Rant Alert! Dodge Charger lug nuts?

Farmer17 · Apr 13, 2016

So I go to change the flat tire on my daughters 2006 Dodge Charger and the factory lug wrench won't fit the nuts on the aluminum wheel. I look in the owners manual and it shows the lug wrench fitting on the nuts but it is not even close. So I drive to Auto Zone and tell them the problem and they look up on their computer and sell me a 4-way wrench that will definitely fit the car. It's 21mm and I try again and it's still too small. I call the Dealer and the service guy said the lug nuts have polished aluminum covers on them and they swell because of heat so I need a bigger wrench. I drive 30 minutes back to Auto Zone and trade the wrench in on a 22mm and take the first lug nut off and the nut is jammed in the end of the wrench, and I beat on it with a hammer and screw driver for 15 minutes before I get it out. The aluminum cover is totally mangled, then I take off two more lug nuts and the last two the wrench won't fit on. I call a different Dodge dealer and service tech and he tells me to try to take the lug nuts off with a socket, and I said "Really? you can't make a car that the factory lug wrench works?" He said "I'm sorry sir I didn't design it". I hang up and then I realize I have a Ryobi battery air compressor in my tool kit, so 5 minutes later the tire is inflated and I take it to a Firestone store and they fix the flat in 30 minutes.

Am I doing something wrong, is it really that hard to change a flat tire on a Dodge?

rwsmith · Apr 13, 2016

Try a socket wrench...

You should be able to fit a socket with a handle and maybe a bit of a cheater.

I had the same problem with a Cadillac that was screwed INTO the dam hub. Not into the HOLE, but into the hub so you couldn't get a wrench on it. These air wrenches wheel places use are ridiculous. I asked a guy one time not to drive them so tight. He said that the wrench was set. Yeah, I know it's set. Way to high.

I weigh 232 pounds and I have to STAND on the handle and bounce to get ones that would come off loose.

You can get a T-handle for sockets. I used one of those on my water heater.

DWalt · Apr 13, 2016

I saw a T-lug wrench once which took 1/2" drive sockets, so they do exist. I often use a 1/2" ratchet with socket as a lug wrench, but a T-handle is better for leverage. I have a folding T-handle wrench I bought at Harbor freight, and really like it as it stores much more easily in my wheel well.

allthumbs · Apr 13, 2016

And they still use them ! One of the 1st things I did on my 2014 Challenger was change the lug nuts, I highly recommend gorilla lug nuts.

finesse_r · Apr 13, 2016

I thought the lug nut technology was mastered 40 or 50 years ago. Well progress as time marches on.

Alk8944 · Apr 13, 2016

Didn't any of the people you spoke with tell you that the wheel-nut covers are strictly decorative and should be removed before trying to remove the nuts?????? If not they should have! If the wheels were stock, not after-market, odds are the wrench that came with the vehicle would have fit the nuts after removing the nut covers!

allthumbs · Apr 13, 2016

Alk8944 said:
Didn't any of the people you spoke with tell you that the wheel-nut covers are strictly decorative and should be removed before trying to remove the nuts?????? If not they should have! If the wheels were stock, not after-market, odds are the wrench that came with the vehicle would have fit the nuts after removing the nut covers!

I helped a person pulled over with a flat knowing this but most people have no clue or something handy to get that tin cover off.

steveno · Apr 14, 2016

I have never had to used the lug wrench in my 2004 Colorado so I don't know if it works. I do keep a 19 mm deep well socket with a 4 inch extension and used with a 24 inch breaker bar.

Yorkie Man · Apr 14, 2016

Does anyone remember when Dodge had left hand threaded lug nuts? Plenty of broken studs if you couldn't see the "L" stamped in the center of the stud.

sw282 · Apr 14, 2016

Lug nuts on a Chrysler?? Never again...l had a 66 Barracuda once.
Flat tire on the passenger l jack this sucker up and WRING the first
2 OFF! What is going 0n?? So l call my lead pusher at the tire shop..
He tells me the old Barracudas have LEFT HAND threads on the
passenger side.. Who ever designed that?? Wonder how YUGO nuts
were threaded?? OK, now l have 2 broken studs...An unsafe wheel
drum.. And l am late for work..l take it to the lead junkie and BOZO
pulls the drum. Lays it down and proceeds to CRACK the drum with
a hammer and chisel...He tried to knock the old studs out with no
support behind the stud. Ever try and find a brake for a 17 year old
off brand..After almost a week we located one off a 65 Dodge Lancer.
lt really was a neat old car...Bought used as a second car, Even made a
GREAT camper.. Lay back seat down, and panel to the trunk. Sleep out
under the STARS...

Farmer17 · Apr 14, 2016

Alk8944 said:
Didn't any of the people you spoke with tell you that the wheel-nut covers are strictly decorative and should be removed before trying to remove the nuts?????? If not they should have! If the wheels were stock, not after-market, odds are the wrench that came with the vehicle would have fit the nuts after removing the nut covers!

That's the problem the covers won't come off! One of them would actually just spin on the lug nut, and no screwdriver or knife blade can even get underneath the covers to remove them. The guy at the Firestone store who changed the flat said "its an easy solution, just buy aftermarket chrome steel lug nuts from Auto Zone". So you spend $30,000 on a new Dodge and you immediately have to spend a $100 on aftermarket lug nuts. Makes me wonder what else Dodge did that is going to haunt me?

