extended thread lug nuts over other lugs as they engage easier. One can get a better grip on these lug nuts and make your work easier. In these nuts, the thread sticks out more than usual and is thus, easier to install.
6. Tuner Style Lug Nuts - These are a type of conical nuts that require special key from removing the nuts. Mostly the key comes with the nuts, but can also be bought separately.
7. Small Diameter Spline Drive Lug Nuts - These nuts are found in many models of Chevy, Cadillac, and Ford. They are mainly used in aftermarket wheels and have a conical seat with spline grooves and use a special key.
8. Lug Bolts - There can be situations where you need to use bolts. One such situation is when the car has a flat rotor and doesn’t have any studs. Lug bolts are lug nuts with studs attached on them. These are mostly used in European vehicles and you will hardly find their usage in American and Asian vehicle. Lug bolts have to be of correct size for usage and you can’t use a different size.
9. Left Hand Threaded Lug Nuts - Since most nuts are right-handed, these will be a little hard to find. Some people prefer the left-handed nuts for the places that are hard to reach with and install with the right-handed one. Thus, you have to find the correct type and of the right size, before installing them. Many classic cars and bikes use left threaded nuts and the packaging usually has ‘L’ or ‘LHT’ stamped on them for differentiation.

Non-European cars use wheel lug studs that are pressed into the back of the hub and projected out from the wheel hub. European model use lug bolts which screw into the wheel hub from the outside and pinch the wheel of the hub.

Wheel lug nuts are used to secure the wheel to the threaded wheel studs and then on the car’s axles. Some models use lug bolts instead of nut, which directly screw in the threaded hole of the wheel hub or drum brake or disc. This configuration is called ‘Bolted Joint’.

The biggest threat if of the wheel lug nuts or bolts getting loose while driving. This can pose serious threats as the wheel can disengage. There are a variety of reasons why this can happen and some of the primary possibilities are mentioned below:

1. Temperature - If the wheels are made from alloy and the lug nuts are made from steel, they’ll react differently to heat. Both metals expand and contract in heat and cold at different temperatures and can thus loosen the nuts, even if they were installed tightly.
2. Over or Under Torquing - Under torqueing is understandable to cause loose lug nuts. But it is important to understand the implications of over torquing as well. When you over torque, it reduced the clamping force due to stretching of the studs and threads beyond the point where they become unresponsive. This can lead to cracked, seized, or cross threaded nuts which are unable to apply the same clamping force.
3. Improper Mating Surfaces - Improper mating can reduce clamping and can damage or contaminate an area. This includes accumulation of dirt, sand, rust, metal burns and paint. If the hubs are damaged or bent and the surface is not flat, then the proper clamping force will not be achieved. It can also happen due to worn out and long bolt holes. Contamination can cause false torque leading to poor clamping.

Following are the noticeable symptoms of bad wheel lug nuts and bolts:

• Damaged threads on the wheel stud caused due to improper installation or cross threading
• Rusting of wheel lug nuts and bolts due to salt water and moisture
• Loosened lug nuts and bolts
• Cracked lug nuts and bolts

Are you thinking of repairing your Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt on your own? Then there is one thing which you must have, that is the right tools needed for repairing your Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt. It is essential to make sure that you are outfitted with the right tools to get the work done properly. Have a look at some tools which you might need to get started with your repair work: -

• ½” drive breaker bar
• 1” diameter iron pipe, 36” length
• Nut/bolt extractor twist socket set
• 3 lb. hammer
• WD-40 or alternative penetrating oil
• Replacement lug nut

When it comes to vehicle owner’s choice, the brands really matter a lot. You might pay a premium for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability as well as trust. There are some leading car parts brands which are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related with the quality. So have a look at some of the top brands for Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt.

It is very important to arm yourself with information before you shop any auto part. We are here to help you dive deep into the names of the Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt related parts.

• Wheel Lug Nuts & Bolts
• Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt

Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt replacement cost can differ wildly depending on application, the brand of the Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt as well as who does the work. All you have to do is to replace your faulty Wheel Lug Nut & Bolt with us online and then you can leave your car to the mechanic and pick it up a few days later. Just be sure that the car mechanic is highly skilled and has a good reputation. Sometimes the additional service level might cost you more than what you have expected. We also recommend you to take pictures of your car before you leave it with them so that you are sure that later on it is returned back to you in an unharmed condition.

The average cost for a wheel lug stud replacement is between $137 and $169. Labor costs are estimated between $119 and $151 while parts are priced at $18. Estimate does not include taxes and fees.

Removing a lug nut is much simpler than installing one. It can easily be removed using a lug, socket or impact wrench. If you want to remove the tire, apply the parking brakes first, and raise the vehicle using a jack before taking off the lug nuts.

During installing, make sure that the threads of the lug nuts are free from oil, dirt and grime of any manner. Ensure an even distribution of pressure by installing the nut in an alternating or star pattern. Tighten the bolts first by hand and then using a mechanical wrench of proper specifications. Use a lug wrench in emergency, until you find a professional mechanic