Problem with RAYS engineering anodized lug nuts stripping

jbaker1121

jbaker1121

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Location
Westchester, New York
Car
09 FX50
hey iS


I'm having an issue with my Rays engineering anodized lug nuts stripping when I tried to take them off to throw on my winter wheels. I used the same tools I used to put them on by hand, but when I tried to loosen them up by hand two of them began to strip. Now, I am pretty sure I cant take them off without breaking them. Any ideas? I want to try to not have to break them off because ill probably end up scratching my wheels.
Seems like a bad luck week for me with my FX.
help.:tdown:
 
Use an impact wrench and wrap the socket with duct tape. If the lug nuts are cross-threaded then it almost certainly happened upon installation. Hence, breaking them off is unavoidable. Using an impact wrench for removal will at least save your wheels.

You really are having some bad luck. Maybe it's your FX revolting against you due to the "for sale" listing? ;)

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tchuck said:
Use an impact wrench and wrap the socket with duct tape. If the lug nuts are cross-threaded then it almost certainly happened upon installation. Hence, breaking them off is unavoidable. Using an impact wrench for removal will at least save your wheels.

You really are having some bad luck. Maybe it's your FX revolting against you due to the "for sale" listing? ;)

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I'll try that. problem is, one is stripped so I may need to hammer on a size smaller socket
 
Oh, right. I thought you meant that the threads on the stud were messed up. Nevermind, an impact wrench won't help if the nut is stripped. Try a 12 point socket if you aren't already using one.

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StuLax18 said:
I noticed these nuts were kinda hard to get on straight. Seems easy to have issues with them.
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yeah I made sure none were cross threaded when I put them on...I think theyre just a little jammed for sitting for around 3 months...

tchuck said:
Oh, right. I thought you meant that the threads on the stud were messed up. Nevermind, an impact wrench won't help if the nut is stripped. Try a 12 point socket if you aren't already using one.

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yeah theyre just stripped I think the threads are ok. I do have a 12 pt somewhere so maybs its time to hammer it on and break some lug nuts :-/ $175 down the drain:eek:
 
Sucks, they are delicate though. Soft, so easy to cross thread and an impact wrench without a nylon liner will make a mess of them....Glad they stayed on for you.....
 
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Ouch, sure sounds like a pain. Were these Ray lugs torque right from the beginning?
good luck.
 
I always use never-seez on lug nut threads, there are those who say not to but I have never had any of these issues with cars that I do it to.

Aluminum is technically not the best metal to thread together with steel since it promotes electrolysis (corrision) this is why you need lube on engine bolts)

The anodizing will protect against electrolysis for a one-time use, but as soon as it is scratched (i.e. taking on and off) watch out.

As a side note Porsche has use aluminum lug nuts for years and years, so apparently it's OK.
 
solved the issue- used a 12 pt socket instead of the usual 6 and it had better grip-gotthem right out and only two are badly stripped... :) time to sell the GTRs
 
Nice. It's weird how the 12 points are so different from 6's... I had to remove some 14mm ARP heads studs to change a head gasket a while ago (in a different car) and the 6 point socket I was using with my impact wrench was just big enough to slip like crazy without budging the studs. Luckily ARP fasteners are forged by the gods in the centers of black holes from star fragments and dragon scales or they would have stripped instantly. I switched to a 12 point (also 14mm) at the advice of a friend and buzzed them right off.

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what was the end result of this issue? Where you lugs ruined? Would you suggest getting these? Which ones did you get?
 
drew855 said:
what was the end result of this issue? Where you lugs ruined? Would you suggest getting these? Which ones did you get?
Click to expand...

what was actually happening was there was not enough grip on a 6pt wrench so I used a 12pt, the 12pt took them off fine and ill probably put them back on again for the summer:tup:with the GTRs and coils hehe

I have a few extra from my friend's old set I can use so those will take place of the stripped ones.
 
I'll chime in and say they are great lugs - feather light yes, delicate yes, but if you use a torque wrench no problema. My one and only issue I had was with the first shop that took them off after the initial install. They used an impact wrench and it lightly rounded off the corners. Since then I have been VERY specific about using a torque wrench and I've had no problems. Probably been on /off 15 times......
 
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