It's happened, the famous OEM lug nut fail...

[PoCoBob]

I would suggest that some of your nuts are already mildly deformed then ? (Maybe from using the 21mm … ?)


WD

As already posted by someone else, 13/16" equals 20.6375 mm. So it is .3625 mm smaller than a 21 mm socket. That .3625 mm equal 0.014", read that as 14 thousands of an inch. Sure that'll round the corners of a lug nut. Not bloody likely. Any other bright ideas? Remember I'm the guy who's had 3 Fords with these same lug nuts, the last car I sold with 253,000 kms on the car and I rotated the tires at every oil change so I had those wheels of 25 different times with not a single issue with the factory wheel nuts. Maybe the problem is you're just not very good at working on your own car.

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[WD Pro]

As already posted by someone else, 13/16" equals 20.6375 mm. So it is .3625 mm smaller than a 21 mm socket. That .3625 mm equal 0.014", read that as 14 thousands of an inch. Sure that'll round the corners of a lug nut. Not bloody likely. Any other bright ideas? Remember I'm the guy who's had 3 Fords with these same lug nuts, the last car I sold with 253,000 kms on the car and I rotated the tires at every oil change so I had those wheels of 25 different times with not a single issue with the factory wheel nuts. Maybe the problem is you're just not very good at working on your own car.

No worries dude, go chill out for a while and calm down

WD

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

The problem stems from moisture and salt getting in between the lug and the stainless cap causing the lug to rust and swell, stretching out the cap and then it either spins on the lug or you can't get a socket on it.

 

[ORRadtech]

The problem stems from moisture and salt getting in between the lug and the stainless cap causing the lug to rust and swell, stretching out the cap and then it either spins on the lug or you can't get a socket on it.

Except all mine are southern cars and see salt once every other year or so. My beauty caps have failed without swelling or rust. Mine typically have simply become loose or split on a corner of just gotten deformed. I fall in with those who believe a slightly large socket combined with impact use is a prime cause. Obviously different areas of the country have harsher conditions that contribute to their failure but rust/swelling is definitely not the only reason.

 

[thompsje]

Except all mine are southern cars and see salt once every other year or so. My beauty caps have failed without swelling or rust. Mine typically have simply become loose or split on a corner of just gotten deformed. I fall in with those who believe a slightly large socket combined with impact use is a prime cause. Obviously different areas of the country have harsher conditions that contribute to their failure but rust/swelling is definitely not the only reason.

I'd agree that it's most likely the impact, and that impacts aren't kind to caps. I already replaced my lug nuts due to rust/swelling, and I took the old ones off with a 22mm, so it's hard to say whether they should have been 21mm or 13/16.... but I have talked with somebody who works on these cars every day - and the "official" size is 21mm. Now, if that cap is a little thinner than spec and you get that 0.014 clearance for a 13/16 - might as well use it.

FWIW, my new lug nuts are the Gorilla ones from CJPP. A 21mm impact socket (which I use with a breaker bar) fits fine. None of my 13/16 6-point sockets fit at all. I do have one 12-point 13/16 thin wall that does fit snugly, but I try not to use 12-point sockets for high torque applications.

 

[Mdtaylorjr]

The correct size on these is 21 mm. It is a metric threaded stud and nut and will use a metric socket. All oems have been using metric for years.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

All oems have been using metric for years.

It depends on the vehicle and manufacturer. The mustang did not switch to 14mm x 1.5 lugs and studs until the S550 in 2015, and the explorer did not switch until 2020. My old 18 explorer had 1/2"-20 studs and nuts.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

The cheap black one piece lug nuts I bought from american muscle was delivered today. They are going on the explorer, as the mustang has black spline drive lug nuts already.

 

[tobaccokid]

Got rid of the crappy, poorly designed, Ford lugs nuts on my Mustang. The risk of a real hassle wasn't worth it.

 

[boB]

Not all sockets are the same, cheap ones (and probably some $$$ ones too) grip the nut at the edges. Snap-on flank drive (and copies, and now FDX) grip the nut away from the edge and probably reduce the chance of damage.
Disclaimer: I don't get compensated by Snap-on for writing this. ;) (I don't have any of their tools either at $45 for a 21 mm but maybe some day)

 

[Mdtaylorjr]

It depends on the vehicle and manufacturer. The mustang did not switch to 14mm x 1.5 lugs and studs until the S550 in 2015, and the explorer did not switch until 2020. My old 18 explorer had 1/2"-20 studs and nuts.

I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong. Just looked it up some Ford vehicles had standard thread studs so yes if you have one of those the correct socket is 13/16ths

 

[OrangeBeast]

As already posted by someone else, 13/16" equals 20.6375 mm. So it is .3625 mm smaller than a 21 mm socket. That .3625 mm equal 0.014", read that as 14 thousands of an inch. Sure that'll round the corners of a lug nut. Not bloody likely. Any other bright ideas? Remember I'm the guy who's had 3 Fords with these same lug nuts, the last car I sold with 253,000 kms on the car and I rotated the tires at every oil change so I had those wheels of 25 different times with not a single issue with the factory wheel nuts. Maybe the problem is you're just not very good at working on your own car.

Pretty arrogant aren’t you. Personally, mine broke when the tire shop mounted my new tires. Regardless of the 14 thousandths of an inch, it is a stupid design.

 

[PoCoBob]

Pretty arrogant aren’t you. Personally, mine broke when the tire shop mounted my new tires. Regardless of the 14 thousandths of an inch, it is a stupid design.

I'll accept that criticism. But I mainly say things like that to get the others person attention, usually through the shock factor. I confirmed twice that what I posted was the correct size and both times the same individual replied I had damaged my lugs by using the wrong socket. So really it's an attempt to say step back and have another look at what your saying. Believe me I lose as many of these internet dust ups as I win and I do enjoy some debate.

 

[WD Pro]

OK, well my eldest is having a sleepover for her birthday (currently watching a film and eating lots of sugary stuff in the front room), dad is banished from sight, and my other half has taken our youngest out to the cinema …

So, tidying my workbench in the garage had me checking out my nuts and I thought this short video might help some of you guys out :




You can see what I found on my brand new nuts, I’m am sure some of you more experienced guys can work out what fits best …

WD

 

[raptor17GT]

you have a radiator in the garage? Cats get everywhere lol

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