need new lugnuts-quality ones

[1978elcamino]

So about two or three weeks ago there was a thread about lugnuts and replacing OEM nuts with a higher quality ones. The lugnuts on the Fusion are OEM soft junk, almost all of them are very rounded and do not slide in and out of my flip socket without anger and foul language. I searched but dident find the thread, can someone tell me what the name of the company is or any others you recommend where I can buy quality lugnuts for a decent price. I change oil every 5k and also rotate the tires at the same time. My IR thunder gun has really put a beating on the OEM nuts, I can tell they are low quality and soft metal. I plan to get a set for the F150 at the same time. In the past I bought a set from RockAuto for a Cobalt when I upgraded the OEM steel / hubcap with the OEM 16" aluminum wheel. The Rock Auto were affordable but were also junk, not going that route again. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated

 

[HangFire]

Gorilla or McGard.

 

[ssamaroo01]

I bought my Mcgard lug nuts on ebay from the lugnutguys for my Fusion a couple years ago. 12x1.5 acorn bulge. They have gone through all types of weather and road salt and are still shiny and aren't deformed. I bought the OEM Dorman two-piece lug nuts and they deformed like the factory lug nuts.

 

[jcartwright99]

I ended up buying Gorilla for my Fusion. I almost went with the lifetime warranty ones but didn't. Mcguard would be my 2nd choice.

 

[carviewsonic]

I have Gorilla lug nuts ordered from Amazon to replace the two piece ones on my Buick. Both price and reviews are good. Should be here by Thursday, I'll post my opinion of them here when I install them.

 

[Kestas]

I'd like to caution you about using harder lug nuts. They stand a higher chance of deforming the threads on the stud bolt, which is more expensive to replace. I'd rather have the lug nuts as the weakest part of the assembly, in case something goes wrong during installation.

Once in a while at work, I'm presented with a lug nut deformed on a stud bolt for analysis. I usually find everything is within spec. The reason lug nuts deform is because they are zipped on with air guns. At high speeds, once the nut bottoms out, the rotational mass of the gun wants to keep going, and is enough to deform the nut.

I don't use an air gun on my car. I've never had problems with the lug nuts or bolts.

 

[bullwinkle]

I've been using Gorilla ones, with HF torque sticks & torque wrench, I personally haven't lost a stud yet-but before I did all my tire work & rotations myself I would get an occasional seize & snap. Go figure!

 

[ssamaroo01]

Kestas, I don't disagree with you but the two piece design on my Fusion was total crap. It was swollen and I couldn't get a socket on it. I could understand if they were deformed from an impact after a visit to a shop but I did most of my tire rotations myself using a breaker bar and torque wrench.

 

[oldhp]

McGard and use a torque wrench. I've used them on Cragar's, American Racing and stock Dodge Dakota rims. Using a torque wrench is important on these new type wheels. Not torqued enough they can come loose. Over torqued and you can warp brake rotors, let alone break off studs when removing the lug nuts. I've never used the Gorilla ones but have heard good talk about them.

 

[benjy]

McGard for best care finish + quality for sure. Gorilla are ok but poor finishes from experience

 

[ragtoplvr]

About 50 years ago I worked for an Otasco store. We sold some tires the local school bus mechanic. He had put on his wheels with a ¾ impact, and so stretched the lug studs several broke rather than come off. The remaining studs were so stretched you could easily see where they necked in. Had to replace all 10 on the front wheels. At least it was drum brakes, once you got the drum off there was lots of room to replace the studs.

The thing that bothered me most was this was the man that maintained the school buses. I always did the final torque with a fourway not impact. He seemed surprised at that un-necessary step. Did I mention he was the SCHOOL BUS mechanic.


Rod

 

[1978elcamino]

Originally Posted by Kestas
I'd like to caution you about using harder lug nuts. They stand a higher chance of deforming the threads on the stud bolt, which is more expensive to replace. I'd rather have the lug nuts as the weakest part of the assembly, in case something goes wrong during installation.

Once in a while at work, I'm presented with a lug nut deformed on a stud bolt for analysis. I usually find everything is within spec. The reason lug nuts deform is because they are zipped on with air guns. At high speeds, once the nut bottoms out, the rotational mass of the gun wants to keep going, and is enough to deform the nut.

I don't use an air gun on my car. I've never had problems with the lug nuts or bolts.


Just about every tire shop in this country uses the IR Thunder Gun and has been for decades. Its ridiculous for a company to cheap out on lug nuts that cant withstand the tools of the trade. I use a IR Thunder Gun at home and have for years. This is the only vehicle that lug nuts have worn from maintenance. My oil changes and tire rotations are done every 5k. I use torque sticks and still the Fusion's nuts look like my 9yr old went to town on them with the wrong size socket. I have stainless steel lug nuts on the boat trailer, (soft lug nuts) and have to replace brake pads every year due to salt water. The boats nuts are in perfect shape where the Fusion looks terrible. Not complaining, just stating a fact that companies try to save money where ever they can, obviously Ford has wiith inferior lug nuts. My older Ford's dident do what these nuts are doing. No big deal, I will just replace them with better nuts.

 

[1978elcamino]

I have to take the car in for a warranty issue anyway before the warranty runs out. (fuel door very loose). Im going to have them inspect the condition of each nut, maybe they will replace them under warranty. Probably the easiest thing a tech can get paid for under flat rate warranty. The hardest part would be walking to and from the parts counter carrying 20 lug nuts.

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted by ssamaroo01
Kestas, I don't disagree with you but the two piece design on my Fusion was total crap. It was swollen and I couldn't get a socket on it. I could understand if they were deformed from an impact after a visit to a shop but I did most of my tire rotations myself using a breaker bar and torque wrench.

Are you talking about the design with a stainless sleeve over a regular nut? Those will look good but will be a problem in corrosive environments. Corrosion will grow until the lug expands to the point that the socket will not fit. I've experienced that.

 

[1978elcamino]

I live in Florida so corrosion is not a problem.

 

[jcartwright99]

Originally Posted by 1978elcamino
I have to take the car in for a warranty issue anyway before the warranty runs out. (fuel door very loose). Im going to have them inspect the condition of each nut, maybe they will replace them under warranty. Probably the easiest thing a tech can get paid for under flat rate warranty. The hardest part would be walking to and from the parts counter carrying 20 lug nuts.


If you get them replaced under warranty, I would be very surprised. I heard that others in our shoes got denied. I thought about replacing them with stock ones but didn't want to be in the same spot later on down the line, plus they were pretty expensive. I don't get why Fusions have such a crap design. Just do a little research and make sure all of the specs are in line with the stock ones. My Gorillas are a touch longer than stock but look fine.

It was a headache for a week until I replaced them. It's just another small thing you have to worry about until it becomes a big problem (ie flat and can't replace).