Sloppy socket fit on lug nuts

[LoudRam]

Just got our new trailer a few weeks ago and we're getting ready to take it out in a couple of weeks for the first time. So I wanted to check the lug nuts and every socket I could find is a little loose. 13/16 is the size that fits the best so I bought a 6 point deep impact socket just for the trailer. That's still a little sloppy. No other size fits better. Is the sloppy fit typical? It's been a while since we got rid of our last trailer and I don't remember the size but I don't remember it fitting this loose.

Edit: All the 13/16 sockets I have fit this way. Both 6 and 12 point. The best fitting socket is an old cheap sparkplug socket but that's only a 3/8 and that a little loose too.

[trail-explorer]

I bet the RV has those cheap lug nuts that have a sleeve over the top of a nut, Mine had those, and sockets fit poorly, and several times they deformed the "cap" and the socket became jammed on the nut.

I'd go buy one piece lug nuts and be done.

[trail-explorer]

MarkTwain wrote:
Lug nut socket. Call your local tire shop about the size. Les Schawb

OP is from New Jersey according to his profile. LS doesn't have stores on the east cost.

[LoudRam]

CavemanCharlie wrote:


Not trying to get in the middle of your guys fight.

But, 20mm is not that awful unusual of a size. It's not super common but, a lot of socket sets would have one.

It's like 11/16 in a American standard set. Some cheap sets don't carry that size either but, a lot of sets do.

You're right it's not a size found in most sets but it's out there. Lowes carried a few 20mm sockets but my old Craftsman set (a large one) didn't have that size. Looking now I've seen them in better impact sets but Harbor Freight sets definitely do not include 20mm. But it was a moot point because 20 didn't work. I'll just get new lug nuts that are truer to size.

[CavemanCharlie]

LoudRam wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:


Gee, go buy one.... Problem solved. Harbor Fright has them everyday.

Gee, Harbor Freight doesn't carry 20mm sockets. If it's not a standard size, they don't carry it. And see my last post.

Not trying to get in the middle of your guys fight.

But, 20mm is not that awful unusual of a size. It's not super common but, a lot of socket sets would have one.

It's like 11/16 in a American standard set. Some cheap sets don't carry that size either but, a lot of sets do.

[dave54]

Could it be the sockets?

Sears Craftsman had a terrible QC problem a while back and their tools were off sized.

[MarkTwain]

amxpress wrote:
Why not have the tires balanced and install new quality lug nuts at that time?

Totally agree! why fool around with lug nuts that create problems or worse yet, be out on the road with a blow out and not able to lossen/tighten lug nuts.

[LoudRam]

I have a torque wrench and I'll be using it.

[BarabooBob]

While you are working on this, remember to properly torque the lugs WITH A TORQUE WRENCH. My trailer calls for 100 pound-ft. I just purchased a torque wrench to keep in my truck for future use on the truck & TT. I also carry a set of deep well metric sockets at all times and a 3 ft long breaker bar.
My F150 requires 150 pound-ft which will wear you out if you are rotating your own tires. That is torquing 24 lugs.

[amxpress]

Why not have the tires balanced and install new quality lug nuts at that time?

[MarkTwain]

Lug nuts! Just go buy all new lug nuts that are standard lug nut size.

[philh]

Probably 3/4"

[SoundGuy]

LoudRam wrote:
The 13/16 doesn't slip when I tighten it by hand. I'm the meantime I'll loosen all of them and torque them back down to make they are torqued correctly and they don't slip.

And retorque them after the first 50 miles.

[LoudRam]

carringb wrote:
I'd go ahead and swap the lug-nuts out. I'm sure the manufacturer sources the cheapest imported lug-nuts they could order on Alibaba. If their dimensional QA/QC is poor, their metallurgy QA/QC probably leaves as much to be desired. I'm not saying all imported hardware is bad, but unknown vendors are hit and miss.

That's what I'll probably do. The 13/16 doesn't slip when I tighten it by hand. I'm the meantime I'll loosen all of them and torque them back down to make they are torqued correctly and they don't slip.

[carringb]

I'd go ahead and swap the lug-nuts out. I'm sure the manufacturer sources the cheapest imported lug-nuts they could order on Alibaba. If their dimensional QA/QC is poor, their metallurgy QA/QC probably leaves as much to be desired. I'm not saying all imported hardware is bad, but unknown vendors are hit and miss.