Loose Lug Nut

[BarracudaBoy]

I did some thing similar. I thought my lug nuts might be loose when I heard a noise on the back. Checked the nuts and they were tight. I thought the hub was loose. After a bit of driving I wallered out the wheel holes and figured out that the prior owner had installed the wrong lug nuts. They would bottom out on the drums, not on the wheels. Bought 20 lug nuts and a set of wheel washers. I moved the wheel to the spare position and put the wheel washers with my tire changing tools.

[29er]

Originally Posted by BarracudaBoy

I did some thing similar. I thought my lug nuts might be loose when I heard a noise on the back. Checked the nuts and they were tight. I thought the hub was loose. After a bit of driving I wallered out the wheel holes and figured out that the prior owner had installed the wrong lug nuts. They would bottom out on the drums, not on the wheels. Bought 20 lug nuts and a set of wheel washers. I moved the wheel to the spare position and put the wheel washers with my tire changing tools.

Maybe this is grist for a different thread, but I wonder about the use of wheel washers. I had them on my '29er to protect the paint. Seemed like a good idea. But after counting the number of times the lug nuts twisted on the bolts with and without washers, and determined the lug nuts grabbed more of the bolt thread without washers, I took them off. I now am of the opinion the wheels are more secure without washers than with.

[BarracudaBoy]

Originally Posted by 29er

Maybe this is grist for a different thread, but I wonder about the use of wheel washers. I had them on my '29er to protect the paint. Seemed like a good idea. But after counting the number of times the lug nuts twisted on the bolts with and without washers, and determined the lug nuts grabbed more of the bolt thread without washers, I took them off. I now am of the opinion the wheels are more secure without washers than with.

I only use the washers on the damaged rim. I had to change the lugnuts because the prior owner put the improper ones on the car. Check the pics. I placed the lugnuts side by side. One on the right has too small a base on it.

[29er]

Originally Posted by BarracudaBoy

I only use the washers on the damaged rim. I had to change the lugnuts because the prior owner put the improper ones on the car. Check the pics. I placed the lugnuts side by side. One on the right has too small a base on it.

I see. Thanks for the photos. I'd do the same thing, and I think this is the specific application for wheel washers. By the way, I got up near your neck of the woods last year when I bicycled the Natchez Trace and spent some time in Nashville. Fulfilled a lifetime dream of seeing the Grand 'Ol Opry. Charlie Daniels played. You must have gone on the MAFCA tour of the Trace? I would have loved that.

[BarracudaBoy]

Originally Posted by 29er

I see. Thanks for the photos. I'd do the same thing, and I think this is the specific application for wheel washers. By the way, I got up near your neck of the woods last year when I bicycled the Natchez Trace and spent some time in Nashville. Fulfilled a lifetime dream of seeing the Grand 'Ol Opry. Charlie Daniels played. You must have gone on the MAFCA tour of the Trace? I would have loved that.

Really wanted to do the Trace but my car always seems broke. I spend more time working on the dang thing than driving it. Getting frustrated with it. Good news is, there isn't much left to break on it.