Repair And Fix it

Wheel nuts, or lug nuts, come in a variety of sizes and styles. The wheel nuts hold the tire in place, so the differences are mainly aesthetic. Lug nuts are not all the same size or style. Foreign vehicles tend to use ball-seat lug nuts, while domestic models use tapered-seat nuts. Some vehicles use a mag lug nut to properly center a rim.

Tapered

The most common lug nut is the tapered lug nut, also known as the acorn or or bulge lug nut due to the appearance of a bulge near the rim. The tapered nut is available in multiple thread patterns and diameters to fit almost any vehicle. The majority of trucks and domestic-made cars use tapered lug nuts. Hub-centric rims, or rims that are centered on the axle through the center hole on the rim, will use this style for a more secure fit. Factory-installed tapered lug nuts are commonly capped with chrome overlays that require care when removing or installing. Replacements that are chromed without capping are available at any auto parts retailer.

Ball Seat

Most imports use a ball-seat lug nut. The operation of the lug nut is the same as the tapered variety. The unit is characterized by a rounded connection to the rim. These are available in open-ended or closed-ended variations for use on rims with or without hubcaps. After-market auto parts offer the ball-seat lug nuts in a variety of colors and finishes to complement the vehicle and rims. The ball-seat is a contemporary style but not as common as the tapered lug nut.

Mag and Screw-in Varieties

Mag nuts resemble the screw-in variety of lug nuts found on some German-made cars, such as the Volkswagen and Mercedes. The screw-in variety uses a bolt that goes through the rim to fit into female connections on the rotor or hub. The bolt is capped with a conical or tapered head similar to the other variations. The mag lug nut penetrates the rim rather than pressing against the rim. The nut is characterized by a long-sleeve that fits into the holes on the rim. The mag nut is used on lugs that are too small for the standard rim.

All bolts and nuts are not created equal. They are made with different properties in order to achieve different strengths. They also have different thread configurations. You need to know what kind of bolt to purchase when you are buying bolts for home use. Grade 5 bolts and nuts are most commonly used on smaller engines and light duty building applications. Bolts and nuts of grade 8 and higher are used on car engines and heavy duty building projects. Bolts and nuts are clearly marked for identification.

Instructions

1

Pick up the bolt and look at the hex end. The hex end is the end on which you place the wrench.

2

Count the number of slashes on the top of the bolt. A grade 5 bolt will have three slashes radiating out from the center in a "Y" formation.

3

Pick up the nut. A grade 5 nut will have a raised or depressed insignia identifying the manufacturer. There will also be three small dashes radiating out from the perimeter.