New wheels, lug nuts won't stay tight.

[cntryislandboy]

So I just put on some new rims and tires. Took a drive about 18 miles round trip and had to stop 5 times to tighten the lug nuts. They were getting to the point i could take them off by hang. I'm just glad I was near an Auto Zone to buy a lug wrench or I would have had serious issues. He suggested to put some blue lock tight on. I've never had this issue before, but I've also never had aftermarket rims, with the exception of the ones that came on the car when we bought it. I'm also currently using aftermarket lug nuts that were recommended with the purchase of rims.

Any suggestions, should I go with the blue lock tight ?

Also any one know how long it will take for the new TPMS to be recognized ? Or is there a special sequence of events I need to preform?

Thanks in advance.

 

[wjburken]

So I just put on some new rims and tires. Took a drive about 18 miles round trip and had to stop 5 times to tighten the lug nuts. They were getting to the point i could take them off by hang. I'm just glad I was near an Auto Zone to buy a lug wrench or I would have had serious issues. He suggested to put some blue lock tight on. I've never had this issue before, but I've also never had aftermarket rims, with the exception of the ones that came on the car when we bought it. I'm also currently using aftermarket lug nuts that were recommended with the purchase of rims.

Any suggestions, should I go with the blue lock tight ?

Also any one know how long it will take for the new TPMS to be recognized ? Or is there a special sequence of events I need to preform?

Thanks in advance.

Silly question but you are torquing the lug nuts to the proper torque correct? Usually in the neighborhood of 140lb-ft.

Maybe take some brake cleaner and clean the threads incase there is any grease on the studs.

Should not need any thread locker to keep them tight.

 

[OR VietVet]

No thread locker. Torque to proper spec. If you have one of the old lug nuts compare the taper at the bottom of that to the taper on the new lug nuts. Should be the same. The TPMS is something I am not familiar with, don't have it on my rig but someone here will know. I think you have to reprogram with a Tech 2 maybe? The tire shop should have reset for you, if they had that capability.

 

[soulsea]

Putting threadlocker on loose lug nuts is like gluing your nose shut when it bleeds ... as in you're addressing the wrong end of the issue.

If you were on a racetrack or off roading loosening lug nuts are pretty common, but there's no reason whatsoever that lug nuts should be loosening under normal driving conditions, especially after such short distances.

Are you feeling any vibrations from unbalanced wheels as you're driving?

If not find out what the torque specs for the lug nuts is on your vehicle and use a torque wrench to make sure you are within specs.

 

[Doubeleive]

Something isn't right here, first question is why and how did you determine the lug nuts were coming loose, did the wheels start wobble or something? if so then the lug nuts are not the correct size/thread at all, this should never happen.

 

[PPV12HOE]

Do not use thread lock on your wheels... you need to check the seat on the rims and the lug nuts to make sure they are correct for each other...

 

[soulsea]

One more thing ... are the aftermarket wheels you got hub centric? If not it may be your issue and you might need rings.

Oh and try using your oem lug nuts to see if you have the same issue ... it might be as simple as the aftermarket lug nuts are not exactly the right size.

 

[cntryislandboy]

Thanks for he quick responses. I was kinda thinking the same things about the lock tight, i didn't really want to use it, I never have in the past. I'll stop at harbor freight tomorrow and pick up a torque wrench. I've typically just tighten the crap out of them, and check them with a torque wrench when I'm at a buddies that has one, well now I'll have my own.

The steering wheel did vibrate ranging from mild to holly crap. I thought it was a wheel unbalanced but once I got the holly crap phase I stopped and all the lugs were loose enough to take off by hang.

Concerning the torque specs. Is this based off of GMC or the aftermarket lug nuts? I'm thinking GMC but just thought to ask to make sure.

From what I can tell they should be set to 140, so I'll set the to that and then drive around some and see what happens.

 

[cntryislandboy]

One more thing ... are the aftermarket wheels you got hub centric? If not it may be your issue and you might need rings.

Oh and try using your oem lug nuts to see if you have the same issue ... it might be as simple as the aftermarket lug nuts are not exactly the right size.

I just checked the manufactures web site and I can't find if it says they are hub centric or not. Not sure if it makes a difference but they are factory replica wheels.

I don't actually have the factory lug nuts because when we purchased the car it already had aftermarket wheels.

I'm wondering if I didn't have them torqued enough, I say that because after thinking about it I had to use every once of force I had to get them loose. And I broke a socket adapter clean off my impact driver while trying to loosen them on the first one.

 

[Doubeleive]

if they come loose again after proper torque I would swing by the nearest wheel shop and have them put a new set of correct lugs on shouldn't cost much at all

 

[soulsea]

I just checked the manufactures web site and I can't find if it says they are hub centric or not. Not sure if it makes a difference but they are factory replica wheels.

I don't actually have the factory lug nuts because when we purchased the car it already had aftermarket wheels.

I'm wondering if I didn't have them torqued enough, I say that because after thinking about it I had to use every once of force I had to get them loose. And I broke a socket adapter clean off my impact driver while trying to loosen them on the first one.

Overtorquing the lug nuts is not a good idea either.

Tighten them to factory specs, if they won't hold try a set of oem or gorilla lug nuts.

It's worrisome that they were that tight when you took them off ... I hope the previous owner didn't damage the bolts by overtorquing them which has led to the current issue.

 

[Fless]

The lug nut style needed depends on your new wheels. Your old lug nuts may not seat properly, but the tire/wheel shop should be able to determine if you have the right ones to match the wheel.

 

[PPV12HOE]

^^^^^ picture

 

[akbrener]

maybe a pic of the wheels? if it has a center cap, a pic without the center cap on would help us see whats going on. definitely go off the GMC torque specs.

 

[OR VietVet]

At this point you also need to make sure the wheels are not damaged where the lug nuts seat. The shape could now be damaged and the hole hogged out some.

 

[Fless]

At this point you also need to make sure the wheels are not damaged where the lug nuts seat. The shape could now be damaged and the hole hogged out some.

^^^ This. And/or the stud threads damaged.

 

[Fless]

Reminds me of the numerous parodies of Kenny Rodgers' "Lucille."

 

[wjburken]

Reminds me of the numerous parodies of Kenny Rodgers' "Lucille."

Love it! That is one of my favorites from my childhood.

 

[OR VietVet]

^^^ This. And/or the stud threads damaged.

See what happens when you get old. I was also going to mention the possible stud/thread damage to look for and half way thru my post I must have forgot. Thanks for covering me.

 

[Fless]

See what happens when you get old. I was also going to mention the possible stud/thread damage to look for and half way thru my post I must have forgot. Thanks for covering me.

Funny you should mention that. I didn't even THINK about the holes in the wheels! Guess this is a community effort, as well it should be. LOL