How to Deal With Swollen Lug Nuts in Your Car
The lug nuts on a car are used to attach your car’s wheel to the axle. They are mostly used in steel or aluminum wheels that come stock on many different types of vehicles. Lug nuts are small, but serve a very important function in stabilizing your car and keeping it secure while turning. Lug nuts are designed to be strong and withstand road impacts; however, what happens when they seem as if they’re almost too strong?
Lug nuts can run into the issue of swelling, and this is a serious problem if you want to adhere to proper wheel and tire maintenance—or even brake maintenance for that matter. Getting the wheels off of a car often depends on whether or not the lug nuts can come off, so when they become swollen it can cause serious problems. In this article we’ll go over what you can expect to deal with when your lug nuts on your car become swollen, how you can attend to the issue, and what you can do to help prevent it from occurring.
Are swollen lug nuts a concern for all vehicles?
Not all cars encounter swollen lug nuts. It all depends on the manufacturer and the quality of parts they include in their original engineering model. Swollen lug nuts have lead to class action lawsuits over the years, as it’s impossible to attend to the normal services the car requires without taking the wheels off of the car, which is made impossible by swollen lug nuts. It’s important to research whether your own car is susceptible to lug nut swelling and whether or not the manufacturer at least covers replacement of the part.
What causes lug nuts to become swollen?
There are certain factors that contribute to lug nut swelling which are unfortunately unavoidable. Depending on the material that the lug nut is made of, certain lug nuts are more susceptible to swelling than others. Here are the main factors that contribute to lug nut swelling that you should know about:
- Outside temperature
- Heat from the tires
- Moisture
- Corrosion
- Material of the lug nut
Some manufacturers cut corners in the design and engineering process to cut down on manufacturing costs of certain vehicles. These sub-par materials are prone to swelling, which can present an issue usually around the time of tire servicing or brake servicing when the wheels need to be removed.
How to fix the issue of swollen lug nuts
It’s likely that your mechanic will offer a few suggestions when it comes to fixing the issue of swollen lug nuts, but neither of them are great options. Here’s what usually is suggested when lug nuts become swollen:
- Replace the lug nuts with the same OEM parts – replacing the lug nuts with the same type of lug nut made by the same manufacturer will only lead to the same issue occurring again.
- Replace the lug nuts with after-market parts – there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to find new lug nuts that don’t cause the same issue while simultaneously properly fitting your car’s wheels. It’s problematic to replace the part with a sub-par part, so it’s important to consult a professional first.
What else you can do to prevent this issue
Swollen lug nuts are a maddening issue to encounter, especially if you don’t have any expertise in addressing the issue on your own. It’s critical to hire a professional automotive shop that specializes in the type of car you drive, as they’ll be able to offer you more comprehensive solutions. By hiring a specialist, you’ll have access to better car parts, higher quality repair services, and overall better knowledge of your car’s common issues.
At Munich West, we are the leading European import repair shop in the areas of Decatur and Atlanta, GA; our services are sought after by European import drivers who want high-quality services at an affordable, manageable price. Replacing swollen lug nuts is often futile, as replacing them with the same dysfunctional part won’t do much in the long run. We have encountered this issue before, and have a few different options to offer our clients. If you’d like to learn more about our shop or schedule an appointment with us, please call us right away.
