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Left hand lug thread lug nuts?? Wtf!!?? Please help...

6K views 14 replies 11 participants last post by  Randy 67EC 
#1 ·
I was told that the reason four lug nuts popped off the studs this weekend is because my '72 Malibu is supposed to have left hand threaded lug nuts instead of right hand. I've got 17" Foose Legends on the car. I ordered the wheels and lugs from Driverz Inc. When I put the wheels and lugs on myself, I was able to turn the lugs until they locked and everything seemed cool. I got some work done by a complete jerkoff, and when I picked the car up and drove away, I got about a half mile away and the wheels start making a popping noise. This happened before, about two minutes before the front wheel CAME OFF. The mechanic gets there and says they came off because it's a right hand threaded lug on a left hand thread stud. And then he goes on to say that 70-72' Chevelles came with Left Hand threaded studs... I've NEVER heard that. Is this true? Has anybody else had to buy LH lugs for a regular friggin Chevrolet?? Somebody help because I'm losing it here.
 
#4 ·
That's what I was saying. I got them in the mail, pulled them out of the box, a put them on the car. No problems. They went on without a hitch. Suddenly, a goofball mechanic gets under there and wham, lugs popping off again. Man...
 
#5 ·
Aluminum wheels need more attention than steel wheels. With aluminum wheels, you should torque the lugs, going over them twice in a star pattern. Then, after the first (preferably short) drive, you should torque them all again.
 
#6 ·
He's making excuses for not torquing the wheels when he finished. By coming up with a du-mas excuse like that, you can easily add him to the list of "do not use, do not recommend to others". I recently caught my son on this one, I had him pull the front wheels off the Durango to inspect the brakes. When I came home, I pulled it in off the street and went to pull the wheels again to do a brake job. All the lugs were loose. He won't make that mistake again. He knew it wasn't going anywhere, thought it would be okay like that. :noway:
 
#7 ·
Well I went at lunch time to Carquest and got a new set of lugs. They said the same thing. The guy is a moron. For more than one reason. I'm the type of person that my word is everything to me. I have yet to hear this guy say anything that's true. Thanks for the insight fellas.
 
#8 ·
I was told that the reason four lug nuts popped off the studs this weekend is because my car '72 Malibu is supposed to have left hand threaded lug nuts instead of right hand. I've got 17" Foose Legends on the car. I ordered the wheels and lugs from Driverz Inc. When I put the wheels and lugs on myself, I was able to turn the lugs until they locked and everything seemed cool. I got some work done by a complete jerkoff, and when I picked the car up and drove away, I got about a half mile away and the wheels start making a popping noise. This car happened before, about two minutes before the front wheel CAME OFF. The mechanic gets there and says they came off because it's a right hand threaded lug on a left hand thread stud. And then he goes on to say that 70-72' Chevelles came with Left Hand threaded studs... I've NEVER heard that. Is this true? Has anybody else had to buy LH lugs for a regular friggin Chevrolet?? Somebody help because I'm losing it here.
No clue but that's pretty random how you have to have a one sided threaded lugs.
 
#9 ·
Yup, no chevelle ever came with LH tight lugs. The only cars that did were some very few select Mopars, and most of those cars have received disc brake upgrades over the years and have been updated. He should have torqued the lugs (if aluminum wheels) to 75-80 foot pounds. And always, always, check them after 500-1000 miles if new wheels are installed.
 
#12 ·
Chrysler Corp
Left hand threads
Left side wheels
all passenger cars til 1970 or 71---even the oldies with lug bolts instead of lug nuts

by 73 they also went to right hand threads on all 4 wheels.

Ramblers AMC----I think the same thing
Same for International
 
#14 ·
I heard that Chrysler put left hand lug nuts on the left side because they aren't prone to loosen with wheel rotation. No idea if it's true. I've been lied to before and it won't be the last time.
 
#15 ·
MGs with wire wheels had left hand threads on the left side as well. The rotation of the wheel does keep them tight. But properly torqued lug nuts shouldn't come loose, it is usually installer error or bad/damaged studs.
 
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