Replace OEM wheel lug nuts

[rfcs550]

I’m the original owner of a GT350 ‘16 trak pak. Things happen to the car over time that thankfully don’t involve a busted engine. Long story short, dealer replaced a front right wheel strut and about a month later I heard a clanking sound from that side of the suspension when cornering at very low speeds. I had read in one of our posts in this forum that the lug nuts when not properly bolted may cause the wheel to shake a bit. It turns out that the lugs in my car could not have been properly tightened because the plastic covers of the OEM lugs had expanded over 5 years of use. The OEM lugs are two piece lugs and the cover expands over time making it a pain in the butt to unbolt and tighten. I’m replacing them all. Ordered one piece open ended steel Ford Performance lugs for GT350R spec wheels from American Muscle. Let’s see how that works.

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[dboz1983]

I had to do the same with my F150, which had the same lug nuts. Didn’t even know that was a thing until I went to rotate my tires one day and the 21mm socket wouldn’t fit over them…

 

[460Fred]

I work with those crap two piece lug nuts all the time…what a pain in the ars..
With 150 ft pounds of torque required on our cars wheels, you would think two piece lug nuts would be a no, no in the manufacturing process.
I ordered replacements before I took delivery of my car.

 

[matthewr87]

I work with those crap two piece lug nuts all the time…what a pain in the ars..
With 150 ft pounds of torque required on our cars wheels, you would think two piece lug nuts would be a no, no in the manufacturing process.
I ordered replacements before I took delivery of my car.

Hmmmm interesting. Didn't realize this was a problem. What is the best alternative lug nut?

 

[72&18]

I went with Gorilla Lugs in black.

 

[Caballus]

I went with Gorilla Lugs in black.

Same here. Full locking set. They do scuff a bit over time, but all in all great lug nuts.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

ZL1 Titaniums here.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Hmmmm interesting. Didn't realize this was a problem. What is the best alternative lug nut?

Class Action Suit against Ford for the 2-piece lug design; enter your claim as many others already have and case is still active:
https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/ford-lug-nut-defect

Be careful torquing:
For those not familiar with those lugs, some might think they are torquing the lugs to to spec, when in reality, the aluminum cap could have AND DOES spin around the deteriorated metal below it... Giving a false torque spec which can cause serious bodily injury and property damage IF a wheel comes loose at speed due to improper torque. Even without a torque wrench, it may seem like the lug was tight, but was never truly tight.

The lug metal under the cap gets corroded due to any type of moisture and worse if in a salt environment. When that happens, the cap swells, comes loose or gets distorted. The cap also will round itself due to turning or spinning on the metal below it.... The corrosion is also occurring due to there being (2) different metals, which causes electrolysis and accelerates corrosion.

For those that do not know - if you insist on keeping the factory lugs, any lug that has become damaged or swollen due to the poor design is replaceable for free by Ford under the 3/36 warranty. I know this as fact, as on my prior 2016 S550, ALL (20) lug nuts were replaced under warranty due to the damaged/swollen caps. I still have the work order with the tech notes.

—
Another recent thread about the POS Ford lugs:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/fords-famous-2-piece-lug-nuts.128418/

 

[matthewr87]

WOW...I had no idea this was a thing. Thanks for posting that.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/gorilla...black-chrome-set-mustang-2015-2021/p/WHLLN28/

Are these the gorilla nuts you guys are talking about?

 

[Inthehighdesert]

Benefits nobody except the lawyers.

Class Action Suit against Ford for the 2-piece lug design; enter your claim as many others already have and case is still active:
https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/ford-lug-nut-defect

Be careful torquing:
For those not familiar with those lugs, some might think they are torquing the lugs to to spec, when in reality, the aluminum cap could have AND DOES spin around the deteriorated metal below it... Giving a false torque spec which can cause serious bodily injury and property damage IF a wheel comes loose at speed due to improper torque. Even without a torque wrench, it may seem like the lug was tight, but was never truly tight.

The lug metal under the cap gets corroded due to any type of moisture and worse if in a salt environment. When that happens, the cap swells, comes loose or gets distorted. The cap also will round itself due to turning or spinning on the metal below it.... The corrosion is also occurring due to there being (2) different metals, which causes electrolysis and accelerates corrosion.

For those that do not know - if you insist on keeping the factory lugs, any lug that has become damaged or swollen due to the poor design is replaceable for free by Ford under the 3/36 warranty. I know this as fact, as on my prior 2016 S550, ALL (20) lug nuts were replaced under warranty due to the damaged/swollen caps. I still have the work order with the tech notes.

—
Another recent thread about the POS Ford lugs:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/fords-famous-2-piece-lug-nuts.128418/

 

[rfcs550]

What’s upsetting is that my dealer probably was clueless about this defect resulting in the wheel not being torqued to spec and coming slightly loose. This forum has helped me twice to diagnose symptoms and problems with the GT350 that the dealer could not solve on its own.

 

[460Fred]

Hmmmm interesting. Didn't realize this was a problem. What is the best alternative lug nut?

Gorilla nuts as well…..man that sounds funny ;-)
Seriously though, you will thank us later

 

[matthewr87]

Gorilla nuts as well…..man that sounds funny ;-)
Seriously though, you will thank us later

Cool! Are these the specific gorilla nuts ;) that work for our cars?

https://www.cjponyparts.com/gorilla...black-chrome-set-mustang-2015-2021/p/WHLLN28/

 

[72&18]

Cool! Are these the specific gorilla nuts ;) that work for our cars?

https://www.cjponyparts.com/gorilla...black-chrome-set-mustang-2015-2021/p/WHLLN28/

Yes, these are the locking. 14mm - 1.5 threads are what you want.

 

[460Fred]

I’m not a fan of locking lug nuts but that’s just me. I live and hang in areas where this kind of theft doesn’t happen much and I always garage my car overnight.
That said, most locking lug nuts are pretty easy to overcome. The best I’ve seen are BMW factory locks. If you lose the key, only a dealership has the special 2K tool to remove it.
An extraction kit that you can easily buy on line will remove almost all locks pretty quick.
Don’t skimp on an alarm system.

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