Hanging By a Thread Or.... "If it works, then don't mess with it"

[Topcat]

A few months ago, I asked on a post here who makes the most accurate lug nuts.

Received some great answers and sources.

The De Anza Mopar show was coming up so I wanted them on before that show on 6/9.
The one's I had, were getting pretty crusty and were probably 20 plus years old. 

My rear end is a Dr. Diff Dana 60 with Strange Engineering Axles.
These special axle shafts use screw in studs. They are hardened forged and are 2" long.

By now you might be seeing the  train wreck coming.   

When I left the show, the rear end was making major noise.
I limped it to the Barn and left since it was so Hot out. Like 95 or 100.


Back to the new lug nuts:

I put them on one at a time.
They went on pretty good but seemed to be fighting towards the end.
Never hearing the  "squeak when the seat on the wheel. I thought. "Because they're  new.

Conclusion: All 10 axle studs were either destroyed and one broke off.
Lug nuts side by side, were about the same length. I did check that prior to putting them on.

One wheel: 2 of the 5 lug holes are wallowed out.

I cannot get shorter studs than 2 inch for these Strange Axles.

[Brads70]

So what caused that? The nuts bottoming out on the stud before they tightened on the rim?

[71-440]

OUCH!  That sucks. 

[Topcat]

The thread count from old vs new.

One word: CHINA

Didn't thread them to the bottom.   

Like I said earlier, old ones were working fine.
Albeit, they probably were just barely seating into the wheel holes.
But they did work.

[1 Wild R/T]

So what caused that? The nuts bottoming out on the stud before they tightened on the rim?

Yup....  New studs, another set of lug nuts... And a trip to your favorite lathe operator to have the new studs cut down....  Oh, sounds like one new wheel also..... When it rains it pours....  Only real option is to get it fixed & move forward...

[Topcat]

So what caused that? The nuts bottoming out on the stud before they tightened on the rim?

Yup

[Topcat]

New wheel shows up tomorrow. New studs and Lugs showed up today.

Did I ever say..."I love Summit" So freaking fast!   

Axles are out to get the bad studs out.

Thanks James.

Fresh Caught Salmon for you.   

Other friend will re mount tire onto new rim.

Back in action by Saturday.

[jimynick]

Just curious, how could that happen? The studs don't appear to be waisted and they appear to be threaded all the way down. Is the thread pitch correct between the studs and lug nuts, because the front area of them look like the thread of one was not mating with the thread of the other? 

[Topcat]

Just curious, how could that happen? The studs don't appear to be waisted and they appear to be threaded all the way down. Is the thread pitch correct between the studs and lug nuts, because the front area of them look like the thread of one was not mating with the thread of the other? 

Cass at Dr. Diff concluded from the pics it was the difference in the  lug nuts.

I worked for AAA automotive. I put at least 100,000 lug nuts on in my past.
so what can I say...

[GoodysGotaCuda]

All of my Dr. Diff 3" rear studs are cut down to fit my application. Glad it wasn't any worse, but that's important stuff to check when you start hot roddin' things. 

[ratroaster]

Those look way longer than factory studs.  Your lug nuts bottomed out before tightening the wheel. You got very lucky! Could have been way worse....

[anlauto]

I don't understand why you're blaming the nuts when the studs are longer then stock ?

[Topcat]

I'd say these are stock looking lug nuts.

Axles studs and lug nuts just replaced a few minutes ago.

[Topcat]

I don't understand why you're blaming the nuts when the studs are longer then stock ?

They're longer than stock, sure.

But if you look inside of them, they can be different at the bottom.

The stud ends are all damaged...each one differently.
Not identical.

[Topcat]

Those look way longer than factory studs.  Your lug nuts bottomed out before tightening the wheel. You got very lucky! Could have been way worse....

Stock vs. Strange hardened studs.