Loose rally wheels - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**mikey531** · 07-25-2009, 06:35 PM

I have rally wheels on my truck and I have been slowly venturing out on longer drives. Today I felt a vibration in the steering wheel and discovered the acorn lug nuts were loose on all 4 wheels ! There were some that I couldn't turn with my fingers but some I turned with my fingers ! I wasn't far from home so I nursed it back to the garage. I torqued all the lugs to 85 FT LB and went for a 7 mile drive and the fronts were loose again. I took the wheel off and checked to make sure the acorn nuts were not bottoming out but everything seems normal. I did take off the center cap and torqued them to 100 FT LB. Anyone else had this problem or what did I miss? Thanks!

JimKshortstep4x4 · 07-25-2009, 06:50 PM

I have had this problem with freshly painted wheels. What worked for me was retorquing them after a short drive.

Jim

Longhorn Man · 07-25-2009, 10:06 PM

i've seen this on late 70's to mid 80's monte carlos and clones with stock steel wheels. The holes for the lugs were a little 'wallered' out and caused the issue.

chevy_mike · 07-25-2009, 11:51 PM

Also make sure the wheel is actually touching completely on the hub face. I have seen that happen, where the center bore is just a hair too small or there is some rust that causes the wheel not to sit all the way down, even under torque.

Take some chalk and put it on the hub face, put the wheel on and tighten, then pull the wheel off and see if it transfered evenly on the back side of the wheel.

Also, old stud and/or lug nuts can have the threads stretched over time and then you will never get a torque to hold. Replacing one or both is the only fix.

My .02 worth. Good luck.

**michael bustamante** · 07-26-2009, 12:00 AM

I think it might be a combination of the 2 opinions, old strtched logs and new acorns might not ever seat right in the long run and old rallys might have stretched holes, either way its frustrating

**mikey531** · 07-26-2009, 01:09 AM

I did check to make sure the wheel was seated on the hub, the holes in the wheels are perfectly round and I checked the the lug to the hole and they look like they fit the taper. I am going to buy new lug nuts tomorrow and see what happens.

Thunder Head · 07-26-2009, 07:49 AM

If you have drum brakes, the studs attaching the drum to the spindle will have to be removed. I have had this issue on two different trucks. The wheels do not clear these studs. Just another possibility

**mikey531** · 07-26-2009, 07:53 AM

Thanks ! I do have drum brakes I will check that out later this morning !!

**mikey531** · 07-26-2009, 08:45 AM

That is the problem ! I took the hub off and I am now grinding down the rivets. This forum is the best thing that ever happened to the 67-72 trucks ! Thanks !!!

07-25-2009, 06:35 PM	#1
mikey531 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Exeter, NH Posts: 794	Loose rally wheels I have rally wheels on my truck and I have been slowly venturing out on longer drives. Today I felt a vibration in the steering wheel and discovered the acorn lug nuts were loose on all 4 wheels ! There were some that I couldn't turn with my fingers but some I turned with my fingers ! I wasn't far from home so I nursed it back to the garage. I torqued all the lugs to 85 FT LB and went for a 7 mile drive and the fronts were loose again. I took the wheel off and checked to make sure the acorn nuts were not bottoming out but everything seems normal. I did take off the center cap and torqued them to 100 FT LB. Anyone else had this problem or what did I miss? Thanks!

07-25-2009, 06:50 PM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Loose rally wheels I have had this problem with freshly painted wheels. What worked for me was retorquing them after a short drive. Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

07-25-2009, 10:06 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Loose rally wheels i've seen this on late 70's to mid 80's monte carlos and clones with stock steel wheels. The holes for the lugs were a little 'wallered' out and caused the issue.

07-25-2009, 11:51 PM	#4
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: Loose rally wheels Also make sure the wheel is actually touching completely on the hub face. I have seen that happen, where the center bore is just a hair too small or there is some rust that causes the wheel not to sit all the way down, even under torque. Take some chalk and put it on the hub face, put the wheel on and tighten, then pull the wheel off and see if it transfered evenly on the back side of the wheel. Also, old stud and/or lug nuts can have the threads stretched over time and then you will never get a torque to hold. Replacing one or both is the only fix. My .02 worth. Good luck. __________________ . 1965 C10 Panel, Tiki Express http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=506580 SOLD 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often...

07-26-2009, 12:00 AM	#5
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,859	Re: Loose rally wheels I think it might be a combination of the 2 opinions, old strtched logs and new acorns might not ever seat right in the long run and old rallys might have stretched holes, either way its frustrating __________________ 1967custom

07-26-2009, 01:09 AM	#6
mikey531 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Exeter, NH Posts: 794	Re: Loose rally wheels I did check to make sure the wheel was seated on the hub, the holes in the wheels are perfectly round and I checked the the lug to the hole and they look like they fit the taper. I am going to buy new lug nuts tomorrow and see what happens. Last edited by mikey531; 07-26-2009 at 01:10 AM.

07-26-2009, 07:49 AM	#7
Thunder Head Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: north Georgia Posts: 36	Re: Loose rally wheels If you have drum brakes, the studs attaching the drum to the spindle will have to be removed. I have had this issue on two different trucks. The wheels do not clear these studs. Just another possibility

07-26-2009, 07:53 AM	#8
mikey531 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Exeter, NH Posts: 794	Re: Loose rally wheels Thanks ! I do have drum brakes I will check that out later this morning !!

07-26-2009, 08:45 AM	#9
mikey531 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Exeter, NH Posts: 794	Re: Loose rally wheels That is the problem ! I took the hub off and I am now grinding down the rivets. This forum is the best thing that ever happened to the 67-72 trucks ! Thanks !!! Last edited by mikey531; 07-26-2009 at 10:12 AM.



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