Where to find correct lug nuts?

[T-Keith]

I'm having a hard time finding the correct lug nuts for my lesabre. The ones you can buy from the auto parts store are way off. They either have a dome end, reducing the amount of threads, or are too wide to fit in my center caps.

The factory ones most closely resemble these.
but I'm not too confident in aluminum lug nuts. The factory ones have a chrome cap that is famous for falling off as the lugnut corrodes underneath.

thanks,
-T

 

[alreadygone]

Tried the dealership? Seen several here well pleased with buying genuine GM online at can't remember exact name of source though

 

[rpn453]

I'd check with the dealerships. On items like that, they sometimes have reasonable prices.

Those aluminum lug nuts scare me. A lot.

Quote:

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Lighter lug nuts will provide more power to the wheels, better braking, superior handling while improving the looks of your car.

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[T-Keith]

I thought about the dealer, but haven't tried it yet. I would like if someone made ones with the correct shape, but with a one piece chrome lug nut. The OEM two piece ones aren't very good, like I said. It seems like another aftermarket item that is across the board incorrect.

 

[The_Jeff]

This style came on my saturn. It's your 12mm x1.5 pitch as well, I'm pretty sure.

Have collected several of these cars with both steel and aluminum wheels. This lug nut is off a steel wheel and you can see where it was chewed up on the small contact area. Aluminum wheel lugnuts (the same part) look perfect and use the whole shoulder to interface the softer metal. The one above has rust on the outer shoulder from not being up against anything.

Also notable are the outside threads, for hubcaps or those phoney plastic external lugnut covers, depending on application.

Is this anything like what you're looking for? Got an extra one at NAPA that matched exactly, down to the color. Are the physical attributes at least correct, eg, the shape of the "acorn" that meets the wheel?

 

[Kestas]

http://www.ezaccessory.com/

I've bought from these guys before. Their web site has detailed info on lug nuts.

 

[Tosh]

Lug nuts might be an area not to use aluminum for. Amazing...

 

[T-Keith]

I think the newer style plastic cap ones are too large to fit inside my center caps.

 

[Kestas]

Are those aluminum nuts DOT-approved?

I too hate the stainless steel capped nuts that corrode underneath. Go with the chrome-plated nuts. They're available in the link I provided.

 

[T-Keith]

Sorry I don't see any chrome M12x1.5 nuts there.

 

[ChrisW]

eljefino, that small amount of lugnut to wheel contact worries me. It almost seems as if they are using a conical lug for a ball seat wheel. Whats the point of all that shoulder if its not going to be apart of the load bearing surface that contacts the wheel?

 

[Kestas]

Will these fit? http://www.ezaccessory.com/Acorn_Lug_Nuts_12mmx1_50_Thread_p/1207.htm

I bought a complete set for my neighbor's 91 LeSabre.

 

[T-Keith]

The acorn nuts have less socket surface, I have a couple of those on there now. Usually the sockets or tire irons are very shallow, the dome makes it so only 1/4", or so, of hex contacts. I wonder why all the aftermarket ones are like this?

 

[Kestas]

For some reason, I've never had that problem.

I guess the alternatives are regular (non-decorative) lug nuts, a deep well socket, or a different tire iron.

 

[FowVay]

I'm guessing that things aren't OEM in this situation. I've never heard of a mfgr providing a lug wrench that wouldn't fit their own lug nuts. Of course we're talking about the General here... so you never know.

That link to lug bolts/nuts was very helpful. I looked for lug bolts to fit my Volkswagen and they have a great assortment. They're more expensive than the dealership but it's always nice to have a alternative for mail-order.

 

[NYEngineer]

I've always bought McGuard. Excellent lug nuts. I've never come across a car they didn't have an application for.

 

[T-Keith]

I looked them up too, once again the incorrect acorn style.

-T

 

[gtx510]

you're looking for open ended lugs? M12x1.5, I think that's like a Mazda and honduh?
tried google?
www.google.com/search?q=12x1.5+open+lug
froogle?
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=12x1.5 open lug

 

[T-Keith]

I have exposed lug nuts so that wouldn't look very good. I purchased a new socket that should work with some acron nuts, but it's a deep socket so it's not ideal for a breaker bar. I find it bizarre that nearly every GM car used these lug nuts for 10-20 years, but every aftermarket one is completely wrong. The closest I can find ironically are for a Honda