Ive had my lug nuts come loose on my car three times. Twice where I lost one or two lug nuts and the wheel has been kinda wobbly. First time it cost me $100 bucks to figure out the noise at the dealership and to replace 2 lug nuts. Next time, prolly about 3 or 4 months later, same thing. Not sure whats going on. I have not had any work done on the car besides the oil changes on the first two times... but this last time, I have my tires rotated and boom, it happens again about 2 months down the road. One nut lost, and a couple loose. I watch them tighten the nuts and even mention to my mechanic about the problem. So, not sure what the problem is... any thoughts? I don't think my wife is trying to kill me.... although the life insurance policy was just up'd a little bit.

 

Is it the same wheel everytime? Probably has bad studs and you could be putting them on too tight which ruins the lug nuts.

 

One possibility may be that if the tech who rotated the tires put any anti-seize on the studs and was not careful - the anti-seize can get on the conical surface of the lug nut and allow it it to vibrate loose.

It's also accepted practice by reputable tire shops to have the car brought back in 100-500 miles after rotating to have the lugs re-torqued. I do my own and keep checking them every 500 miles until I get no movement. Generally - the second time does the trick.

 

Very strange. I have never had a lug nut work loose in 63 1/2 years of driving.

I think the manual calls for 85 footpounds of torque on the 7th gen Maxima. But I have always (probably incorrectly) associated overtorquing with rotor problems and broken lugs in the past, so have torqued only to 80 footpounds the last twenty years or so. My son torques only to 70 footpounds on his TL, and has never had a lug nut come loose (or any kind of rotor problems).

Overtorquing with these alloy wheels can damage the wheels. If the mechanic left his torque wrench setting on 125 footpounds or so from having torqued on some steel wheels, he will have damaged your alloy wheels.

I would certainly try what grizzsdad is doing, and retorque a few hundred miles after a wheel has been off.

 

Is it the same wheel every time? Is this happening with OE wheels or aftermarket?

 

Never heard of that happening. Keep us posted on conclusion

 

do you feel any kind'a wobble in the car?