Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
(OP)
This subject comes up from time to time. And usually when it does, it falls into the same rabbit hole. Perhaps that is because it never seems to be examined from a common sense, practical standpoint. Everyone always seems to be too quick to pull out their engineering manuals. First off, let's examine the 2 biggest examples that come up against this practice. First is that the use of anti seize products on wheel studs will facilitate the loosening of the wheel nuts attached to them over time. The second is that the use of anti seize will cause over torqueing of the studs themselves. Thereby weakening and or stretching them, to the point of outright breaking them off.
Let's first look at number 1. If the use of the anti seize products would in itself cause the studs to become loose over time, it only stands to reason it would do much the same in most all other threaded applications it was used in. We know for certain that is not the case. Anti seize is used in several other automotive applications without any loosening of bolts or nuts it was applied to over time. Cylinder head bolts. Water pump mounting bolts. Spark plugs, and shock absorber studs and nuts, just to name a few. Anti seize is not only recommended in many of these applications, in many cases it is a must to avoid broken bolts in the future when they are removed.
Now let's examine number 2. In all forms of fastening with threaded nuts and bolts, a lubricated thread will require less torque to achieve the same clamping force, (or "pull" on the stud or bolt), as the same fastener that is used dry. So in this regard the statement is true. The same foot pounds of torque applied to a lubricated thread will achieve a greater amount of stress on the bolt or stud, than the same torque applied to a dry threaded fastener of the same size and type.
This additional force in the case of most automotive wheel studs is around 20% to 30%. So when anti seize is applied, all that is required is to apply around 25% LESS torque to accomplish the same task. The nut will not come loose. Nor will it be subjected to any additional stress. For example, if a dry wheel nut is rated to be torqued at 100 ft. lbs. when torqued dry. Then simply reduce the torque to 75 to 80 ft. lbs. if that stud has anti seize applied to it. Proper torque is what keeps nuts and bolts properly tightened..... NOT rusty, dry threads.
So in conclusion there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with using anti seize on lug nuts and studs. Any more than it is in other applications. It will not only transfer torque easier. It will also prevent rust and corrosion of the threads. And by doing so will facilitate the easy removal of said wheel nuts when the time comes. Without heavy, unnecessary torque that very well might cause the stud to snap off.
I have used anti seize on all of my vehicles wheel lugs and studs for the last 50 years. And I have NEVER had a wheel stud break. Or a wheel nut come loose... EVER. Nor have I ever heard of one doing so. With that said, I have seen on several occasions, studs break off from being frozen, rusty, and corroded. So in closing I will say I will continue this practice, simply because I have never seen, or come across a situation that has shown me it would be better to not.
Let's first look at number 1. If the use of the anti seize products would in itself cause the studs to become loose over time, it only stands to reason it would do much the same in most all other threaded applications it was used in. We know for certain that is not the case. Anti seize is used in several other automotive applications without any loosening of bolts or nuts it was applied to over time. Cylinder head bolts. Water pump mounting bolts. Spark plugs, and shock absorber studs and nuts, just to name a few. Anti seize is not only recommended in many of these applications, in many cases it is a must to avoid broken bolts in the future when they are removed.
Now let's examine number 2. In all forms of fastening with threaded nuts and bolts, a lubricated thread will require less torque to achieve the same clamping force, (or "pull" on the stud or bolt), as the same fastener that is used dry. So in this regard the statement is true. The same foot pounds of torque applied to a lubricated thread will achieve a greater amount of stress on the bolt or stud, than the same torque applied to a dry threaded fastener of the same size and type.
This additional force in the case of most automotive wheel studs is around 20% to 30%. So when anti seize is applied, all that is required is to apply around 25% LESS torque to accomplish the same task. The nut will not come loose. Nor will it be subjected to any additional stress. For example, if a dry wheel nut is rated to be torqued at 100 ft. lbs. when torqued dry. Then simply reduce the torque to 75 to 80 ft. lbs. if that stud has anti seize applied to it. Proper torque is what keeps nuts and bolts properly tightened..... NOT rusty, dry threads.
So in conclusion there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with using anti seize on lug nuts and studs. Any more than it is in other applications. It will not only transfer torque easier. It will also prevent rust and corrosion of the threads. And by doing so will facilitate the easy removal of said wheel nuts when the time comes. Without heavy, unnecessary torque that very well might cause the stud to snap off.
