by "for Michigan" (formichigan)
Published 02/08/2017 at 11:48
by "for Michigan" (formichigan)
Published 02/08/2017 at 11:48
Tags: til
; lincoln mkz
; lug nuts
STARS: 0
Took the MKZ in for an oil change and tire rotation , they came back and told me they couldn’t rotate the wheels unless they replaced the lug nuts because they are swollen. Quoted me $130 for a new set of lug nuts.
I was a little perplexed by this because swollen lug nuts sounds a whole lot like low blinker fluid or bad muffler bearings to me. So I told them I’d talk to my mom about it (it’s her car) and we’d call them back if we decided to get the lug nuts replaced. Then I hopped on my phone and went to Google to see what the deal was with these swollen lug nuts.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Turns out, it’s a real thing , common to Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota vehicles. The chromed caps separate from the steel nuts, moisture gets in between the two and causes corrosion, and the nuts swell. The affected manufacturers won’t replace the parts under warranty.
So it looks like the MKZ needs new lug nuts, but I don’t really want to put $130 worth of OEM lug nuts on the car if they’re just going to swell again and need to be replaced. I’m currently looking for a solution that addresses the swelling problem and costs less than $130. I’ll let you know if I find something.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
02/08/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 0
What’s the spec of the lug nuts the MKZ uses? I have a bunch of Toyota and Honda lug nuts from past projects around here somewhere.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/08/2017 at 11:57, STARS: 0
Why do they not replace them under warranty?
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
02/08/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 1
Yeah, I had that happen on my Thunderbird (but I should point out that they were not the original OEM nuts). I could have kept using them, but swapping sockets was driving me crazy, so I just bought some new lug nuts.
"AfromanGTO" (afromangto)
02/08/2017 at 12:03, STARS: 0
I would have stopped by a local autoparts store, and asked them for a set of generic lug nuts. Those fancy expensive lugnuts companies sell are cheaper than that.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/08/2017 at 12:04, STARS: 0
M12 x 1.5 thread. Looks like this:
I think they’re 19 mm, but I don’t know that for sure.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/08/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 1
I guess they don’t consider it a manufacturing defect?
I really don’t know. This definitely seems like something that should be replaced under warranty.
"avalonian" (avalonain19)
02/08/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 0
I needed new lug nuts for my Avalon. So I went to autozone and bought a 32 back for 25 bucks and they’re locking and come with a key! Most cost effective solution.
"Svend" (svend)
02/08/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 0
Why not put regular nuts on and then plastic caps.
For one, why risk it happening again especially as you may get a flat tyre and not be able to change it.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
02/08/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 0
My lug nuts on swole, my shit’s gon’ stick and take a hit to my bankroll. (You mom wants the MKZ with the biggest nuts, and guess what?)
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
02/08/2017 at 12:19, STARS: 1
I had this happen on my wife’s Volvo (ford parts bin) S40. I was informed of this by a trusted shop, so I wasn’t too skeptical. They didn’t force me to replace them right on the spot, that helped. But they said you couldn’t use the regular sockets on some of them, had to go up a size which is a bad idea as you can then strip the nut of course.
Yeah, weird.
"Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer" (cyclonefan94)
02/08/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 3
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/08/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 0
I’ve never run into that issue on my Mazda3, which shares a platform with the S40. Didn’t realize it’d been an issue for that long.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/08/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 0
Screw that. Go buy some good nuts and put them on yourself.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/08/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 1
I was reluctant to Google any phrase including the words “swollen” and “nuts”. Thankfully everything that showed up was car-related.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/08/2017 at 12:25, STARS: 0
My main concern is that any cheaper aftermarket nuts are going to end up having the same problem.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/08/2017 at 12:30, STARS: 1
From what I read in the Car Talk article you referenced, the problem had to do with moisture between the chrome layer and the rest of the nut. So, you would have to get nuts that don’t have that layer. The downside is you might not get shiny lug nuts.
"Autophile412 - what's the world got in store?" (autophile412)
02/08/2017 at 12:30, STARS: 0
TL:DR but I just had to replace 8 Lug Nuts on the F150 at $8.00 a pop. Swollen nuts hurt the wallet.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/08/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 0
I’m looking at about $6.70 / nut, which isn’t bad for OEM, but I’d rather not have to replace them in another 50K miles.
"Needmoargarage" (needmoargarage)
02/08/2017 at 12:47, STARS: 0
Weird...closest thing I’ve seen to that is on my old Ford truck. The chrome lug nut covers started breaking off, so I took them off all the way. My guess is you could find quality lug nuts much cheaper if you don’t buy OEM. I usually pay about $30-40 for decent sets. Stay away from the cheap stuff though!
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
02/08/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
I had this issue years ago, but for the life of me I cannot remember what vehicle it was on. 80's cutlass, maybe?
In my case the chrome cap eventually separated from the lug nut, leaving behind a regular old rusty lugnut which just happened to be one size smaller than the chrome cap. Never replaced it, just used a different end of the tire spider on the affected ones.
Maybe get some sweet colored tuner inspired nuts instead? Pepboys or Vatozone, perhaps?
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/08/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 1
Mine kept being a pain and one of the chrome caps actually started coming loose. I found some solid chrome ones to replace them, won’t have that problem.
"cluelessk" (cluelessk)
02/08/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0
Go with a generic aftermarket nut.
"just-a-scratch" (just-a-scratch)
02/08/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 0
Paying that much must make you feel like you were kicked between the lugs.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
02/08/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 1
Jump on amazon and you’ll find a set that will work. Gorilla or mcgard have a bunch of different styles that will work.
I had the same thing and did the same thing, thinking swollen lugnuts... do you think I’m an idiot? I almost stopped going to the discount tire location over that, until I went to rotate or do brakes and, wouldn’t you know it. I had to upsize my socket to get them off.
"uofime-2" (uofime-2)
02/08/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0
those are common as dirt
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
02/08/2017 at 17:04, STARS: 0
Time for some non-chrome nuts.
" The Compromiser" (charger)
02/08/2017 at 23:08, STARS: 0
Have had this issue. It hurts the pocket. $80 for 2 5 nut sets...
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
02/09/2017 at 07:42, STARS: 0
pull one off go to a tyre shop see if they have any aftermarket chrome nuts obviously same thread type.