How to Install Lug Nuts

Installing lug nuts is a rather simple process, but it is crucial to do it properly to make sure your wheels are safely secured. Improperly installed lug nuts can result in a serious accident. Here is a general guide on how to install lug nuts.

Before You Begin

• Lug nut installation by a professional mechanic is highly recommended. Improper installation can result in an accident while driving.
• Always use new lug nuts when installing new wheels.
• Do not use lubricants on lug nuts or hub studs. This may lead to loss of torque or lug nut failure.
• Make sure that both lug nut and hub stud threads are free of rust, corrosion, burrs, fractures or damage.

Confirm Lug Nut Fitment

Make sure you have the right lug nut fitment for your vehicle and wheel application. Failure to use the correct lug nuts will result in unsafe driving conditions that can lead to wheel loss while driving. Always use lug nuts specifically designed to fit your vehicle and wheel application.

Prepare for Lug Nut Installation

After confirming your lug nut fitment, prepare your vehicle and wheels to install the lug nuts.

• Park your vehicle on a hard and level surface and apply parking brake.
• Using a lug wrench with a proper socket, loosen the lug nuts, but do not remove them from the wheel.
• Raise up your vehicle as per your vehicle owner's manual.
• Carefully remove the lug nuts, then remove the wheel.
• Inspect all lug nut, hub studs and mounting surfaces to make sure there is no corrosion, rust, fractures, burrs or damage. Clean if needed.

Install Lug Nuts

• Place the wheel onto the hub studs. The wheel has to make full contact with the mating surface of the hub's plate.
• Screw on the new lug nuts onto studs, making sure that they are threaded on properly. Tighten each lug nut with your hand one by one in criss cross or star pattern. See the lug nut torque sequence chart below.
• When you cannot tighten the nuts with a hand anymore, use a lug wrench to tighten them to meet a minimum thread engagement. See the recommended minimum thread engagement chart below.

  Lug Nut Size	Number of Turns
  M14x2.0	6 - 7
  M14x1.5	7.5 - 9.5
  M14x1.25	9 - 11
  M12x1.75	6 - 7
  M12x1.5	6.5 - 8
  M12x1.25	8 - 9.5
  1/2"-20	8 - 10
  5/16"-18	6 - 7
  7/16"-20	8.5 - 9
  9/16"-18	8 - 10

• Once all lug nuts have been tightened and the wheel is sitting flush against the hub surface, lower the vehicle to ground and tighten all lug nuts using a calibrated torque wrench to the proper torque specifications as indicated in your vehicle owner's manual. Apply torque evenly by repeating the criss cross or star pattern until the desired torque is reached.

After Installation

Re-torque all newly installed lug nuts after the first 25 miles of use to ensure a safe and comfortable drive.

Tips and Suggestions

Never drive with a missing lug nut - because of the extra force exerted on the wheel, the pressure can damage the wheel bearings, studs and cause other lug nuts to fail, resulting in wheel failure while driving. Replace the missing lug nut as soon as possible.

Always install lug nuts with a calibrated torque wrench. Using a regular lug wrench or air impact wrench can result in undertorquing and overtorquing.

If your wheel application uses lug bolts, learn how to install lug bolts.

All listed guides, data and/or calculations are for informational purposes only. LugBoltPattern.com does not warrant or make any representations regarding the accuracy of or the results of the use of this information.