RIGHT HAND LUG BOLTS/STUDS----A BETTER WAY FOR BILL

["Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>]

Many cars did this in the early years - I know for sure that Chrysler,
Packard, Ford and Studebaker did - but I am not aware that GM ever did.  The
reason is that the minuscule rotary flex of the wheel on the lug bolts is in
the direction to loosen a fastener with right handed thread on the left side
of the car when the car is moving forward.  This was more of a factor when
the lug bolts/nuts were the only locating device on the wheel system (in
other words, where the center rabbetted hole was not a tight fit to the
hub).  Modern vehicles are pretty careful to locate the wheel precisely on
the hub by careful sizing of the wheel opening and machining the mating
surface of the hub, so that the lug nuts are asked primarily to hold the
wheel on, not to combat the motion caused by the force of rotating with all
that weight on it.

I don't think this is much of an issue with cars built since the 50s or so,
in fact the practice of using left handed threads on the left side of the
car pretty much faded away by the late 50s.  I guess Chrysler kept on with
it longer than the others.

Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randy Martin" <TheKarFixr@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: IML: RIGHT HAND LUG BOLTS/STUDS----A BETTER WAY FOR BILL


From: "Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>
OK, Bill, but be a little wary.  Those left handed lug nuts were there for a
> reason.

 I am curious.. Could you elaborate on what the reason was that Chrysler
used Left-handed lug studs and nuts on the left side?  Does anyone know if
GM or Ford did this during those years?  Thanks!
Randy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill McPheeters
  To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 5:47 PM
  Subject: IML: RIGHT HAND LUG BOLTS/STUDS----A BETTER WAY FOR BILL


  Here's what I did Dick.
  Everything is in good condition, wheels are straight (no wobbles, lateral
runout) lug bolts & nuts are new on drivers side & when bias ply tires are
rotated each wheel is torqued to 95 lbs., & I watch the entire activity on
all 4 wheels.
  I considered the yellow paint inside each wheel cover but two things
changed my mind: 1-most of these guys are on a dead run all the time & pay
no attention to any thing.
  2-being the former owner of a Hub Cap, Wheel Cover & OEM factory steel
wheel Store I always remove & install my own wheel covers so they wouldn't
see the writing any way.
  I made the change 5 years ago last august & have never found any variation
in the lug nuts on either side of the car using my torque wrench which I
also take to the tire shop for them to use.
  We've been on 3 or 4 car club multi day cruises in northern California &
all were mountain runs with no problems, all this since the change over. Our
1956 Imperial is next.
  I'm happy with it & will post any future problem.
  Bill & Jan McPheeters, Shaver Lake, Ca

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>
  To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 3:49 PM
  Subject: Re: IML: RIGHT HAND LUG BOLTS/STUDS----A BETTER WAY


  > OK, Bill, but be a little wary.  Those left handed lug nuts were there
for a
  > reason.  Double check your wheel lugs each time you put air in the
tires,
  > especially if you are running radial tires - as they put more stress on
the
  > wheel.  Yes, I know modern cars don't bother about this anymore, but I
also
  > know that I lost a wheel once for exactly this reason - the left side
rear
  > drum had been changed to right hand lug bolts - and that damn thing
worked
  > itself loose as I was going down a hill.  I was astonished to look out
the
  > side window to see my wheel passing me by on the downhill!.
  >
  > Dick Benjamin
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Bill McPheeters" <janshaverlake@xxxxxxxxxx>
  > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  > Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 11:20 AM
  > Subject: IML: RIGHT HAND LUG BOLTS/STUDS----A BETTER WAY
  >
  >
  >
  > There is another way.
  > My tire shop screwed up Left Hand Lug Bolts on my 56 Dodge & the Manager
who
  > wrote the order wrote "left hand lugs nuts on drivers side" at my
request
  > then got busy & failed to tell the worker to remember the left hand
threads
  > on the drivers side, ruining one wasn't enough so the worker ruined all
five
  > on the front wheel before telling his Boss he couldn't get the nuts off.
  > We got that worked out & he offered to pay to have the left hand bolts
  > replaced if I knew where to take the drums, which I did.
  > I know the owner of the brake repair machine shop in another town & I
knew
  > he had lug bolts, nuts & a swedging machine..........Bingo, I now have
Right
  > hand threads on the drivers side of my 56 Dodge & will soon have the
same on
  > the drivers side of the 56 Imperial. Cost for bolts, nuts & swedging was
  > $13.00 per drum.
  > With the young people working in today's tire shops it seemed to me like
the
  > thing to do.
  > Bill & Jan McPheeters, Shaver Lake, Ca
  >
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>
  > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  > Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 9:08 AM
  > Subject: IML: Left Handed Lug Wrenches Was:" 62 Imp bumper jack"
  >
  >
  > > The left hand threads were used on the left side of the car, and the
end
  > of
  > > the stud or the head of the bolt will have an "L" stamped into it.
  > >
  > > If you have such a car, be sure to have the service manager write this
  > > information on the work order when you have any work done at a shop
where
  > > the mechanics still have color in their hair.  They won't have ever
seen
  > > such a thing as a left handed lug nut, and they will crank away with
their
  > > 200 foot-pound air impact wrench until they have stripped all your
drum
  > > threads - then tell you you have to buy a new drum.  Been there -=
done
  > > that!
  > >
  > >  I also write it in fluorescent yellow lacquer inside the hub caps on
my
  > > cars with left handed threads!   Still, you have to watch them - the
  > habits
  > > of a lifetime are hard to break.   If you hear some mechanic
ratcheting
  > away
  > > on your wheel nuts, shout at him to stop!.
  > > Dick Benjamin




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