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| | | Forums66 Topics128,090 Posts1,056,024 Members48,432 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Oct 2015 Posts: 94 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2015 Posts: 94 | Hellow everyone ,for my 1939 chevy 1.5 ton truck i just put larger lug bolts to fit bigger rims . i went from a 9/16 to a 5/8 bolt on the front only. after driving for 50 miles the front lug nut start to loosen this only started to happen after i did the lug bolt change . i use the same impact wrench and settings for all my vehicles for years , this is the first time i have had any issues. thank you 1pete1 | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | How were the lug studs installed, were they pressed in fully, are you sure of it? Although you do say "bolt" are they common hex head bolts or pressed in studs? If not studs like original that could be the issue. Then use a torque wrench and look up the spec for that size lug nut.
Impact is great for removing lug nuts but not so reliable for installing them.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 | 5/8" lug nuts need about 120 ft./lbs. of torque to stay tight. The purpose of torquing a bolt or nut is to stretch the thread slightly, but not beyond the metal's elasticity. You're probably not tightening the nuts enough. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | My 54/55 2-ton GMC COE's 20" wheels have torque-spec of 250-275 ft-lbs (due to them being self-locking nuts).
Grigg, you might recall those wheels/nuts?
10 nuts per wheel: 5/8"-18 in a 7 1/4" circle (I think) | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Page 36 in this wheel catalog gives various torque specs for different lug nut sizes and mounting details. http://www.accuridewheelendsolution...Accuride-Wheels-Product-Catalog-2015.pdf5/8-18 varies from 130-200 ftlb depending on application 175ftlb might be about right. Yes Tim, I recall them quite well. That was a long evening taking all those wheels off, backing of brakes, installing new front wheel bearings, and washing and greasing the rear bearings. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | I was reading from the last paragraph on this page in the 1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual. I bought a heavy-duty (for me) torque wrench for this purpose. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Those self locking nuts are now hard to find so I'm going to guess the OP has plain nuts after only recently upgradeing to the 5/8" hardware.
We need to hear more about the situation at hand. | | |
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