Just had my ‘15 MKC in for service to replace brakes and rotate tires. I was told that my Lug Nuts have swollen and will need to be cut-off and replaced before they can get to the tires and wheels...an additional cost to me. In all my years of car ownership...never encountered swollen lug nuts before. VERY Disappointed in this news. Has anybody out there encountered this as well ?
Lug Nut Swollen
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As a member of the Ford Escape forum (my previous vehicle), I can tell you that many Escape owners have the same problem. Go to E-Bay or Amazon and look for chrome lug nuts. You can pick up a set of 20 lugs for about $25.00. Problem solved!
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I just ran into the problem today. The lugs have a chrome plated cover over a cheap steel lug nut. Water gets underneath this cover and swells (I suppose from freezing) so a normal metric socket will not fit over them. Design problem, my tire guy says. Happening in a lot of cars he sees nowadays. Ford wants $6.50 per nut for them. We put some cheaper ones on. Pretty poor engineering if you ask me. This tire man has what he called an "extractor" that as he drives it further on with a hammer, it will bite into the nut so it can be taken off.
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I've had the same problem on my Lincoln...and 15 Ram 1500...16 ford escape titanium...my 2007 ford 150 was like that...manufacturers either use ugly steel plain lugs or these chrome clad. Been that way for at least 40 years. My 75 280z had them as did my 78 tbird. They hold fine, so there is no problem with safety. They're just a pain to take off once "somebody" uses an impact wrench on them and over tightens beyond spec. The same thing they do when they change your oil and overtighten the drain and squish the washer. They never balloon on their own from what I've seen. And I've been replacing them for 30 years, so i never would have thought who is to blame until you posted this. So thanks for that!
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Lug nuts
After I complained about my lug nuts the dealer contacted Lincoln and they agree to cover the cost to replace them. I do not allow the dealer to use a air ratchet to remove the lug nuts.
After I complained about my lug nuts the dealer contacted Lincoln and they agree to cover the cost to replace them. I do not allow the dealer to use a air ratchet to remove the lug nuts.
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Check on Amazon. There are plenty of aftermarket chrome one piece lug nuts available. You can get a decent set for about $25.00 (I've bought several sets from DP Accessories.com with good results)
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I've long started replacing OEM lugs on my cars/trucks/crossovers....I usually buy good quality solid steel lug nuts for around $20.00 and never had this happen to me....was hellish trying to get a set of OEM off my cousin's Dodge mini van....I needed up having to hammer force an old socket on the swollen lug before we were able to take it off....we soaked them over night with WD40, and that helped a lot....
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I put new one piece chrome lug nuts on my 17 MKC last year. I have a set of the factory lugs still in good condition. I'll give them to anyone who will pay the shipping costs. PM me your address and I'll let you know how much shipping will be.
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Gone!
swollen nuts
Same issue on my 2017 MKC. Had winter tires changed and went to retorque at home and socket wouldn't fit on three nuts.
Dealer replaced under warranty but not taking a chance of being stuck on the highway with a tire you can't change because Lincoln tried to save $0.25 on a nut. Going to change them all out, but what a joke.
Dealer quoted me $15 per nut for a jobber replacement that won't swell. $300 for nuts?
If anyone has a link to a set they are happy with, please post.
Same issue on my 2017 MKC. Had winter tires changed and went to retorque at home and socket wouldn't fit on three nuts.
Dealer replaced under warranty but not taking a chance of being stuck on the highway with a tire you can't change because Lincoln tried to save $0.25 on a nut. Going to change them all out, but what a joke.
Dealer quoted me $15 per nut for a jobber replacement that won't swell. $300 for nuts?
If anyone has a link to a set they are happy with, please post.
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