Tom S. · Apr 14, 2016

Yorkie Man said:
Does anyone remember when Dodge had left hand threaded lug nuts? Plenty of broken studs if you couldn't see the "L" stamped in the center of the stud.

The engineering brilliance behind that idea was forward rotation wouldn't cause the lugs nuts to loosen. Perhaps Chrysler engineers back then didn't know you could apply torque principles to lug nuts?

arjay · Apr 14, 2016

Yorkie Man said:
Does anyone remember when Dodge had left hand threaded lug nuts? Plenty of broken studs if you couldn't see the "L" stamped in the center of the stud.

Snapped two studs on the family bus as a kid trying to change a flat.Pop was thrilled [emoji33][emoji57]

Bullet Bob · Apr 14, 2016

What I can't figure out is why auto manufacturers continue to supply manuals with their cars, since it's very obvious nobody reads them.

I belong to a couple of car forums, and I'm often bemused by queries that indicate instructions are a sealed unit. And the shamelessness of the posters - I would be embarrassed to ask something indicating I couldn't or wouldn't read, but that's not the way of most of the world. It's not a youth thing; I had an old friend (who died a couple of years ago) who never read anything. He depended entirely on word of mouth from people "who knew about things".

As to why wheel nut covers are suddenly popular, I have no clue. My new VW GTI has them, but there's a tool in the kit to remove them. My young salesman was stunned to see me look inside the tool kit before I bought the car to make sure everything was there. He said he had never had anyone do that before! The internet is great, I downloaded the manual before I picked out the car so I'd be familiar with it.

bearman49709 · Apr 14, 2016

rwsmith said:
You should be able to fit a socket with a handle and maybe a bit of a cheater.

I had the same problem with a Cadillac that was screwed INTO the dam hub. Not into the HOLE, but into the hub so you couldn't get a wrench on it. These air wrenches wheel places use are ridiculous. I asked a guy one time not to drive them so tight. He said that the wrench was set. Yeah, I know it's set. Way to high.

I weigh 232 pounds and I have to STAND on the handle and bounce to get ones that would come off loose.

You can get a T-handle for sockets. I used one of those on my water heater.

Never had a lug nut put on by any impact wrench I couldn't break free with one hand.Then again I've bent many of the old bumper jack handle/ lug nut wrench's with one hand while trying to remove lug nuts.

ChattanoogaPhil · Apr 14, 2016

You'd think an aluminum decorative lug nut cover would be designed to be removed to change the wheel?

For the first time in 16 years my truck got a flat tire. Easter Sunday. Walked out to the garage in the morning and there it was... flat. Sure enough there's a screw in the tire.

What to do... where's that tire plug kit I bought an eon ago? Oh yeah... used it on the Camry about 10 years back and never replaced it. Got a couple cans of Fix-a-Flat.... eh that'll just make a mess and probably won't work anyway. The floor jack is starring at me like it's never been used for anything other than lifting the ride mower. I have an air impact wrench and deep impact sockets but then I'll have to wrestle with the spare tire under the truck... sigh. I'm thinking that maybe I'll just go back to bed, but then get to wondering how far I might be able to drive if I inflated the tire. I fill it up to 35lbs and go inside for a cup of coffee while congratulating myself on avoiding any work. 10 minutes later the tire is at 30lbs. I'm good.

Who's open on Easter Sunday? Walmart is open on Thanksgiving so why not Easter, right? Sure enough... they're open and so is the auto service department. Eh.... maybe I'll just go inside and watch TV and deal with this Monday. Good idea.

Monday I fill the tire to 40lbs and ride on down to Stevie Ray's Midnight Oil at exit 11 in Ooltewah. I see Stevie and tell him I miss listening to his Saturday radio auto repair show from years ago. He chuckles and asks what's up. Stevie's boys fix the tire and says I'm good to go no charge... spread the word. So that's what I did.

Nevada Ed · Apr 14, 2016

Well at least your Dodge had a spare tire that worked......... didn't it ?? !!
I had a heck of an bummer moment on my first flat !!
How do things like that happen ?

Did love the old 340 Plymouth Duster, though.

Rule3 · Apr 14, 2016

AAA........

About as much fun as the one locking lug nut on my alloy wheels

I removed them and put the regular one back on. I don't live in a wheel snatching area. If they want it they take the whole vehicle!

Bekeart · Apr 14, 2016

NOT always the case

Yorkie Man said:
Does anyone remember when Dodge had left hand threaded lug nuts? Plenty of broken studs if you couldn't see the "L" stamped in the center of the stud.

NOT always the case.

Back in the early 60's I had a 56 Dodge had some of the left hand threaded studs on drivers side stamped L and some stamped R. Same confusing mixture on the passenger side with right handed threads.

Dealer and shop crew just scratched their heads. Obviously stamping and threading were done at different times.

Bekeart

bigchuck83 · Apr 14, 2016

I work in a tire shop and deal with this all the time, the factory lug nuts have caps that are oversized and will make it difficult to remove them. Some Chevrolet vehicles use similar ones. Whoever designed them should be tortured on a daily basis.

Rant Alert! Dodge Charger lug nuts?

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