Lug nuts only go on backwards

lsaami

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2019
Posts
128
Reaction score
84
Location
MN
Well, I know this might be stupid, but I got done replacing on of my front hubs and went to put the tire back on, but my lug nuts wouldn’t screw on. So I tried another. Nope, same thing. Tried another, and none of them screwed on!

I then tried to screw one on backwards (conical side out), and it threaded right on by hand. so did all the others.

what the heck am I missing? Why are my lug nuts only threading on backwards?
 

chillman88

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Posts
6,022
Reaction score
6,152
Location
Central NY
You've probably got a boogered thread at the end of the lug nuts, I've had that before. Usually caused by someone starting them with an impact and not starting them by hand first.
 

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Posts
12,235
Reaction score
10,925
Location
edmond, ks
You've probably got a boogered thread at the end of the lug nuts, I've had that before. Usually caused by someone starting them with an impact and not starting them by hand first.
I used to work with a guy who was a pretty decent mechanic, but lug nuts was his Achille's heel. He ALWAYS to start them with an impact. I just couldn't believe that he didn't learn after the first time.
 

lsaami

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2019
Posts
128
Reaction score
84
Location
MN
I used to work with a guy who was a pretty decent mechanic, but lug nuts was his Achille's heel. He ALWAYS to start them with an impact. I just couldn't believe that he didn't learn after the first time.
But all of them? Every last one?
 

Greenie

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Posts
298
Reaction score
211
Chrysler products back in the 1960's and early '70's had reverse threads on the passenger side wheels... or was it the driver's side?
 

Clb

Another old truck
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Posts
5,701
Reaction score
2,163
Location
nannyfornia
Only takes 1 idiot starting with an impact to booger em up...
And or dragging the wheel over the ends of the lugs during mount\dismount.
 

franklin2

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Posts
5,161
Reaction score
1,385
Location
Va
Start them backwards and screw them all the way on till the stud sticks out the other side. If they get hard to turn toward the last little bit, you know the other guys were correct, the threads are messed up. If you get a socket and turn them all the way on there, that hopefully should clean any bad threads up, and then you can take them off and try them to see if they go on now.
 

lsaami

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2019
Posts
128
Reaction score
84
Location
MN
Start them backwards and screw them all the way on till the stud sticks out the other side. If they get hard to turn toward the last little bit, you know the other guys were correct, the threads are messed up. If you get a socket and turn them all the way on there, that hopefully should clean any bad threads up, and then you can take them off and try them to see if they go on now.
They did get stuck at the end.

looks like I’m buying new lug nuts. Dumb.
 

Clb

Another old truck
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Posts
5,701
Reaction score
2,163
Location
nannyfornia
Try pricing a tap \thread chaser, or champher the starting threads with a size larger drill...
But new American fasteners vs. Chinacrap will win.
 

Cubey

Van dweller
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Posts
4,066
Reaction score
1,580
Location
USA
Chrysler products back in the 1960's and early '70's had reverse threads on the passenger side wheels... or was it the driver's side?

I had a 1981 travel trailer with lug BOLTS (not nuts) and the driver's side were LH thread. Walmart couldn't get the bolts off so I just left with only new tires on the right side. Then I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't come loose either. I took the whole drum/hub off with a wheel and took it to a nearby indie tire shop. They figured it out immediately. I didn't see the "L" on the bolt heads.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

snicklas

6.0 and Loving It!!
Staff member
Joined
Aug 7, 2006
Posts
6,164
Reaction score
2,342
Location
Greenfield, Indiana
Some of the early 80's Dana axles (Pre-Sterling) on Ford pickups had left hand thread on the drivers side.

My oldest was helping a buddy and came home complaining they couldn't get the wheel off. He said they broke a couple sockets (chineseium) and still didn't have any luck. He was PI**ED off. I asked what they were working on, and he said hits buddy's 82 F-250. So I asked which wheel, and he said drivers rear. I just started laughing, and he wanted to know what was so funny. I told him those were left handed thread. Next time, they came right off, when turning them the correct way.....
 

lsaami

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2019
Posts
128
Reaction score
84
Location
MN
Well, You all were right. I got some lug nuts from the auto parts store and they spun right on.

stupid PO.

he also replaced wheel bearings on only the drivers side, and reinstalled the caliper with a broken slide pin.
 

Cubey

Van dweller
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Posts
4,066
Reaction score
1,580
Location
USA
Well, You all were right. I got some lug nuts from the auto parts store and they spun right on.

stupid PO.

he also replaced wheel bearings on only the drivers side, and reinstalled the caliper with a broken slide pin.

For future reference, salvage yards are a great place to get lug nuts for very cheap. They are almost worthless to salvage yards because usually don't buy them. Just take a bolt of the right size/threads with you to check the nuts to be sure they thread on properly.
 

Clb

Another old truck
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Posts
5,701
Reaction score
2,163
Location
nannyfornia
I had a 1981 travel trailer with lug BOLTS (not nuts) and the driver's side were LH thread. Walmart couldn't get the bolts off so I just left with only new tires on the right side. Then I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't come loose either. I took the whole drum/hub off with a wheel and took it to a nearby indie tire shop. They figured it out immediately. I didn't see the "L" on the bolt heads.

You must be registered for see images attach
Definition of
IDIOT
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
91,217
Posts
1,128,502
Members
24,045
Latest member
Ramtough01

Members online

Top