My lugs are alive...

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My lugs are alive...

Postby airbur » Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:51 am

What are you guys doing to keep your lug bolts from backing themselves off? I tighten mine about once a month because I know they have a mind of their own. But even so, yesterday I started to hear "clunk clunk clunk". All the lugs on the left front rim were loose.

Is it ok to use say a drop of thread locker on each? Would it even help?
Sold: 1970 w/427W Injected Stroker
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Re: My lugs are alive...

Postby Rox Crusher » Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:17 am

That certainly isn't normal.

Are the seats still in good shape or have they been damaged due to running loose ?

I don't think blue thread locker would hold.

While red might hold, you are supposed to use heat to remove which wouldn't be practical.
1977 Sport, 351w OBDII EFI motor, 4R70W auto, 4:88 gears, ARB lockers, 3.5" suspension, 33" tires.
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Re: My lugs are alive...

Postby airbur » Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:28 am

No damage as far as I can tell and these rims have very little mileage on them. The issue only occurs so far with the fronts...rears stay tight no problem.
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Re: My lugs are alive...

Postby crawlercreations » Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:43 am

What are you torqueing them to? My brother in law has alloys that backed off if torqued to anything less than 110 ft lbs. I replaced all the lug nuts and torque them to 125 now. No issues since then.
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Re: My lugs are alive...

Postby B.O.B. » Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:04 am

Usually there are a few things to look at. First is the wheel, which looks like you have allready done. The next is the studs and lugs themselves. Over torqueing them will stretch the threads and weaken them. Last but not least make sure there are no obstructions behind the wheel. There has been research that after time the studs will weaken and will need to be replaced. Just depends on how old the are.
71' bronco, np435 w/trailbanger, 302 efi, 35" KM3 on 17x9 Fuel Anza, warn xd9000i, cage arms, 5" lift
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Re: My lugs are alive...

Postby Jesus_man » Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:21 am

Also, are you lugs acorn shaped? If so, isn't there at least two different angles at which they are made and if you are mis-matched to your wheels, they will back off.
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
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