Lug Bolts--replace or re-chrome?

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Ted Adlam - 07 Nov 2004 03:32 GMT

Anyone else have chrome peeling from their lug bolts??? Scottsdale Ferrari
price is $120 per lug bolt which seems just a tad exhorbitant, sensible
choices seem to be finding a plating shop to re-chrome the lugs or buy from
a non-Ferrari source. Anyone tried www.italiancarparts.com? They offer
lugs at $38-39 each which is a veritable bargain compared to Ferrari prices.
They show both "long" and "short" lugs, no idea which I have...evidently
mine are the same for front and rear wheels since the badly de-chromed lug
"migrated" from a front to a rear wheel during my recent major service. And
no wheel has fallen off so far which is a good thing.

Here is a pic of the worst lug example, chrome almost 100% peeled from the
front. Several others have partial chrome missing and the rest are showing
some chrome cracks.
http://members.cox.net/ted.adlam/328_lugbolt.jpg

Thanks, Ted.

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MC - 07 Nov 2004 04:22 GMT

> Anyone else have chrome peeling from their lug bolts??? Scottsdale Ferrari
> price is $120 per lug bolt which seems just a tad exhorbitant, sensible
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Thanks, Ted.

Yikes! That almost looks like curb-rub damage. Have you thought about
having them re-chromed, just at a body/paint or a tire shop? I have to
think that would cost less than replacing them .... or are they damaged
as well? They didn't look like they were damaged.

You know, MCPD and Iain are both lug nuts themselves ... perhaps they
will have some good advice for you ...

MC

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matt borland - 07 Nov 2004 23:25 GMT

> > Anyone else have chrome peeling from their lug bolts??? Scottsdale Ferrari
> > price is $120 per lug bolt which seems just a tad exhorbitant, sensible
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> think that would cost less than replacing them .... or are they damaged
> as well? They didn't look like they were damaged.

Rechroming would be done at a dedicated chrome shop,
since the equipment to do it is expensive and very environmentally
unfriendly. Many chrome shops get shut down due to violations
and re-open later under new names due to the toxic materials they
handle.

I would look into having them rechromed, then clean the threads
up real good before installing them. You might also inquire as to
what thread the lug bolts are (12mmx1.25, 14mmx1.5, etc), measure
how long the bolt is, and check whether or not it has a conical seat
(basically a seat beveled at about a 30-45 degree angle) or flat seat.

If you give me that information I will check to see if an aftermarket
supplier makes a lug bolt that will fit. Not likely, but worth a shot.

> You know, MCPD and Iain are both lug nuts themselves ... perhaps they
> will have some good advice for you ...
>
> MC

He's right there.

-Matt- "..."

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Iain Miller - 08 Nov 2004 00:18 GMT

> Yikes! That almost looks like curb-rub damage. Have you thought about
> having them re-chromed, just at a body/paint or a tire shop? I have to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> You know, MCPD and Iain are both lug nuts themselves ... perhaps they
> will have some good advice for you ...

Oi, I heard that !

...and I'll have you know the lug nuts on my car are all still more or less
immaculate (!)

The "security" bolt on the left front of my VW is another story however - I
managed to strip it today....ho hum!

I can't believe you can't get some chrome nuts for less than $120 each (!).
Maybe try asking a question here-->
http://www.hamletcg.co.uk/qv/qvimenu.htm. They would be able to tell you if
there was any special "specification" to to these. They could probably sell
you some & ship 'em over for a lot less than $120 each!

I.

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Harold Adrian Russell Philby - 07 Nov 2004 22:50 GMT

>Anyone else have chrome peeling from their lug bolts??? Scottsdale Ferrari
>price is $120 per lug bolt which seems just a tad exhorbitant,

...Simply indefensible.

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