Split Lug Nuts

While changing my tires noticing that a significant amount of lug nuts (the collar type, 6lug) have split. Like between 1 and 3 per wheel are showing a crack originating at the most distal part of the outermost assembly. Background:2016 stock dcsb 4x4 trd sport with 6 lugs. I run stock alloys in the summer, steelies in winter. No lift, no spacers, daily driver so nothing more than dirt roads..

Thoughts?

 

Couple questions.....

Do you use these lugs on the steelies in the winter?

Are you torquing to the proper level of 83 ftlb or going by "if tight is good, then tighter must be better" mindset?

Otherwise. If this were me. I'd order new lug nuts for all the alloy wheels and a proper set for the steelies.

 

Steel wheels and alloys use different lugs

 

My guess is either you or whoever has been working on it has been using too short of a socket. You want one that goes the full depth of the lug nut. Too short of a socket causes the lug nut to twist, causing the stress to crack.

 

Stock Toyota lug nuts have a chrome “shell” over the steel core. It’s actually common to have this shell split or round off making it a pain in the ass to remove them without getting creative. Judging by your location and the picture I’d say corrosion (and liberal use of an impractical wrench) sped that process up for you. Since they’re starting to split I’d say it’s only a matter of time before the shell rounds off and you’re going to have a helluva time removing them in the future.

You can get replacement stock style lugnuts online that are solid steel and don’t have the outer chrome shell and that’ll eliminate the problem.

FWIW, the stock lug nuts are design to work with both alloy wheels and steel wheels. Stock alloy wheels are hub centric and use the mag seat (green arrow) of the lug but while stock steel wheels use the small tapered end of the lug nut as the conical seat (red arrow) needed to center the wheel on the hub. They sit a lot prouder when used with steel wheels, but they still work as designed.

 

Thanks. I do my own work, socket might be it but I use a deep impact socket so seems unlikely.

The steelies are the only likely culprit but still wrapping my head around a failure mechanism. The steel rims sit on the interior sleeve much like the stock alloys.

Has anyone see anything like this before? I dont want to dump a bunch on new lugs just to have em all split again, rather ditch the alloys and go with the cheaper lugs.

 

This is how I interpreted it.. thanks for the info im already having issues with them seating in the socket so this explaination makes a lot of sense to me.

 

Is it possible corrosion is under the outer shell is causing expansion cracks?

 

Yes.

 

Currently on second can of wd40, BFH, and a spin around the block with cracked lugs in an attempt to get the rim to break from the hub so corrosion is a familiar problem lol. The last rim took a cold chisel between the hub and alloy, forgive me for I have sinned.

 

Go buy a new set they are not that expensive.

 

I’ve had this happen a bunch of times. I’ve always been able to get the lugs off by hammering a smaller socket on over the shell of the lug.

 

Yeah, I know, Mom.

 

Clean your dam room !! Lol

 

Caused by tightening with impact gun?

 

I'm going to go with "what is ice and corrosion for $800 Alex."
Ice can crack anything when it freezes and constant freezing thawing, not to mention corrosion, will ruin the caps.

 

I think so. @GHOST SHIP is correct, there is an outer shell, and as you can see by the pics, it is soft, the impact beating the hell out of it has him needing new ones.

 

This is the answer. Probably rust jacking between the steel lug and chrome cap, which is probably why it was hard to get your socket on and off.

 

possibly the dissimilar metals are causing the issues..

 

Whoa! Hopefully you have freed the rim from the hub by now. If not I have used a sledgehammer and wood block to knock rims off in the past.
the truck needs to be very secure on jack stands and the wood positioned to distribute the force against the rim not the tire.

Going forward I suggest a light coat of grease or fluid film on the mating surfaces. Typically that’s a no no, but with that kind of corrosion in your area may be warranted.
As for the lugs, I agree with others. It’s common for the outer case to split. Just order up a whole set and keep any of the “good” old ones as spares.