Topic: Jeep Alloy Wheels

[Clip]

My '94 YJ has Jeep H 1512 15 x 7 Alloy wheels. They look fine, but they are a bear to remove and put back on. I need to use 200+ pounds of torque to remove the lug nuts. I can torque them down to 80 or 90 ft-lbs, but I need a 3' breaker bar to loosen them once I drive my jeep. Also, there are cavities between the lug holes on the back side of the wheel that make it very difficult to line up and install back on the jeep. My main use for my jeep is driving in the sand down at Padre Island National Seashore on the Texas coast. I dread having a flat tire. I need to replace these wheels.

I have no need to lift my jeep or go with larger tires. I have 235/75-15's on it now and they are plenty large enough. I figure sticking with 15 x 7's and going with cheap steel wheels, but before I do anything, I thought I'd get some other opinions. I've done enough things that "if I had only known", I either wouldn't have done them or I would have done something different.

This is what my current wheels look like.

[oldjeep]

A little antiseize on your wheel studs and the cone part of the lugnuts would take care of most of your problems.

[Jeffy]

My '94 YJ has Jeep H 1512 15 x 7 Alloy wheels. They look fine, but they are a bear to remove and put back on. I need to use 200+ pounds of torque to remove the lug nuts. I can torque them down to 80 or 90 ft-lbs, but I need a 3' breaker bar to loosen them once I drive my jeep. Also, there are cavities between the lug holes on the back side of the wheel that make it very difficult to line up and install back on the jeep. My main use for my jeep is driving in the sand down at Padre Island National Seashore on the Texas coast. I dread having a flat tire. I need to replace these wheels.

I have no need to lift my jeep or go with larger tires. I have 235/75-15's on it now and they are plenty large enough. I figure sticking with 15 x 7's and going with cheap steel wheels, but before I do anything, I thought I'd get some other opinions. I've done enough things that "if I had only known", I either wouldn't have done them or I would have done something different.

This is what my current wheels look like.

200lbs-ft?  That's why overtight especially for aluminum wheels.  Typically aluminum wheels get torqued anywhere from 90-120lbs-ft.  Even steel wheels which get torqued higher, aren't anywhere near 200.

[neale_rs]

Are you sure you aren't getting sea salt on them, making them get stuck?  You might want to try putting oil on them and wiping them so only a very light coating remains, I've done this and they have never come loose when properly tightened.

[oldjeep]

200lbs-ft?  That's why overtight especially for aluminum wheels.  Typically aluminum wheels get torqued anywhere from 90-120lbs-ft.  Even steel wheels which get torqued higher, aren't anywhere near 200.

He's torquing to 80-90lbs and it's requiring 200lbs to remove.   Nothing more than dissimiliar metal corrosion.

[Jeffy]

He's torquing to 80-90lbs and it's requiring 200lbs to remove.   Nothing more than dissimiliar metal corrosion.

Ah, then go with the anti seize like what was recommended.

[Clip]

A little antiseize on your wheel studs and the cone part of the lugnuts would take care of most of your problems.

I'll try the antiseize on the cone part of the nuts. That could be it. I already tried it on the threads. It feels like it is binding until the lug nut no longer makes contact with the wheel.

[oldjeep]

Same thing happens on my Spectra 5,  when I put my winter tires on I had to jump up and down on one so hard I thought I was going to snap the tiny little wheel stud.