loose lug nuts

chevyltz3500 · June 25

I have a 2018 k3500LTZ with aluminum factory wheels. 18 inch tires. The lug nuts loosen up after a tire rotation and I am have retorque the nuts about every 100 miles. They are torqued to 140 ft lbs. The Chevrolet dealer says they have 11 K3500's doing this. They do not have a fix. The have recommended getting new wheels. All the trucks that are having an issue have the same factory polished aluminum wheel. GM part number 84397983.

I am wondering if any one else is having this issue ? I have 3 duramax trucks, 2009, 2018 and a 2022. The 2018 is the only one with a problem so far.

Can anyone recommend an aftermarket 18 inch wheel ?

Coastie05 · June 25

Man, I would report that to the IIHS. Sounds like a major safety concern and buying aftermarket rims shouldn't be the solution.

chevyltz3500 · June 26

42 minutes ago, Coastie05 said:

I agree, this is a serious issue.

davester · June 26

maybe make sure both the hub and the rim surfaces are flat and corrosion free?

I know for both my '04 and '12 3500, which are both duallies, I've had the rear wheel lugs loosen sometimes, after tightening, then driving a bit and then re-torquing them. The fronts also sometimes, but much less common vs the rears.

And if you have the flanged flat face (vs the acorn style) lug nuts, make sure the flange part can spin easily. I spray some fluid film on the outside and work it into the groove until the flange can spin easily, making sure not to get FF on the threads. This seems to have helped with the lugs getting properly torqued, so they stay tight.

newdude · June 26

Any grease on the stud threads of any kind?

Wheel studs should have NOTHING on them for proper torquing and so the nuts don't back off.

Are all of the mating surfaces clean? So wheel, rotor and hub?

We've had plenty of trucks at work with that wheel, this is a first to me. Makes me think they've got a lube tech putting anti-seize on all the wheel studs or some kind of grease, and they need to stop doing that. To have 11 other trucks with the same exact problem.

Edited June 26 by newdude

chevyltz3500 · June 29

I just purchased 4 new aluminum wheels. The tech at the chevrolet dealer used a grinder to clean the rotors to make them clean and flat again. the Rotors had been installed 4 days earlier, There is transfer from the aluminum wheel to the rotors.