I have used anti seize on all of my vehicles wheel lugs and studs for the last 50 years. And I have NEVER had a wheel stud break. Or a wheel nut come loose... EVER. Nor have I ever heard of one doing so. With that said, I have seen on several occasions, studs break off from being frozen, rusty, and corroded. So in closing I will say I will continue this practice, simply because I have never seen, or come across a situation that has shown me it would be better to not.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
The number of seized wheel nuts/studs I have replaced because they were rusted, corroded, or otherwise not properly treated with anti-seize = too many to count
The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
At least that was true 50 years ago when I worked in a factory cranking out 10,000 axles a day.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
The number of lug nuts I've used anti-seize compound on - 0.
The number of lug bolts I've broken - 0
If I was going to put anything on the threads of the lug bolts on my vehicles, I'd use a low-strength threadlocker. The last thing I'd put on something that would kill my family if it came loose is something to help it come loose.
Edit: I also exceed the torque specs by about 30% every time.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
general consensus is that grease or anti seize plays havock with the torque, because of the excess that comes under the bolt head. This lowers the friction significantly, causing overtorqued bolts (or when using nuts on studs, same principle applies).
Sparingly use of anti seize (making sure nothing comes of the front mating face) causes a slightly higher fastening torque, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
One other observation that argues against using anti-seize - I've never seen a tire shop that does it, nor an OEM.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
I recently took delivery of a pre-owned SUV from a dealership who did just about everything wrong they could have with the wheels.
(1) The wheel studs are lubricated, meaning I can look forward to stretching/breaking one or more over the years. It has happened to me before, and it's not a cheap repair. Regardless, I never permit lug tightening without me personally observing.
(2) The tires are inflated with nitrogen. This has modest benefits, but it's not something one should ever pay for. What nitrogen does is reveal the gimmicky thinking of the dealer. What other gimmicks do they apply in the service bay?
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
Over torqueing dry studs IS over stressing them, period. And is asking for a disaster in the process. Much more so than having a properly torqued wheel come loose from using anti seize. Which doesn't happen. As I said, if anti seize itself caused the loosening of threaded bolts. Spark plugs, cylinder head bolts, and water pumps would be leaking, and falling off left and right. They don't.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
The key is light or sparing use of anti-seize and NOT liberal usage.
Personally, I've done thousands this way and my father probably on the note of tens of thousands this way. Never has he had a complaint of a lug nut falling off or did he notice one was loose at a later date from the use of anti-seize.
The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
The STUDS should be wire wheel brush cleaned, and a light coat of anti-seize applied to the threads of the studs, and not to the mating face as kingnero noted.
The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
As far as overstressing the studs, it depends on whether you're talking about torsional stress or tension stress. Lubricated threads will have higher tension stress at the same torque than 'dry' studs. Overtorquing lubricated studs is a double whammy for the tension stress.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=229718
The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
As far as the increase in tension due to lubricating the threads, using the calculator at Engineer's edge, the tension is fairly low, and doesn't change alot with the coefficient of friction shown for "lubricated" vs. "steel". At 50 ft-lbs of torque on a 1/2" stud, it was about 45ksi for lubricated vs. 36ksi for steel. Several bolt manufacturers show this same approximation, with a factor of 2 difference between "Waxed/Lubricated" and "Plain, slightly oily". Granted, from this article it appears that bearing face friction (in this case, between the lug nut and the rim) is more prominent than the thread friction, so lubricating the threads only should not change the bolt tension substantially (maybe a 10% increase, probably less).
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
There are a few things to consider as pointed out in that old thread. Studs are simply not equal between manufacturers (ahem...Volvo). Also, a California or Arizona car won't see the weather harshness of a farther east car, especially those that are subject to ice melt on the roads (i.e. mag chloride).
I'll still help my old man on an occasional Saturday here and there, and we have seen the early signs of corrosion on the wheel studs on some cars as new as 2014. I will admit however, these instances are far and few in between, and for the most part, the anti-seize stays on the shelf.
The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
Visit S Ontario sometime if you want to see some very crusty 5 year old wheel studs.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
Finally the owner got sick and tired of dealing with this, so he told us in no uncertain terms that he wanted us to apply anti seize to the threads of EVERY STUD on EVERY wheel we serviced. We NEVER had a broken wheel stud after that. And we NEVER had one come loose either. That is what sold me on applying anti seize to wheel studs and lug nuts. I've been doing it now for almost 50 years with no ill effects what so ever.
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs
RE: Use Of Anti Seize On Automotive Wheel Lugs & Studs