Wheel lug nut opinions???

hey Guys, I lost a black lug nut cap AGAIN, and I'm sick of replacing them.

Bob had a really good idea about just buying some new lug nuts. I have a "Redfire Metallic" GTP (maroon)

I have a couple options. Buy the single black cap and hope no more fall off. :banghead:

Or get new chrome lug nuts and scrap all them dumb covers.

I'm leaning towards new lug nuts. With the color of my car, do you think regular chrome or dark red chrome lug nuts would look better? I'm leaning towards red only because the wheels are chrome already and it would be nice to accent the body color.

Thanks for your opinions......

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/7582/3ebe1wr3.jpg



http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1214/9b491cq3.jpg

im undecided. the chrome will definately give it a much cleaner look. it will probably be subtle but might look better. on the other hand the red lugs would mostly likely compliment the paint very well, but also may make it look kinda odd... like when people paint all the tiny random things on the interior of their car a different color like vents and little caps and things...if you know what i mean. im not sure but either will look good. good luck deciding ha

Bob had a really good idea about just buying some new lug nuts. I have a "Redfire Metallic" GTP (maroon)

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Tim. :lol:

I prefer the chrome plus I think they will be easier to keep clean versus anodized lug nuts. But red sounds good too. Speaking of which did you see any in black?

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Tim. :lol:

I prefer the chrome plus I think they will be easier to keep clean versus anodized lug nuts. But red sounds good too. Speaking of which did you see any in black?

Nope, Bob, I Didn'd see any black. There were blue, red, gold, and silver.

Tell you the truth guys, I'm sort of leaning towards the red..... I think it would look nice..... But the again chrome... :sunglasse

I'm stumped on why different ones have lost these lug nut covers, I've owned two GP's and the only time any of mine have come up missing is when the dealer didn't replace mine once after installing a wheel hub. I promptly went back and had them replace them. Other than those, mine stay tight and never come loose and fall off.

Yeah, I must be jinxed or something. My G/F has a 2002 and has never ever lost one either. I think the previus owner of my car over tightened all them and they cracked.

When I bought my car, it was missing only two, so I bough two. Couple days later another one fell off, went and bought another, put it on at the dealership, when I got home, I noticed another had flew off. So I put 5 new ones on since I bought the car. (all are on the front passender side so they dont stick out, 1 newer blacker one aginst faded ones)

I would also like to get a set of chrome valve stems installed. When I got new tires put on last winter at Tires Plus I requested a set of chrome v-stems. Those Bozo's put on a set of regular v-stems with little chrome slip sleeves over the top. man was I pissed when I found that out. IDIOTS! :headshake

I'll never go back there. Plus talk about evercharge....

It is your decision Tim. Post some pics if you decide to go through with it.

If you go red anodized, you may want to buy a special non-marring lug nut socket (they have hard plastic inserts to eliminate metal to metal contact) or you'll ding up the anodizing after only a couple of tire rotations. I would have to see them in person, but since your car is dark red, the red may look cool.

Try using some silicone rubber on the caps, that is what I used and have not lost any due to driving. But I have lost 1 wheel completely and half of another wheel. Both wheels are on the driver's side. I believe that some SOB took them. I am going to just replace the lug nuts with the chrome lug nuts. That really pissed me off. I had the wife's truck and some one tried to break in. The driver's side door has 2 deep gouges by the door handle, looks like someone tried to pry the handle to gain access.

Yes Bob, I will post a picture of which ever I decide.

Thanks for the heads up on the socket Rich! Is this something I can get at any auto parts place or is it a tool dealership (snap-on) only sort of socket?

What about these...

http://www.pfyc.com/pc/GN1014/GPEXT/Chrome+Covers+for+OEM+Lug+Nuts.html

I have all my black caps except for one. I like the idea of CHROME:cool: I'm thinking if I lose a couple more I am going to do this. It goes with the 5 spoke chrome rims on the car.

The red ones do look impressive but I just don't know how much they will show driving down the road.

Yeah, I must be jinxed or something. My G/F has a 2002 and has never ever lost one either. I think the previus owner of my car over tightened all them and they cracked.

When I bought my car, it was missing only two, so I bough two. Couple days later another one fell off, went and bought another, put it on at the dealership, when I got home, I noticed another had flew off. So I put 5 new ones on since I bought the car. (all are on the front passender side so they dont stick out, 1 newer blacker one aginst faded ones)

I would also like to get a set of chrome valve stems installed. When I got new tires put on last winter at Tires Plus I requested a set of chrome v-stems. Those Bozo's put on a set of regular v-stems with little chrome slip sleeves over the top. man was I pissed when I found that out. IDIOTS! :headshake

I'll never go back there. Plus talk about evercharge....
Well overtightening and cracking the covers by the previous owner would explain it . That Means you're not hexed Tim, just ignorant people out there...

yeah, in fact, I'm sure there were some over tightened ones. There were a few I would tighten and they woulndt get very tight and then back themselves off. Like a stripped nut. I did use the silicone idea, but it got messey because I remove my wheels often.

I think I'm gonna go with the chrome ones, I dont want to buy the red ones and then have some idiot mar them up because they used a impact wrench to take them off.

I think I'm gonna go with the chrome ones, I dont want to buy the red ones and then have some idiot mar them up because they used a impact wrench to take them off.

I agree probably a good decision on the chromes. These were installed about 4 years ago on one of our Regals. They hold up fairly well against the weather elements and depending on the quality will take punishment from air impact tools.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/DSC04234.jpg

Nice picture Bob! I wish my wheels were'nt as pitted and looked like that.

Great MN winters and salt on the roads. I can't wait untill I have enough saved up to leave this state.

