Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Discussion on wheel & tire issues
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CrashTestDummy
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Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by CrashTestDummy »

I'm wanting to put a better wheel nut on our car. I absolutely do NOT like those cheesy chrome covers they mold over the factory steel nuts. They bend, flex, and eventually peel off the nut, leaving you with a nut that now no longer fits your factory lug wrench.

I've found that the chrome Doorman replacement lugnuts look like they'll fit fine, but they're a different socket size (3/4" vs. 13/16"/21mm for the originals). So, before I go trying to pack a pull handle and socket into the spare tire well, does anyone know of a satisfactory replacement for the OEM lugnuts that look like OEM lugnuts, but are actually one-piece, instead of covered? Thanks.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
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mercialogo
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Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by mercialogo »

I was lucky. the GF got new wheels for her 2010 Equinox. I got her OEM Wheels and lug nuts. The lug nuts are very beefy one piece chrome ones. Don't know if that helps or not.
1991 Honda Night Hawk 750
2000 Silver Trans Am (RIP)
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Extreme
2013 Silver Caprice PPV
CrashTestDummy
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Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Based on the posting from here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2002, I grabbed a set from the vendor noted there, and over the weekend I installed them on the car. They fit and look great. They look exactly like the OEM lug nuts, but don't have that thick 'foil' covering that always leads to heartache down the road. The bonus is that they use the same socket size as the OEM units use, so there's no need to carry an extra pull handle and socket.

A quick comparison:

Image

The stock wheel with the OEM lug nuts:

Image

And the new lug nuts installed:

Image

Unfortunately, they were too shallow to also fit our Tahoe PPV, but I may have found a set of Gorilla Nuts that may work. I have a set on it's way now, and will hopefully have some to test by mid-week.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
FzCobra
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Location: DFW Tx

Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by FzCobra »

Are the 9C1 center cap covers held on by a seperate screw and not the lug nut covers?

My 9C3 wheel covers are held on by the lug nut covers, which screw onto the externally threaded lug nuts.
I'd like to replace the caps\covers with polished or black, but can't find any.

Are the lug nut covers 27mm ?
-Rob
2012 9C3 Mirage Glow Metallic
CrashTestDummy
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Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Just saw this query. Yes, the 'hub caps' are held on by three bolts each. Three of the spots between the lug nuts are for bolts, the other two are just caps. You can remove the hub cap with the lug nuts in place.

The only thing I have with lug nut covers on the lug nuts is our '02 GMC, but I don't remember what size they are. I'm thinking they're 22mm.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
20129C1
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Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:12 pm

Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by 20129C1 »

Gene,

Reviving an old thread, but how are those lugs working out? Looking at getting the same for a set of Holden wheels.
2007 Saudi/UAE Caprice
1993 Camaro B4C M6 Purple Pearl Metallic
1993 Camaro B4C A4 Medium Patriot Red
2013 Camaro SS M6 "Panther"
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Fudgehog
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Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by Fudgehog »

I bought the McGard set for our cars. Have them on the truck as well. Guaranteed to never rust, peel, chip, crack, and are triple chrome plated. 22mm hex, 1.6" in length, perfect imo. If you don't like locking lugs, you can get a set without them. $64 bucks for the set.

McGard 84525
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CrashTestDummy
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Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by CrashTestDummy »

20129C1 wrote:Gene,

Reviving an old thread, but how are those lugs working out? Looking at getting the same for a set of Holden wheels.
Sorry, don't venture down into the tire section much. :o

They're holding up fine, but I've probably put 1000 miles on the car since the install, and the car stays in a garage when not in use. The wheel nuts on the Tahoe, though, have been around the block a few times, and are also holding up fine. They're the same wheel nuts.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
20129C1
Posts: 186
Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:12 pm

Re: Better OEM-looking wheel nuts for the Caprice?

Post by 20129C1 »

Thanks for the info Gene. I went ahead and bought them last week. I'll report back once I get the suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires installed.
2007 Saudi/UAE Caprice
1993 Camaro B4C M6 Purple Pearl Metallic
1993 Camaro B4C A4 Medium Patriot Red
2013 Camaro SS M6 "Panther"
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