Wheel nuts cracked

[Dropsix]

Had a look at my wheels today and noticed that 80% of my wheel nuts are all cracked. It just appears to be the chrome cover on them. Would the dealer replace these under warranty?

 

[pm26]

Did someone use air impact gun on these and overtightened them? They may ask you that question first.

[The Zip]

That's a bad looking lug, don't assume it's the chrome. Be careful driving until you get them checked out by the dealer or tire shop

[Bonker]

Over torqued for sure these are unsafe

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I'm with pm36 and bonker on this. If only 1 or 2 were like that then it would probably be bad lugs, but being that about 19 or 20 are cracked then it had to of been an impact wrench. So I'm not sure if they will replace them under warranty. They may still do it since it wouldn't be your fault personally, but usually if it was caused by someone rather it's the owner or not it's usually hard to get it done under warranty. It doesn't hurt to try though because you never know.

[Dropsix]

These We're removed with an impact but put back on with a torque wrench and torqued to spec by me.

[POS VETT]

Bring up the issue with your dealer and see what can be done.

[tbarn]

According to PI0655A this can be caused by using too short of a socket.

 

When removing wheel nuts with stainless steel caps, using a shallow socket may crack the cap causing corrosion underneath the cap and nut.

Recommendation/Instructions

Use a socket with depth that covers the complete surface area of the wheel nut and follow Service Information (SI) for correct wheel nut torque specifications.

 

 

Warranty? Maybe. Depends on the dealer.

[KMGZ400]

It's just a cover its not the lut nug itself... Have to Hand tighten them with care to prevent it from happening.

[pm26]

I had covered lug nuts on my Mazda Protege years ago. Some incompetent character removed them with an impact wrench and used a socket that was too short. What that did was make a bunch of indentations on the top of the lug nut cover. It did not crack anything, just visually ruined the lug nuts.

[txchevy4ever]

Specs are 140 ft lbs

[Retired Bob]

I wonder if this information is 'common practice' knowledge for services that respond to road service issues like a flat tire swap. Lets say a road service call is necessary and you call AAA or OnStar, etc - would the repair person who shows up to put on the spare tire know the proper method to remove the flat tire and install the spare - or is this GM process unique to GM pu trucks?

[newdude]

It has to do with the depth of the socket used. If it is not deep enough it will over time twist the chrome cap and stess it to the point of cracking. The socket used should be able to bottom right out. The deeper the socket the less likely this would happen. We see this all the time (they use the same nut on other vehicles as well).

 

Just noticed tbarn posted the same info...

[Dropsix]

Well, I touched the wheel nuts once to loosen with a socket not deep enough. I tightened them by hand and with a torque wrench.

 

Lesson learned.

[Dropsix]

According to PI0655A this can be caused by using too short of a socket.

 

When removing wheel nuts with stainless steel caps, using a shallow socket may crack the cap causing corrosion underneath the cap and nut. Recommendation/Instructions

Use a socket with depth that covers the complete surface area of the wheel nut and follow Service Information (SI) for correct wheel nut torque specifications.

 

 

Warranty? Maybe. Depends on the dealer.

That's fair, but do they assume everyone just knows this? I surely can't be the only one who had no clue. Worst part is I did tighten by hand and torque to spec. Just didn't know about the socket length. Clearly if I had that socket laying around I would have just used it.