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Looking for a one-piece, forged lug nut replacement

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  #1  
Old 05-04-2010, 11:48 AM
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Default Looking for a one-piece, forged lug nut replacement

Anybody have any luck finding a replacement nut for our 97-06 cars? I really dislike the rattling of the 2-piece units, and I am finding local stores to 'try' on a nut disappointing. One unit was too short (stud ran out before it made contact) and the second one stuck outside the face of the wheel too far, plus the shaft outside diameter wasn't as tight as ours OEMs (here's the one that actually tightened ok)



I am pretty sure the acorn/conical versions aren't good for our wheels, we need that washer and a shaft-type.

Below is the closest aftermarket one that I have found, and I can't even order it myself from the manufacturer. Might try to find a retailer to order them for me.

White Knight Model 5304, Med. Mag w/Att. Washer


Any other options out there?

Also, there is a minimum order of 40 per order, so if I special order these, anyone else want to split the cost w/ me?
 

Last edited by H20boy; 05-04-2010 at 12:01 PM.
  #2  
Old 05-04-2010, 05:02 PM
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Well, I was happy to hear Discount Tire (my installers of the Hancook's the car currently wears) can get the white knight lugs that seem to be look-a-likes for the OEM, at $3 each, shipped. So, in about 30 days (they're backordered) I'll let you all know if they fit like a glove, or I just wasted $60.
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 01:55 PM
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Be careful, the original nuts have a precision long shoulder that goes into the wheel to center the wheel, aftermarket will not work safely, the cone is just not enough safety factor to hold the wheel in place for me. I was looking for locking lugs for my BBS wheels and thought about the aftermarket cheapo's, I ordered the right ones from Jag and was glad I did, they are made right and look fine.
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 03:36 PM
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Precisely why I am avoiding the conical versions, and only considered the shaft-type.

I'll give some dimensions and a pic of the current OEM lug tonight.

I'll let you know how they work out in a month.
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 04:35 PM
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On the first car the covers were loose and rattled. After determining that aftermarket replacements just were not available and that OEM ones were $8 apiece I fixed mine.

Took one to ACE hardware and bought a 4" bolt that fit. Sanded a short piece of 3/8" wood dowel to the contour of the inside of the sheet metal cover. With the bolt as a handle used a buffing wheel to polish all 20 of them. Dropped the little piece of wood inside and used the bolt to push off the sheet metal cover. Reinstalled with JB Weld. Looked good, didn't rattle.

Hope your $3 replacements work, they will be the find of the year.

Tight Wad Tom (with too much time on his hands) in Ellijay.
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 06:00 PM
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In addition to the annoying rattle as I drive over cracks at low speed, I've twisted one of the covers on the rear to the point where I can barely get my socket on, do my business, and get it off. I figured that was a good time to find a new one before I ended up like bull or the other s-type guys that broke em off.
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 09:28 PM
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Let me know if they don't work out Matt as I could probably make some for you. I design and build machinery for a living, so lug nuts aren't a problem. I've never had the issue you did, didn't realize that could even be a problem.
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 09:36 PM
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I need five OEM nuts for my spare tire. The wheels on the car are aftermarket using a conical seat, but if I ever need to mount the spare I am SOL. gordo
 
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Old 05-05-2010, 11:01 PM
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Gordo, i'll save the best of the lot for you if these do work out!

Dpez, thanks for the offer, if I would have known that in the first place, I would have placed a custom order. If you look at the s-type thread here and here, the 'covers' on the 2-piece unit can be a problem. Earlier versions are worse than mine, however, so I read.

Now, here's the OEM Lug Nut (1/2" thread size)


I didn't have a micrometer handy, so my measurements were from a tape measure with inches and mm. This is the closest I could come. The shaft diameter barely squeezed into a 0.687 circle template, so I rounded up to 0.7.
 

