bchecker wrote:
Side note: How do you remove the darn chrome lug nut covers? I have tried every tool I own. Can you just torque over the top to check specs? When I pull rim for new tires and bearing repack I will get a set of solid lugs.
After being assured by the dealer that my Airstream lug nuts didn't have a cap, I found a socket that fit "perfectly" and proceeded to rip off the "permanently" attached cap, revealing the nut underneath. Apparently, the "perfect" fitting socket didn't make it all the way to the base of the nut in the deep aluminum wheels. I went looking for a "thin walled" socket with no luck. Before I ordered one on line, I did find a 19 mm that fit but only the 12 sided socket. The 6 was too fat to bottom out. I found a fit by trail and error. One other tip is to visit custom wheel shops and get a socket designed for deep seated lug nuts. I know they exist but didn't run across one, even in the "serious" auto parts stores.
PS: The nut with the cap ripped off was 1mm smaller than the 19mm socket. The auto shop loaned me an 18mm to get it off then, I replaced it with a new lug nut.