Loose Lug Nut

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Brobrian

Dang, I made a dumb mistake last week. Cost me one of my wheels. I was on my way to Home Depot to pick up lumber in my '31. I heard a noise in the front wheel and figured it was probably a wheel bearing going bad. When I go to the store I shook the front end and felt the extra play. "Yup, wheel bearing." I thought to myself. Loaded up the lumber and gingerly drove home. Jumped onto the computer that evening without further investigation and ordered wheel bearings from Snyders.
This week when the parts arrived, I rolled the A out and started to loosen the lug nuts so I could start replacing the bearings. Only the lugs on the passenger side were already loose. When I'd done the tie rod ends last month I didn't tighten down the lugs on that side. They were loose and so ruined all the nuts on that wheel and enlarged the lug holes ruining the wheel. Man, what a dumb mistake. I must have a loose lug nut too.

Can it be salvaged by using the lug nut washers? I read somewhere that the washers could be welded in place as well to restore a wheel with enlarged lug holes.