Last edited by H20boy; 06-10-2010 at 11:23 PM.
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Old 05-06-2010, 07:54 PM
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Wow, they must have really torqued those puppies to do that kind of dammage. The spec is 100 n-m which is like 80 ft-lbs. On my mustang they call for 100 in-lbs of torque.

Don't worry about the exact measurements. Next time I've got the wheel off, I'll spec them out. The other thing that happens is Jag calls for a 22mm socket, but I've always used a 7/8". I had a guy a the tire place use the wrong one once and I noticed he did a little damage to one of my rear lugs (I was going to say nuts but it just didn't sound right).

I'm wondering what would be the best material to use. I'd like to use 303 SS cause easy to machine and I could polish them to look like chrome, 304 is tougher to machine but much stronger. Other choice would be 4140 & have it chromed but that costs some bucks.

Does anyone know what material the OEM lugs are?
 
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Old 05-06-2010, 08:18 PM
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Standard ol' steel with a chrome plated sheet metal cover over them. At 80 fp we are not talking about rocket surgery.
 
  #12  
Old 05-07-2010, 10:01 AM
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You could make a little side bizness if you could machine some lugs for the 97-06 XKs, for sure!
 
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Old 05-13-2010, 10:55 PM
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Sounds like SS it is, Dont know if they'll be cheaper to make than buying factory. I Have a screw machine house behind my shop. If were going production, that'd be the best way.
 
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Old 05-14-2010, 09:12 AM
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Old 05-14-2010, 09:33 AM
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I dove right into that thread Mikey when i started looking, but unfortunately, the thread type on the XK8s are 1/2", where the s-type, lincoln, mitsubishi, etc that you guys were finding suitable replacements are 12x1.5mm. Our thread type is more difficult to find...believe me, i hunted for a couple evenings.

Thanks for trying to help though, you s-typers seem to have found more than one perfect alternative for the crappy 2-piece lugs.
 
  #16  
Old 06-10-2010, 11:19 PM
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Still backordered, but been doing some more measuring using a new, $15 vernier caliper I picked up at Harbor Freight. It seems, the lug holes in the wheels are no wider than 0.70", then when I measured the lug diameter on the base...0.70", so there's no room for error, I'm afraid my 0.03" may fall short.

Dpez, instead of 'fabricating' me 20 new lugnuts, any chance I can ship my new nuts over to you, and you can 'shave' off 0.03 of material from the outside shaft?

I of course, will make sure these don't fit, but I'd like to know if you'd be willing do help me if it does become too snug to work properly.
 
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Old 06-11-2010, 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by h20boy
any chance I can ship my new nuts over to you, and you can 'shave' off 0.03 of material from the outside shaft?
No! Not going to go there!!.........Hold me back PLEASE!!!
 
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Old 06-11-2010, 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by hlgeorge
No! Not going to go there!!.........Hold me back PLEASE!!!
What's the matter, George, do you have a problem with Dpez shaving h20boy's nuts? I'd like to see how he does it. I'm into that kind of thing (you know... machines and stuff.)
 
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Old 06-11-2010, 11:41 PM
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I was wondering why Dpez hasn't responded yet, I hope he's just busy and not for any other reason.

It sounded better when I typed it up.
 
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Old 06-11-2010, 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by h20boy
I dove right into that thread Mikey when i started looking, but unfortunately, the thread type on the XK8s are 1/2", where the s-type, lincoln, mitsubishi, etc that you guys were finding suitable replacements are 12x1.5mm. Our thread type is more difficult to find...believe me, i hunted for a couple evenings.

Thanks for trying to help though, you s-typers seem to have found more than one perfect alternative for the crappy 2-piece lugs.
OK, about the threads. I was thinking about getting these wheel spacers which seem like a really good deal...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KIT-W...ht_4654wt_1167

...however now I'm not so sure. The lugs on the spacers are apparently 12X1.5. Are you saying that the threads on a 2003 XK8 won't fit?
 


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