Lug nuts losening?

tank1949

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I have an aluminum 3 axle 13500 lb rated trailer with ss disk brakes. In the past, I had a master cylinder solenoid malfunction which appear to have caused premature brake failure. Although, it was supposed to have diverted brake fluid back to master cylinder's reservoir, it wouldn't. Thus, my granny low gear in my 4x4 appears to have eaten up brakes while in reverse. My Chevy v8's low gear overcame any grip on disk and destroyed brakes and disks. Manufacture warranted both brakes and solenoid. As most know, trailer disk brakes must have a manual or electric switch to divert brake fluid, if backing up. I have both switches now and they both work. However, my right front rim's lugs keep getting slightly loose. I have had to retighten only that tire's lugs on the last two trips. Two lugs out of six on the tire had to be retightened. So far, only a couple of lugs. I don't have a clue why this is happening. They are torque to about 90+ lbs. Any clues????
 

T_Herrod

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Apr 1, 2012
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Re: Lug nuts losening?

Could be bad threads on the nut or stud. I would pound them out and replace them. Not a hard or expensive fix.
 

bruceb58

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

You don't use any lubricant on the studs right?
 

Grub54891

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

Are they chromed lug nut's? Had one that kept coming loose,every day,every trip. Seems the chrome was in the threads,making them too slick to hold. Replaced them with regular nuts and no more problems!
 

tank1949

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

Thx to all!!! Brand new disks came with new studs. I then bought new nuts from local trailer shop. I live in Florida and use boat in salt water. We must use "never seize", or we will not be able to remove lugs in case of flat replacement. Nuts are bias steel. I am monitoring closely. Remaining rim/lugs don't appear to be loosening. Odd to say the least...
 

bruceb58

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

The problem with putting anything on the threads is that now you are over torquing the lugnuts and possibly stretching the lugs past their yield point. Once you do that, there is no elasticity in the lugs.

http://www.imperialsupplies.com/pdf/A_FastenerTorqueCharts.pdf
Look how much lower the torque values are for lubed vs dry. In a note below they say to lower it 20% from lubed values if using anti-sieze.

You didn't happen to install Tie Down brakes did you? I had issues with TieDown studs. That was one of the many reasons I removed mine and everything went into the trash can. Had a similar issue with lug nuts loosening and losing a wheel.

Replace the studs and don't use anything on them. If you are worried about them seizing, occasionally loosen them and re tighten them through out the year.
 
Last edited:

edthearcher

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Sep 22, 2007
Messages
116
Re: Lug nuts losening?

I have an aluminum 3 axle 13500 lb rated trailer with ss disk brakes. In the past, I had a master cylinder solenoid malfunction which appear to have caused premature brake failure. Although, it was supposed to have diverted brake fluid back to master cylinder's reservoir, it wouldn't. Thus, my granny low gear in my 4x4 appears to have eaten up brakes while in reverse. My Chevy v8's low gear overcame any grip on disk and destroyed brakes and disks. Manufacture warranted both brakes and solenoid. As most know, trailer disk brakes must have a manual or electric switch to divert brake fluid, if backing up. I have both switches now and they both work. However, my right front rim's lugs keep getting slightly loose. I have had to retighten only that tire's lugs on the last two trips. Two lugs out of six on the tire had to be retightened. So far, only a couple of lugs. I don't have a clue why this is happening. They are torque to about 90+ lbs. Any clues????
i use 90 to 100 foot lbs on all my tires
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,353
Re: Lug nuts losening?

i use anti sieze

Ayuh,.... Ole DonS convinced Me, to switch to Perfect Seal in places I'd Always used Never-Seize,...

Form-a-gasket #3 seals the threads, 'n keeps 'em from rustin' or corrodin',....
'n no dissimilar metals issues,...

Sprayin' Fluid Film on, 'n 'round the hub, After the wheel is installed, keeps alota surface rust at bay,...
Springs, shackles, all that stuff deserves Fluid Film,...
 
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tank1949

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

They were tie down. I tried understanding link that you sent but honestly couldn't understand it. It is weird that only one set of lugs are doing this. THX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Idlespeedonly

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

Mark them to see if they are backing out are stretching the studs.
 

bruceb58

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

They were tie down. I tried understanding link that you sent but honestly couldn't understand it. It is weird that only one set of lugs are doing this. THX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that weird. That particular wheel/hub might have more run out or the bearings are slightly loser than the others causing more vibration causing them to back off.

I would still suggest replacing the studs and using no anti seize and see what happens.
 

Bamaman1

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

I'd still put new studs and nuts on all axles. Wheel studs do stretch in some conditions. It's just not worth the risk to lose a wheel.
 
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tank1949

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

I am paying close attention to all lugs and looking for patterns. Paint might be a better compromise.
 

lrak

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

I am paying close attention to all lugs and looking for patterns.

If you are having problems with the lugs, I suggest you ditch the TDE hubs so you can relax. Never had a lug problem with Dexter, Reliable, UFP, or random no-brand Chinese hubs. I've never heard anyone complain about the studs on Kodiak. We lost two wheels due to stud problems with TDE hubs in less than six months on a brand new trailer. The second wheel loss was after the wheel studs had been replaced and I had checked the nuts with a torque wrench 4 hours earlier and with my fingers 1 hour earlier. Yes, I was really paranoid about losing another wheel before I lost the 2nd one. Didn't want the guilt of killing someone with a 65mph wheel, so switched to UFP. No problems at all in the six years since.
 

H20Rat

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

i use 90 to 100 foot lbs on all my tires

On all tires or trailer tires? Most passenger vehicles are WAY below that, like 60 ft/lb. 100 ft/lb is enough to stretch the lug, or even warp the brake rotor.
 

JASinIL2006

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Feb 10, 2012
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5,743
Re: Lug nuts losening?

http://www.imperialsupplies.com/pdf/A_FastenerTorqueCharts.pdf
Look how much lower the torque values are for dry vs lubed. In a note below they say to lower it 20% from lubed values if using anti-sieze.

Looking at the chart, I'm seeing just the opposite: the lubed values are lower than the dry values. For example, a 1/4-20 grade 8 bolt gets torqued to 12 ft. lbs. dry, but only to 9 ft. lbs. when lubed. Am I misinterpreting this somehow?
 

bruceb58

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

Looking at the chart, I'm seeing just the opposite: the lubed values are lower than the dry values. For example, a 1/4-20 grade 8 bolt gets torqued to 12 ft. lbs. dry, but only to 9 ft. lbs. when lubed. Am I misinterpreting this somehow?
No, you are exactly correct. I said it wrong. I will edit.
 

tank1949

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Re: Lug nuts losening?

I am still perplexed as to what exactly is causing lugs to loosen-many views.
 
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