How to clean up dirty nuts?

[Rand]

Any good way to remove the crust and rust on these?
or are they beyond salvage?

They are my tirerack "free" lugnuts that came with the winter tires/wheels.

the steel wheels are holding up well but the nuts are atrocious and rusting the ends of my studs too.

In the pics the wetness was from a light spray of kroil to help get them off.

Edit:
If suggesting replacement.. any suggested replacement. Would prefer closed end, low budget.
These are for winter wheels

Also these are cell phone pics. There may be some visual artifacts but I wasnt taking the nikon J1 out with my dirty hands.

 

[PhillipM]

Drop 'em in a strong citric acid solution.

 

[901Memphis]

This threads going to get some comedic replies...

Anyway they look like they should be replaced. Any auto parts store should have single nuts behind the counter, just ask them.

 

[SatinSilver]

Jeebus, I wouldn't be surprised if Tirerack would send you some new ones after seeing those. From now on I would spray them with Fluid Film and see how they old up.

Maybe some Iron-X spray which you can also use on the lower half of the car to remove all the rail dust.

http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-iron-x-lemon-scent.html

 

[Donald]

Evaporust works great if the item can be immersed. Its a little pricey but worth it. Use a container with a lid to avoid evaporation.

HF sells it as does Amazon.

 

[BubbaFL]

If you have a decent DC power source (battery charger), it's easy enough to build an electrolytic deruster.

I've done that (just for fun) with old lag bolts.

Lotta hassle to save a few dollars on new lug nuts though.

 

[domer10]

can of coke!

 

[bullwinkle]

They look like the ones on my xB that I use with the steelies & winter tires. I spray the bag with WD-40 or similar when I put them away in spring, but they're still getting bad.

 

[dave1251]

Soak them in some Kool-aid then wire brush them. Hot sauce works too.

 

[SuperDave456]

I was thinking maybe a vibratory cleaner.

Like for brass... if you reload.

+1 on something other than WD40, it doesn't do much.

 

[Trav]

Are you running these without hub caps?

 

[SatinSilver]

Driveway is coming apart in the first picture. I'd be more concerned with that.

 

[SF0059]

I usually use soap on mine...

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Driveway is coming apart in the first picture. I'd be more concerned with that.


Just bought the house last year.
Its has had a minimal amount of calcium cloride on it this winter.
There are a few spots doing that. Can't do much about it right now.

Originally Posted By: Trav
Are you running these without hub caps?

They had cheapo generic covers but It didnt help much. This year 2 of them broke from the plastic being old so they were tossed.

"summer" oems are alloys with centercaps.


Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
I was thinking maybe a vibratory cleaner.

Like for brass... if you reload.

+1 on something other than WD40, it doesn't do much.


I dont know about vibrating the nuts, never heard of that

seems like it might wear away the threads??

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Jeebus, I wouldn't be surprised if Tirerack would send you some new ones after seeing those. From now on I would spray them with Fluid Film and see how they old up.

Maybe some Iron-X spray which you can also use on the lower half of the car to remove all the rail dust.

http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-iron-x-lemon-scent.html


Good Idea I just emailed tirerack.. maybe they will hook me up.

 

[GutsyGecko]

I would suggest seeing a doctor. Rust on the old tool is never good!!!

 

[bdcardinal]

If that were me I would try to find ones that cover the stud. If you go to a parts store they should have kits to change over the vehicle to that style. That will keep the rust off the ends of the studs also.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
If that were me I would try to find ones that cover the stud. If you go to a parts store they should have kits to change over the vehicle to that style. That will keep the rust off the ends of the studs also.


The stock wheels have that kind. Looks like they would fit but tirerack says they dont fit.
Might have to try it.

Any idea what I can treat the studs with to remove the current rust.

They are... barely rusted.. more like fully discolored.. compared to the nuts.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: domer10
can of coke!


+1. Then I'd find a junk stud of the right size, put easy one on it, and give it a light coat of a metallic rust-oleum paint. And if that didn't work, I'd just not worry..

 

[Food Scientist]

I have found out that most chain auto parts stores carry the cheap nuts which rust easily as you showed in your pictures. I have had good success with NAPA nuts and OEM nuts. These cost a little more but you get what you pay for.

 

[901Memphis]

You could just buy a whole new set of painted nuts, but that would be somewhat of a waste for winter wheels.