Lug Nuts, The Impossible Search

[mcglsr2]

Hey all, so I'm having some trouble locating some lug nuts. I wouldn't have thought this would be difficult, but apparently I am the only person on the plant that is trying to do this - according to Google and what people sell. Either that, ooooor I just can't find what I am looking for.

I am looking for open-ended lug nuts, 1/2 threaded of course, in black. There. That's it. I'm a fan of Gorilla lug nuts, but they don't seem to make these? There's a crap-ton (literally) of lug nuts in 12mm x 1.5, in all kinds of colors and open ends and closed ends and skinny and bulge and Jesus. But nothing in 1/2 (other than blah silver/chrome)?

So...help? Anyone know of a place I can get these? TIA.

 

[Ferocious]

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think there are any out there.

I've searched for them multiple times as I really wanted a set.
I would mind spending $70-$100 on a set of nice lug nuts like NRG makes.

 

[sleepn_sn95]

What about these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20PC-LIGHT-WEIGHT-WHEEL-RACING-LUG-NUTS-1-2-20-BLACK-/250737214077

 

[MustangChris]

[MENTION=15705]mcglsr2[/MENTION]

thanks for putting this in the right spot, but I'm going to relocate it in hopes of getting a little more traffic to it. Just wanted to let you know you didnt do anything wrong. lol.

 

[Ferocious]

What about these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20PC-LIGHT-WEIGHT-WHEEL-RACING-LUG-NUTS-1-2-20-BLACK-/250737214077

Hmmm, i think that's what OPs looking for.

For myself, I want a little longer than 1.75". Last time I checked ebay I didn't find anything.
I wonder how accurate the color for the red ones is. I might have to order some for Christmas.

 

[mcglsr2]

What about these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20PC-LIGHT-WEIGHT-WHEEL-RACING-LUG-NUTS-1-2-20-BLACK-/250737214077

I see that the Google is strong with this one. Yup. That's them. I asked the seller if they have a 60 degree seat. If so, I'll be picking up a set. That actually kind of pisses me off (not really), I swear I have looked all over, even on eBay. Oh well. Thanks a bunch :thumbsup:

thanks for putting this in the right spot, but I'm going to relocate it in hopes of getting a little more traffic to it. Just wanted to let you know you didnt do anything wrong. lol.

Sure thing, no worries

 

[Suspect]

http://www.Teamzmotorsports.net/Light_weight_lug_nuts_p/tzm-lug nuts.htm ??

 

[mcglsr2]

http://www.Teamzmotorsports.net/Light_weight_lug_nuts_p/tzm-lug nuts.htm ??

Thanks for the link. But it looks like they are silver/chrome only, not black. Abd $85 for 10...holy crap $170 lug nuts!! Do they put themselves on? Oh well, thanks though!!

 

[mcglsr2]

Huhokay. I found them. At Amazon for $76. Monster Lug, whoever they are. But they are steel. Why this is currently important to me:

So I did some research on those eBay ones, and frankly I'm scared of them. I love that they are aluminum, but maybe also hate that as well. I've always used steel lugs. I don't have any experience with aluminum ones. At other places (like the Corral for instance) people say stay away from the aluminum ones because the aluminum lugs on the steel studs expand and contract differently, thus possibly leading to seizing issues, and they rip in half if air tools are used on them or if you over-torque them, they strip out the first time you put them on the stud, and if you so much as look at them funny well then good luck cause they are never coming off the stud and you will be buying new wheels, blah blah. Possibly all valid points. On top of the that, the eBay ones are supposedly VMS Racing brand, yet say Vision Motorworks on them...and I just don't know. Some people say good things. Some people say bad things. For a daily driver, they are probably okay, but I race my Mustang. So I'm really hesitant given the extra load and heat these will see. If someone like RichV or ReplicaR says "oh yah, I've been running those on my track car for years, they are solid." then I would pick them up in a heart beat. Problem is, I don't see people like RichV or ReplicaR saying that (or those type that are saying that are saying it about $200+ often-custom-made lugs). And I won't risk being the guinea pig on them with my wheels at the track, it's just too dangerous.

Thus the steel ones I found. I don't know the brand, but they are steel. The studs are steel. One less place for issues. Now maybe these suck and they strip out cause they are crappy steel. But I feel more comfortable with steel right now than with aluminum.

Anyone running aluminum lugs and have had/have not had problems with them?

 

[mcglsr2]

Ah, VMS = Vision Motorworks Sports. So that explains the name on the eBay lugs.

 

[mcglsr2]

Alright, Monster Lugs showed up yesterday. I plasti-dipped the wheels today and put them back on with the new lug nuts. I gotta say, they are pretty nice. They look like quality and have a 3/4" & 13/16" key. Good construction, threads were good. They threaded on the studs just fine. We'll see how they hold up over time. The aluminum ones may be nice - but I'm happy with these steel ones. So far I recommend them.

 

[Ferocious]

Got any pictures? I'd love to see some closeups of them.

 

[mcglsr2]

Not really - here's a side shot of the car with them on (normal stud length on the front, long studs in the rear):

I'll grab some close up pics tomorrow when I get home from work.

 

[ReplicaR]

I looked into "lightweight aluminum" lugnuts a long time ago for my car. Then I realized that the weight saving is not significant enough, and the lugs being almost right at the center of the hub would make almost no difference in rotation inertia. Most of the lugnuts were expensive, so I decided to save my money and spend it elsewhere. If I were to run longer studs for some reason, I would run steel, for the sheer fact that studs are steel, and they would expand and contract at the same rate, or pretty close at least, and not loosen up. I check torque every other session, and mine are never loose. I use Gorilla Grip brand lugnuts, btw.

 

[ttocs]

What does the open ended buy ya? Is it just looks or they don't stick out as far I guess?

 

[mcglsr2]

I looked into "lightweight aluminum" lugnuts a long time ago for my car. Then I realized that the weight saving is not significant enough, and the lugs being almost right at the center of the hub would make almost no difference in rotation inertia. Most of the lugnuts were expensive, so I decided to save my money and spend it elsewhere. If I were to run longer studs for some reason, I would run steel, for the sheer fact that studs are steel, and they would expand and contract at the same rate, or pretty close at least, and not loosen up. I check torque every other session, and mine are never loose. I use Gorilla Grip brand lugnuts, btw.

Yah all those reasons are why I wanted steel - I considered aluminum only because I couldn't find black open ended in steel - that style is plentiful in aluminum. I didn't really care too much about weight for the reasons you stated. Those Gorilla Grips aren't open ended are they? All my other lug nuts are Gorilla, I like their stuff.

 

[mcglsr2]

What does the open ended buy ya? Is it just looks or they don't stick out as far I guess?

i had long studs installed in the rear when I had new axles put in in case I wanted spacers. So I need the open end so the studs can stick out.

Edit: otherwise I'd use the regular acorn ones and be done with it.

 

[ttocs]

ah ok gotcha was wondering.

 

[vortk355]

I use these if it helps
http://m.ebay.com/itm/260992172824?nav=WATCHING&sbk=1

 

[mcglsr2]

Yup those would have worked as well. I wonder where the seller sources them? Looks like they might be the silver ones that he painted black.

Truth be told though, now that I've seen these Monster Lugs I have, I'm kind of digging on them.