MustangGrandpa
New Member
I just finished replacing all the cheap factory lug-nuts on my 2018 PP1 GT convertible with chrome Gorilla nuts, and I’m grateful to all the posts on this forum that brought the swelling problem to my attention.
The problem is real and since I am the second owner, I didn’t know what to think when I couldn’t find a socket size that fit correctly. Bad enough that with the PP1 there is no spare tire, now I wasn’t sure if I or anyone else could remove the wheels! Really hard to believe that Ford would use substandard lug-nuts. But my understanding is lots of other manufacturers have also used them.
I found myself in a situation where I couldn’t get the lug-nuts off and had one of them start spinning without coming out. I seriously thought about making an appointment to have them taken off at a Ford dealership. But after reading some forum posts and watching a few videos, I was able to get them off myself.
What worked for me was “tapping” the socket onto the lug-nut with a hammer and also moving between several different sizes of six-point ½ inch sockets depending on how badly the nuts were damaged. Plus, I used a good-sized breaker bar that gave me plenty of torque. Crucial to only use 6-point sockets, because 12-point sockets will just lead to “rounding” and eventually spin without coming out.
Once I did get the lug-nuts to come out, they were stuck in the socket. I had to use a hammer and punch to get them out. A very time-consuming process, and likely not something techs at a tire shop or even most dealerships would take time to do. Not surprising they get forced on and off with impact wrenches which eventually leads to swelling and worse.
I urge everyone who has the suspect factory lug-nuts to replace them as soon as possible. Don’t forget about torquing them correctly too, for my wheels 150 pounds – had to upgrade my torque wrench.
The problem is real and since I am the second owner, I didn’t know what to think when I couldn’t find a socket size that fit correctly. Bad enough that with the PP1 there is no spare tire, now I wasn’t sure if I or anyone else could remove the wheels! Really hard to believe that Ford would use substandard lug-nuts. But my understanding is lots of other manufacturers have also used them.
I found myself in a situation where I couldn’t get the lug-nuts off and had one of them start spinning without coming out. I seriously thought about making an appointment to have them taken off at a Ford dealership. But after reading some forum posts and watching a few videos, I was able to get them off myself.
What worked for me was “tapping” the socket onto the lug-nut with a hammer and also moving between several different sizes of six-point ½ inch sockets depending on how badly the nuts were damaged. Plus, I used a good-sized breaker bar that gave me plenty of torque. Crucial to only use 6-point sockets, because 12-point sockets will just lead to “rounding” and eventually spin without coming out.
Once I did get the lug-nuts to come out, they were stuck in the socket. I had to use a hammer and punch to get them out. A very time-consuming process, and likely not something techs at a tire shop or even most dealerships would take time to do. Not surprising they get forced on and off with impact wrenches which eventually leads to swelling and worse.
I urge everyone who has the suspect factory lug-nuts to replace them as soon as possible. Don’t forget about torquing them correctly too, for my wheels 150 pounds – had to upgrade my torque wrench.
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They are err ... cute.
