2002 Tahoe Z71 17" wheel Lug Nut size

[sgiangregorio]

I just picked up a 1/2" air impact wrench to make tire rotations a bit easier on my trucks. The lugs on my Tahoe (with 17" rims) are labeled METRIC (makes sense since it's an American truck  ??? ).

 

I don't have a metric set that large, so I want to buy just the one metric socket I need to do the Tahoe. I fitted SAE sockets to it, and 13/16 is too small, and 7/8 fits, but is a little loose.

 

Anyone know what size it is for sure?

 

Thanks

[RyanbabZ71]

we just had this discussion somewhere.  I use 7/8 on my truck and have since new (have had the wheels off many times).  I wanna say a 22mm is also close but it was looser (is that a word?) than the 7/8

[sgiangregorio]

I just found a site that does conversions. Since the 7/8" was a bit loose, I figured whatever the metric conversion was, it would be the conversion rounded down.

 

7/8" = 22.225mm so it would make sense that it's a 22mm, a bit smaller than the 7/8". But you say the 22mm was looser than the 7/8"? How can that be? 22mm = approx 13.8/16", so it should fit tigher than the 7/8 (14/16").

 

No?

[RyanbabZ71]

Makes sense but the 7/8 seemed to fit mine fine.  22mm seemed to not fit quite as well.  Dont know why i even asked my dad (mechanic) and he said use 7/8

 

I havent rounded them off or anything yet

[miclri]

Yeah, I just asked the same question about a week ago. The consensus was 7/8" which worked just fine. The 22mm socket was loose too (go figure).

 

FWIW I just bought a set of Metrinch sockets. One socket will handle both SAE and metric. (They're supposed to catch on the flat part of the nut so as not to round the corners). JC Witney has a 48 piece set for $80.

[sgiangregorio]

Ok then, 7/8 it is.

[sgiangregorio]

I just called the dealer. They said 22mm. According to them, 7/8 will work, but if you use it with an impact wrench, you could very well strip the corners off the nuts. They said 22mm is a bit smaller than 7/8 as I thought. That's weird that you guys found 22mm looser than the 7/8.

 

Oh well, I'll just buy a set of std and metric impacts. That will take care of it.

[westex39]

The lug nuts are 22 mm = .86614".  

                      7/8" = .87500"

To get mm converted to inches use this formula.  Millimeters times .03937".  example:      22 mm

                                 X  .03937"

                                  __

                                   .86614

Hope this helps.

[miclri]

Wish I had an impact wrench. Whether 7/8" or 22mm it was one tough nut to crack (x 20).

[Tucson_02Silverado]

The official description of the lug nut is M14x1.5mm hex size 22mm.

 

If you can find them, there are nylon lug nut protectors that fit in the socket so that the nut does not get marred.  Normally they take up 1/16".  Maybe that'll tighten up the play with a 22mm socket.  Without the insert 7/8" seems to fit the best.

 

In any case only use a 6 point socket not a 12 to lesson the chance of stripping.

 

One inexpensive set example, but they don't have 22mm

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=40035

[sgiangregorio]

Not to beat a dead horse, and at this point it doesn't matter since I know 7/8 will work, but I just don't understand how 7/8 can fit better than 22mm when the conversion t metric of 7/8" is larger than 22mm.  See westex39's post for specifics. Weird.

[Import Hater]

22mm is the best way, but you can get away with 7/8" too.  And either way you go, don't use a 12 point socket.

 

Rob

[dougmac]

Not to beat a dead horse, and at this point it doesn't matter since I know 7/8 will work, but I just don't understand how 7/8 can fit better than 22mm when the conversion t metric of 7/8" is larger than 22mm.  See westex39's post for specifics. Weird.

My 22mm fits better than my 7/8" socket. The variance you see in this post is probably due to the different manufacturing tolerances of the sockets. Not all tool manufacturers use the same fit when they build sockets. You will even see some variance in socket fit in sockets of the same brand.

 

Doug