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Super thin lug nut socket

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signcrafter

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Had a buddy with a jeep wrangler that had aftermarket rims on it stop over for a rotation. The holes for the lug nuts were very small. The nuts were m14x1.5 with a 19mm head. I have at least a half dozen 19mm lug nut sockets and none of them would fit. I had to use my 3/8" drive chrome socket with m18 mid torque gun. I have a 1/2" drive "thin wall" lug nut sockets with the plastic protective sleeve over it and even when I took the sleeve off it wouldn't fit. I tried googling "thin wall lug nut sockets" and only came up with ones similar to what I have with the protective sleeves on them. Trying to find one that will for sure fit before playing the guessing game and hoping whatever I order will fit. Anyone run into something like this before and find a super thin socket for aftermarket wheels?
 
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Ole Slewfoot

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I asked my local tire guys and they hooked me up for 2 or3 bucks. They've also set me up weith spline and key sockets when something comes in missing them.
 
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dchawk81

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signcrafter said:
Had a buddy with a jeep wrangler that had aftermarket rims on it stop over for a rotation. The holes for the lug nuts were very small. The nuts were m14x1.5 with a 19mm head. I have at least a half dozen 19mm lug nut sockets and none of them would fit. I had to use my 3/8" drive chrome socket with m18 mid torque gun. I have a 1/2" drive "thin wall" lug nut sockets with the plastic protective sleeve over it and even when I took the sleeve off it wouldn't fit. I tried googling "thin wall lug nut sockets" and only came up with ones similar to what I have with the protective sleeves on them. Trying to find one that will for sure fit before playing the guessing game and hoping whatever I order will fit. Anyone run into something like this before and find a super thin socket for aftermarket wheels?
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Did you try googling "ridiculously thin wall lug nut sockets"? If that doesn't work perhaps "stupidly thin wall lug nut sockets" or "this is getting out of hand lug nut sockets."
 
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Voi

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For my UTV I found a sleeved 17mm at a local auto parts store. Removed the sleeve and it fit.

I'll see if there is a brand stamp on it.
 
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signcrafter

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wyattrose69 said:
What kind of wheels are these? If I were you I'd double check that he has the right taper lug nuts, I almost bet theyre wrong.
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How does one check the taper of them being in a recessed hole that you can't see anything? He said when he ordered his rims they sent these new lug nuts with them.
Big Bad Dad said:
19MM or 3/4" is pretty much a standard size for the lug hex on great number of vehicles. Sounds like these aftermarket wheels are not designed very well.
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I would agree.
Drunkonunleaded said:
Sunex has an "extra thin" 19mm.
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Thanks. I was going to order one but one review says the OD is 26mm which equates to 1.023". I just measured my 3/8" drive chrome socket I used and it's .985" and barely fit. So I don't think the sunex will work. But for 7 bucks I will give it a try. But my go to 19mm lug socket is 1.045" and it did not fit.
 
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Earp69

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Sep 20, 2016
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Yeah, call wheel manufacturer or distributor and figure out what's going on. Just because they came with them doesn't mean they're right. Somebody grabbed the wrong box and sent them with these wheels
 
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2ndGearRubber

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The thinnest impact sockets I've seen are the koken sleeved sockets specifically for wheels.

For "goober" wheels, which I basically describe as any aftermarket wheel the general public would buy, I pick up 12 point deep chrome from lowes or whatever and consider them consumables.

Typically their taste in wheels is awful, so I don't mind going without the plastic sleeve.
 
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joecon

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Oct 4, 2010
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I have a set of Gray sockets they is extra thin, they have the sleeves on them. I also have a set of extra thin sockets that are Sunex
 
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marinusdees

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Edgewood, Washington
signcrafter said:
How does one check the taper of them being in a recessed hole that you can't see anything? He said when he ordered his rims they sent these new lug nuts with them.

I would agree.

Thanks. I was going to order one but one review says the OD is 26mm which equates to 1.023". I just measured my 3/8" drive chrome socket I used and it's .985" and barely fit. So I don't think the sunex will work. But for 7 bucks I will give it a try. But my go to 19mm lug socket is 1.045" and it did not fit.
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Do you have a grinder??
 
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dchawk81

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I'd go against tradition here and just say keep using chrome. If they shatter the shrapnel will be contained within the small access hole anyway. Maybe you could put a little cocktail umbrella around it just in case. Lol.
 
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MJK

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Maybe something has changed. Dunno

You got the mitutoyo measurements from the one in my garage that I use for my aftermarket wheels.
 
