Member Since: 18 Mar 2013
Location: Sydney
Posts: 931
wheel lug nuts 'loose'?
Good morning, Just washed the car and found a few lug nuts felt loose or rattled to the touch, yet were up to the specified torque when checked. Why are some doing it and others not, and what's the solution ?
28th Jul 2015 6:06 am
aidnoakes
Member Since: 22 Nov 2014
Location: Expat near Varna
Posts: 143
Sounds like the shiny caps and the actual bolt underneath are separating. Mine did this so replaced them with:
Member Since: 18 Mar 2013
Location: Sydney
Posts: 931
thanks robbie Is there a permanent fix for this? The link aidnoakes posted look like OEM so the same problem?
BTW, SWMBO reckons if JLR know about it they should have fixed the problem by now
28th Jul 2015 7:19 am
highlands
Member Since: 11 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5095
I try to work in some grease around the seal where the cap and bolt meet.
Anecdotally I reckon it helps.
I also only use a good quality 6 point socket and avoid rattle guns for initial loosening and final tightening.
I almost always find nuts damaged when it comes away from a garage.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
28th Jul 2015 10:54 am
Niel
Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: Southampton, 'Ampshir'
Posts: 169
If the caps are loose and only slightly oversized, and JLR replace them, I have a metallurgical experiment I'd like to try on the old nuts... IF you can 'acquire' them...
28th Jul 2015 11:15 am
DigitalJunior
Member Since: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 4398
Just felt mine and some are looose as well - is this a safety issue or ok to leave as they are?SOLD - 23my Range Rover Sport D300 Dynamic SE
28th Jul 2015 11:54 am
Niel
Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: Southampton, 'Ampshir'
Posts: 169
The caps are cosmetic, as long as the nuts are tight it's not an issue, until the day comes when you need to change a wheel and find the tool doesn't fit... Swollen nuts due to rust under the cap are more of an issue, road salt, mud, dog urine etc contribute but the root cause is poor finish on the base nut and probably a tyre fitter with a windy-gun loosening the caps in the first place. The Hex should be 22mm with the cap on, much more and you'll need a 23 or even 24mm flank-drive socket and bar to move them, BTDT!
28th Jul 2015 1:30 pm
motolite
Member Since: 18 Mar 2013
Location: Sydney
Posts: 931
Dealer response-not a warranty issue
response from dealer. They are not covered by warranty. They will all come loose after a time and it is not corrosion that cause the nuts to swell, it is rattle guns that cause that outer case to 'mushroom'.
Have not decoded where to go from here.
29th Jul 2015 2:38 am
CEZ1869
Member Since: 11 Apr 2015
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 322
I smell here! Either go back & inform them that you have owned the vehicle from new & always used the supplied wrench to remove the nuts, it's the alloy caps that react with the inner steel nuts when subject to time, eventually corrode? Thus causing the shinny caps to swell,
Member Since: 18 Mar 2013
Location: Sydney
Posts: 931
Thanks CEZ1869. I'll find time to pay them a visit,but not holding my breath.
29th Jul 2015 6:03 am
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
I think the caps are stainless not alloy, either way they are to thin!
29th Jul 2015 6:51 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Re: Dealer response-not a warranty issue
motolite wrote:
response from dealer. They are not covered by warranty. They will all come loose after a time and it is not corrosion that cause the nuts to swell, it is rattle guns that cause that outer case to 'mushroom'.
Have not decoded where to go from here.
If the failure mechanism is as they describe just ask them to squeeze the very thin metal back onto the inner nut. If the failure is due to corrosion and swelling from underneath then they will not squeeze back to their original size/shape.
Also ask them for a copy of the workshop manual warning that says that they cannot be used with an impact wrench. You may need to have a coffee whilst they try and find such a warning.
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here! Either go back & inform them that you have owned the vehicle from new & always used the supplied wrench to remove the nuts, it's the alloy caps that react with the inner steel nuts when subject to time, eventually corrode? Thus causing the shinny caps to swell,
