Lug nut question

[L321]

I have a 91 Ranger with steel wheels and looking at a set of factory aluminum wheels from a 98 Explorer. Will I need new lug nuts? If so what type do I need and where is the best place to get them? Thanks!

 

[509lifted]

for one search and two no you wont need new ones

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The answer is... it depends.

It depends on what kind of lug nuts you have and what center caps (if any) are being used with each wheel. Most of the older Rangers, Bronco IIs and the early Explorers used center caps that attached to the rim for both the steel and alloy/aluminum rims and they all used the same chromed closed end acorn nuts - IIRC they were a 1/2" x 20 thread.

A lot of the newer Rangers and Explorers used a center cap for both steel and alloy/aluminum rims that attaches to the the lug nuts themselves. They will not grab and hold on a chromed lug nut, they were designed to grab onto a shouldered acorn nut (the lug nuts are the same thread and the same bevel where it meets the rim). So depending on what center caps and what lug nuts you have right now will depend on if you need new ones or not. One thing that could be done is if you need to change to the shouldered acorn nuts is to go to a junkyard and see if you can get some rather than buying new ones.

^^^ Old style lug nut/standard chrome lug nut

^^^ Lug nut for the new style center caps

 

[kunar]

The answer is... it depends.

It depends on what kind of lug nuts you have and what center caps (if any) are being used with each wheel. Most of the older Rangers, Bronco IIs and the early Explorers used center caps that attached to the rim for both the steel and alloy/aluminum rims and they all used the same chromed closed end acorn nuts - IIRC they were a 1/2" x 20 thread.

A lot of the newer Rangers and Explorers used a center cap for both steel and alloy/aluminum rims that attaches to the the lug nuts themselves. They will not grab and hold on a chromed lug nut, they were designed to grab onto a shouldered acorn nut (the lug nuts are the same thread and the same bevel where it meets the rim). So depending on what center caps and what lug nuts you have right now will depend on if you need new ones or not. One thing that could be done is if you need to change to the shouldered acorn nuts is to go to a junkyard and see if you can get some rather than buying new ones.

^^^ Old style lug nut/standard chrome lug nut

^^^ Lug nut for the new style center caps

+Rep for this post.

moved thread to the wheels forum.

 

[adsm08]

They will all work to hold the wheels on. Some just look nicer than others. Mine is currently a hodge-podge of lug nuts, it looks ugly, but my wheels stay on.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

+Rep for this post.

moved thread to the wheels forum.

Many thanks, just trying to be helpful!

 

[L321]

Thanks for all the help. I went and got the wheels today and they have the center caps that snap onto the lug nuts, the ones I currently have are screwed to the rims. Guess I will pick up a set of the shouldered nuts in the next couple of days.

 

[L321]

One more question, looking at lug nuts and does anyone know the difference in DORMAN 611-171 and 611-199? Specs look the same, one just looks smoother from the pictures.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

One more question, looking at lug nuts and does anyone know the difference in DORMAN 611-171 and 611-199? Specs look the same, one just looks smoother from the pictures.

I was wondering that myself. If the question is still up in the air on Tuesday, provided I remember, I shall attempt to discover the difference.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Apparently the difference is, the 611-199 is roughly 1/8" shorter than the 611-171. The difference in height is on the rim side of the lip, so I'd guess there might be different center cap heights or something. Not sure how to determine which would be the correct one, but I'd guess that the taller one should work fine either way.

 

[L321]

Apparently the difference is, the 611-199 is roughly 1/8" shorter than the 611-171. The difference in height is on the rim side of the lip, so I'd guess there might be different center cap heights or something. Not sure how to determine which would be the correct one, but I'd guess that the taller one should work fine either way.

Thanks for all the help. I picked up a set of the Dorman 611-199 on ebay for 11 bucks and they worked perfect. Local junk yard wanted $20 for used ones if they had them. Now I just need to decide if my 2.3 automatic can turn the 235/75/15 tires that I have on it now.