[schulte]

I've taken off the plastic lug caps on my '04 2500HD 4x4, I just think the bare axles look better. I'm going to wirebrush and paint the rear axle hubs because they've already rusted a little, from condensation I'd assume. I'm wondering what type of grease or water displacer is best to use on the inside of the lugnuts to keep them from corroding and siezing to the truck? Regular automotive grease?

 

[SCQTT]

Me too.

I have ran them bare on two trucks for about 5 years without problems.

 

[ZL-1]

You can put a small amount of Never Sieze on the inside of the rim where it contacts the hub, so the rim will come off easy, on the lug nut threads, just wire brush them to get off excess rust off, and maybe a little white grease after you torque the nuts on. Do not put any grease or lube on the studs before you torque the nuts on, because you change the torque specs with the grease.

 

[schulte]

You can put a small amount of Never Sieze on the inside of the rim where it contacts the hub, so the rim will come off easy, on the lug nut threads, just wire brush them to get off excess rust off, and maybe a little white grease after you torque the nuts on. Do not put any grease or lube on the studs before you torque the nuts on, because you change the torque specs with the grease.

I thought there might've been an issue with greasing nuts like that; regular grease or oil would effectively perform the opposite function of something like Locktite.

 

[ZL-1]

I thought there might've been an issue with greasing nuts like that; regular grease or oil would effectively perform the opposite function of something like Locktite.

The correct way is to have the studs clean and dry so you can torque the nuts to the proper value. If you put grease on the studs before you torque, the numbers will increase a lot.

 

[Grit dog]

Not to discount what you guys are saying about greasing the lugs, as I know it will alter the torque readings, but I've put anti-seize on the wheel lugs on every vehicle I've owned for 18 years now and never had a problem w/ nuts loosening on their own.
BTW, I've also never torqued lugnuts to spec, just get them good and tight and call it good.
If you live where there's alot of snow/rain/roadsalt/mag chloride, etc, a little grease on the lugs goes a long way towards being able to get them loose easily.

 

[ratlover]

antisieze

I also hear great things about a product called "fluid film" from the plow guys.

Yes it will change your torque value. Ever look at the specs for head studs? It lists the torque specs for dry, using special "moly lube" and ussualy regular oil or something.