Poor Wheel Nut Design?

[MrT]

I was recently watching someone trying to change the wheel on a Galaxy. The locking wheelnut needs an matching adaptor to undo it. This was used and as soon as force was put on the nut, it came apart.

 

The locking wheel nut consisted of two parts, the nut that goes into the wheel and the part with the "secure" shape cut into it. The part with the secure shape cut into it fits into the main nut body using a spline about 10mm diameter and a penetration of around 5mm. This spline just kept slipping out as it appears to be insufficient for the job. I would have thought a single casting would have been more sensible.

 

Has anyone else experieced this and what did they do about it?

 

As an aside do all Ford locking wheelnuts use an identical adaptor? If so there seems little point to them.

[_dg]

They are standard security bolts, not only on the Galaxy, but for most cars and sold in accessory shops.

 

They are not all the same as this would defeat the security aspect, but there would obviously be a limited amount of differs.

 

Steady pressure should move a stubborn bolt, but a quick twist of the wheel brace can make the adapter jump and wear the edges.

 

A bit of 'copper slip' or other anti seize paste on the threads will allow easy removal in the future.

 

If the bolt head is worn too much, then they would have to be drilled out

[MrT]

This bolt is very different to my own Galaxy bolt. It is the two part construction and the joining of the two bolt parts than concerned me. This bolt failed as the bolt head came out of the bolt body, this was not the adaptor slipping on the bolt head or the wheel brace slipping on the adaptor.

[seatkid]

Why does this topic makes me very nervous....? :D

[Dally]

I was recently watching someone trying to change the wheel on a Galaxy. The locking wheelnut needs an matching adaptor to undo it. This was used and as soon as force was put on the nut, it came apart. .......

 

.....Has anyone else experieced this and what did they do about it?

 

As an aside do all Ford locking wheelnuts use an identical adaptor? If so there seems little point to them.

Mr T

 

My previous 2.3 had these types.

 

I had to have them drilled out and new ones fitted! (under warranty). New ones were of a different design - better than previous ones!!!

 

Ps good job it happened whilst at home, what if I had a flat tyre with the kids on board, in the middle of the night etc, etc, etc....

[Nick]

Look on eBay for new locking whell nuts, could be as cheap as