Took my 2012 FX4 to the dealer for oil change and tire rotation and they came back to tell me that the technician was having a hard time getting the lug nuts off, then reseated, telling me they were stripped and swollen. The dealer is the only one ever to remove my wheels. Says new set required: 6 per axle, $7.50 a pop makes it over $170. Said the lug nuts are made with aluminum and this happens. Is that true? If so, is there an alternative replacement lug nut that won't deteriorate?

 

I had this issue with my 2005 Dodge Magnum car. The stainless covers over the steel lug nuts swell when the steel nut corrodes. Also, if you use an old style lug wrench it doesn't go far enough over the nut and bends/distorts the stainless cover so a socket does not fit any more. Only use deep sockets on lug nuts. I replaced my lug nuts with Gorilla lug nuts available on line.

 

This is very common.

I recommend replacing them with the Gorilla lug nuts too.

I replaced mine on my other vehicles, because of this.

 

I replaced mine with the Bulged Gorilla https://www.ebay.com/itm/24-GORILLA-...ox!37716!US!-1

 

I got the Gorilla lugs from Amazon. No stupid tin chrome cover on them.. Solid metal and chrome plated is all.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So far so good on them.

Good luck!

Mitch

 

The thin stainless caps can also be rounded off if someone uses a 12 point socket instead of the proper 6 point socket

 

I had one ... err ....... . never mind, not a LUG nut.

 

Along with monkeys with high powered impacts that not only use a 12 point socket, but don't seat it on all the way... that is how two of mine on my Jeep got messed up. It compelled me to get the Gorilla nuts.

It's funny, because even though they are tough nuts, I saw one already kind of messed up from someone rushing... ugh...

 

For you listening pleasure and reading enjoyment ...

 

I love their color scheme, the pink and red! LOL

 

Who would have thought that lug nuts that look this sturdy would be so vulnerable to wear? I mean, my Michelin tires might actually last more mile than the lug nuts? And the fellow with the Dodge, I think it was, shows the industry has seen this for more than 10 years. Crazy.

Again, thank you all for your information and recommendations!

 

Update on my gorilla nuts. By the way, I don't live in the rust belt and I didn't have swollen lug nuts from corrosion. The problem I had was from using shallow lug wrench sockets that distorted the SS cover. My gorilla replacement nuts are the super duper chrome plated nuts that are not supposed to rust. Well they do rust over time. Today I had to remove a front wheel from my Magnum and I polished the rusty lug nuts by hand with chrome polish and they look great again. They are about 95% as shiny as when new. If I had spent more time or had used a power tool to buff them they probably would be 100%.