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JBradley500

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Jul 19, 2013
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My wife's winter tires on her van use an aftermarket wheel that have incredibly narrow wells for the lugnuts. I have to either use a Snap-On or SK 3/8" drive 19mm or 3/4" chrome socket otherwise id never get the wheels on/off. No other socket brands that I have will fit. Its frustrating but it is what it is i guess.
 
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charbar

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I see it all the time. I have absolutely no problem using a chrome socket on an impact to zip them off. Just did it yesterday on a Ram 2500 actually and some of those lug nuts were on so tight my older Dewalt 1/2" impact wouldn't even touch them- had to grab the new '1400 ft lb' Dewalt.
 
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jimindm

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Des Moines, Iowa
I have the snap on ones. Have not found a wheel that they wouldn't work on

I think I bought the first ones individual sizes, but have bought flip sockets since at an auction.
 
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The Critic

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Wrench97

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The Critic said:
These?

19: https://shop.snapon.com/product/Deep-Thin-Wall,-mm-(1/2")/1-2"-Drive-6-Point-Metric-19-mm-Flank-Drive-Thin-Wall-Deep-Impact-Socket/SIMMF19A

21: https://shop.snapon.com/product/Extra-Deep-Thin-Wall,-mm/1-2"-Drive-6-Point-Metric--21-mm-Flank-Drive-Thin-Wall-Extra-Deep-Impact-Socket/SIMMF21A

22: https://shop.snapon.com/product/Extra-Deep-Thin-Wall,-mm/1-2"-Drive-6-Point-Metric--22-mm-Flank-Drive-Thin-Wall-Extra-Deep-Impact-Socket/SIMMF22A
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I have them mostly use the 21mm it breaks on a regular basis.....................
 
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signcrafter

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After some more digging I came across a splined set that I believe is meant for rims like these. I talked to buddy some more and guess he bought these rims and the guy he was on the phone with from the company asked if he wanted lug nuts and he said yes. I don't get why an aftermarket rim company wouldn't send the right lug nuts along with the rims they sell. I got a set on order so will swap them out when they get here. Thanks for the advice.

splined lug nuts.jpg
 
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plinker

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Northern Wi
The spline type lug nuts are somewhat common around here, I picked up a "key/socket" for the 12mm thread size from Dorman that fits them and tacked it into a 1/2 drive socket. Considerably thinner than a Matco non slip socket (which also works with these style nuts).
 
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charbar

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I wouldn't necessarily say there is a right or wrong lug nut, but I do know a lot of the aftermarket wheels are designed with the splined lugnut in mind. The splined socket suffers from the same issues as any other thin walled socket though-with enough use they will eventually deform or end up cracked. Most I have had are definitely not very impact friendly-so if you are using a breaker bar to loosen the spline lug nuts then whats any different than having to use a chrome socket with a breaker bar on the hex lugnuts that are already on it? Im not a real big fan of them honestly, all my vehicles have hex lugnuts even though the wheels 'should' have splined lugs-according to some :)

If you're looking for ease of removal/installation (i.e. using an impact) then a chrome socket on a hex lugnut is going to hold up way better than a spined setup. But if everyone is so scared to use a chrome socket on an impact to pull wheels every once in awhile then I guess it is a moot point.
 
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tulowd

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Toronto Canada
Pretty basic solution is to grind the outside of a 19mm/3/4 or whatever socket on your bench grinder while rotating it. Not that hard but wear gloves and safety glasses plus long sleeves n pants. Usually the wall thickness can be reduced sgfnificantly on either a chrome socket (which tends to be thinner) or the impact version which is usually thicker and softer. Be smart and use a torque wrench to tighten them. If it became super thin to fit, DONT use an impact gun at all. Also, if there is clearance, wrap the socket with one turn of tape or heatshrink to protect the wheel finish.

IMG_6476.JPEGInkedIMG_7445.jpgIMG_7555.JPEG


My Enkei RPF01s are 17x 11" (they were widened by Weldcraft) and painted a House of Kolor 3 stage Harley Davidson pearl charcoal. Still only weigh 18 lbs each! They are fitted with 315/35/17 at all four corners, they come off the car at least 40x a season for brake, suspension and hub inspections, so the spline drive (On a Milwaukee 18V Fuel or SnapOn air gun) have served me very well over the 10 yrs I've been running them.
it's a JDM/Ricer/Tuner thing but they work great AND make them more theft proof without a wheel lock. If you get spline drive, get a spare socket for when you break the one that comes with them.



Easy peasy.
 
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