Got them in the mail today. I went with chrome. I think they look pretty good.

Here's a Before shot with the stock lug nuts and black plastic covers.

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2457/img1324dd5.jpg

Here are some pictures of the lug nuts. I got Gorilla brand from ebay. I ordered a set of 24 just in case I lose or break a couple I have spairs.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1534/img1325qq7.jpg

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2280/img1326uc4.jpg

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/3553/img1329sx4.jpg

Here are a couple pictures of the lug nuts on.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5848/img1331kl4.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2183/img1348fs5.jpg

How much did you pay for the lug nuts. It will cost $15.00 for the black lug nut covers, that is for 5 of the black covers.

30 shipped for the whole works.

Sweet! Looks great.....

Well that settles that problem, I will order chrome lug nuts.

Sweet! Looks great.....

Thanks!

Well that settles that problem, I will order chrome lug nuts.

I will see if I can find you the link to the ones I bought on EBay. They seem to be very high quality for the price.

Best thing is when I want to remove the wheels, no more removing little lug nut caps first.

Thanks. Or I could drive up behind the cheddar curtain and borrow yours.:evillol:

Thanks. Or I could drive up behind the cheddar curtain and borrow yours.:evillol:

:nono:


Mine arent locking lug nuts, but dont tell anyone.

Here is a link to the auction I bought. I guess I lied, they were closer to 35 shipped than 30. Opps, my bad!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180295359997

Looks much better Tim! We must have the same obsessive-compulsive disorder! :rofl: I can’t stand to look at dirty, neglected wheels. I started with this clean-up project last year and the pics below will show the progression from start to finish. Next step for you, would be a good cleaning & painting of the rotors & calipers. (See last pic) BTW, good choice on the chrome nuts, I tried gold anodized ones on my other PA several years ago and about 6-months later, I threw them in the garbage. :mad:
Original dirty wheels & lug-nuts with grey/black plastic caps. :puke:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2391/151eg7.jpg

Wheel clean-up with chrome lug-nuts installed & orginal spun aluminum center caps. :p
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9415/p1110py5.jpg

Polished center caps with detail of Buick emblem in center! :icon16:
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9170/4086yr2.jpg

Final product :iceslolan
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/2483/40816ct7.jpg

Next project; 18" Lucerne wheels; what do you think? :dunno:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3870/1306lucerne18inchccctirta3.jpg

Raysbestos Advanced Technology black coated rotors & caliper clean-up with black epoxy coating.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4513/brakes5cj1.jpg

They are $39.95 now.

Next project; 18" Lucerne wheels; what do you think?

Nice Job on the buick wheels. They look much better after all the work.

The lucerne wheels would be a nice touch. Maybe use them for summer time, and the original wheels with snow tires for the winter. I wish I had a second set of rims (I would if I had somewhere to store them)

I was going to paint all my rotors and calipers, but was a little iffy about it.

How did you get yours to look so nice? All of mine were new last year (rotors, calipers, hoses, pads) and now look like crap because of the rust.

I'm afraid I will paint something I shouldnt. But I was thinking maybe getting silver caliper paint for the caliper bridges and black for the actual calipers. What do you think? Cheezy or good?

Problem there again is its my DD, and I'd have to finish all this painting in one day, maybe put 4 coats on all within an hour of eachother, and then let them all dry two hours before I put it all back together.

What would you recommend for caliper paint?

They are $39.95 now.

How about these? Better snag them before someone else does. Problem is, this is a set of 20, you wont have any left over like I do. But I'm sure if you lose one I'll be able to help ya out. :wink:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-BULGE-ACORN-GORILLA-LUG-NUTS-WHEELS-12MM-1-5-CHROME_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713Q2em153Q2el1 262QQcategoryZ33749QQihZ022QQitemZ350103286253

Maybe use them for summer time, and the original wheels with snow tires for the winter. I wish I had a second set of rims (I would if I had somewhere to store them)I could use them year around, no snow where I live! How did you get yours to look so nice? All of mine were new last year (rotors, calipers, hoses, pads) and now look like crap because of the rust.No snow, no salt = no rust! I'm afraid I will paint something I shouldnt. But I was thinking maybe getting silver caliper paint for the caliper bridges and black for the actual calipers. What do you think? Cheezy or good?Silver wheel paint would look good on the brackets with black calipers. No need to use caliper paint!
What would you recommend for caliper paint?Black epoxy for the calipers, works best in harsh environment. Serveal years ago, I did an upgrade on my Z28 calipers & rotors. I polished the caliper steel brackets & calipers and painted with clear coat wheel paint. They still look new like in the pic below; of course it has never seen snow or rain! :shakehead


http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6483/4100812zd9.jpg

yes it does look really nice! wanna do mine? I'll pay you!

It's a long ways from Maple Lake to Atlanta! :eek7: If you were a little closer, I would say yes. BTW, I lived in St Cloud & Albany during the mid 80's, so I am familiar with the winters there! :yikes: :lol:

Would powder coating the caliper work, and is it more durable.

:confused:

Why power coat the caliper? Most of have used the Duplicolor caliper paint kits available at any major auto parts store. See link.

Duplicolor Caliper Paint Kits (http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliper.html)

The reason why HotZ28's rotor is powder coated is they came that way from the manufacturer which is Raybestos now a division of Affinia Under vehicle Group. Power coating is standard on the Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors. However, the problem is from a certain cutoff date this year they are MADE IN CHINA. For example the Raybestos Professional Grade rotors do not have the powder coating and premature rust is a major complaint so that is why Raybestos decided to powder coat the Advanced series. But there is only a few dollars price difference between the two.