Crunchy lug nuts

[2mbb]

I was checking the lug nut torque on my FJ60 yesterday evening and I had one wheel where the nuts were sticking or chattering when I was loosening and then retightening. The other three wheels would rotate smoothly. Any ideas what could cause or what I should look for when I take the wheel off to inspect. Should I apply any lubrication when I put the wheel back on?

I recently had a shop install new tires so I was checking their work. The last set of tires went on 20 years ago. The rims may have rotated locations when the new tires were done. This rim may have been the spare. I have aftermarket steel rims and OEM lug nuts. I was retorqueing with the wheels on the ground.

Thanks.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Happens when they get corroded .Put them on and off a few times and they will quit. Don’t use any lube.

 

[toy_tek]

A counterpoint reference... I grew up in the northeast where we used antisieze on just about everything including lug nuts and the wheel face that contacts the drum or rotor. Otherwise those parts often became fused over a single winter. I’ve been doing that for 35+ years. So I think your region may determine the need for lug lube.

Either way clean everything up w a wire brush or wheel first.

 

[Godwin]

A poster on another thread somewhere recommended a little grease on wheel studs. I've started doing that and it helps in that the nuts come off and go on smoother. I don't have to deal with salted roads but our Cruisers often in water up to the axles and I think that allows water to infiltrate the nuts leading to light rust. I also do the grease application on boat trailers.

 

[2mbb]

Thanks for the responses. I’ll try cleaning them up and go from there. I was working on another car where I had a tire shop replace the TPM sensors. Some of the lug nuts were super tight. Earlier this year I got new tires for my FJ60 at the same shop so I was checking those. With the exception of the one wheel where the nuts were crunchy, they all seemed to have proper torque.

I live in SF Bay Area and the weather is pretty mild and I don’t see much water. My FJ60 is garage kept.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Some wd40 won’t hurt

 

[DrRock]

I would say if they are that crunchy, it’s time to replace them, along with the studs. This is one of the fastener interfaces that sees the most amount of undoing and installing, plus it is a mission critical interface. For ~60$, you can replace all 4 corners with new studs and lug nuts, lube based on your region and go from there. Since I live in the Northeast, I follow @toy_tek s protocol and add anti-seize. In the Bay Area and depending if you get breeze in from the ocean, this might be applicable for you too.