Alloy lug nuts - grease or not?
 

I fitted some nice alloy lug nuts to my FD the other day. I was going to copper slip the threads but the instructions said not to lubricate. I am really not happy about that as alloy on steel. Plus corrosion spells bad news to me. Am I okay to go ahead with a small bit of copper slip do you think and just check tension from time to time?

Your lug nuts came with instructions!? That's fancy! I vote for just use the anti-sieze. They torque up better and like you say will keep the corrosion off.

Use a little anti sieze. They don't want you using it because it effects the torque values and alloy lugs strip easily.

I don't recommend anti seize or lube in general on fasteners that are supposed to fasten something indefinitely. Especially lug nuts and wheel studs.

Anti seize and lubricants will make the knurls slippery and affect torque values and also make it easier for those fasteners to loosen from general use - i.e. driving the car

On a related note, I noticed that the knurls of the wheel studs on my car were full of gunk collected over the years. I got a hand held brass wire brush and brushed all the gunk out then carefully sprayed them down with brake clean. Carefully b/c brake clean will screw up paint real quick!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5f92dcb968.jpg

I bought a set of aluminum lug nuts. When they arrived I couldn't believe how light they are!

I only use them at the (dry) track though. For the street/grime/puddles/etc, stock ones are best, IMO. Your concerns about corrosion are spot on, and no way am I going to grease my lugnuts and make it easier for them to work themselves loose.

Aahh. So the jury is out then we have about a 50-50 split! I am nervous on the copper slip side but also don't want the things seizing on! Car will be weekend toy only and bit huge miles so maybe I use a light coat and check them every week?
would a dry film type lube like a ptfe spray maybe be better?

If it is a weekend toy put steel lugs on the car. Alloy lugs are throw away items in my opinion.

If you use anti sieze use it very sparingly. I would do what the manufacturer says though.

I've been using these and recommending them to all FD owners that get Fikses through me for many years now:

SplineDrive Lug Nuts

Zero issues with removal due to rust etc and no need whatsoever for anti-seize or grease. I agree with Alberto--- I wouldn't be comfortable blasting down the highway or around a track at triple digit speeds after lubing up wheel studs.

Give them a shot, they work well and look pretty damn good too :icon_tup:

Have never used any lube on the studs, always pros and cons, but from the FSM:
Removal and Installation
Tighten the lug nuts to the specified torque in a crisscross fashion.
Tightening torque:
88-118 Nm (9-12m-kg, 65-87 ft-lb)

Caution
a) The wheel to hub contact surface must be clean
b) Never apply oil to nuts, bolts, wheels; doing
so might cause looseness or seizure of the lug nuts.

Maybe it's just my thinking..But If the nuts are hard to get on and off,then maybe they Won't come OFF when you are driving!
As long as they thread on properly I would be worried about more important things..
...Like why do they call it "hamburger" when Cows are not made of pork?!!

you shouldn't use lubricant on wheel studs even if they weren't alloy.

if you don't like that, maybe you shouldn't be using them.

These look okay.. Might be my phone but I cannot see pricing? Also do you have. Set there and know the OD of the spline socket for them? I need tuner nuts and not sure an external drive nut will fit?
cheers
Lee

I had Work RS-R aluminum lugs on a previous car and never once had an issue with removal. Never used any lube, and I never would consider it.

Those come with a thinwall key. A 19mm or 21mm socket will work.

I grabbed a set of the improved racing lug nuts when they were on sale. Very high quality and super lightweight. I saw no need to worry about galvanic corrosion due to the excellent anodized coating used on them.

Have not had an issue yet and they've been on there about a year now. No signs of corrosion. It's a shame they discontinued them. Either way a quality alloy lug should not cause a problem.

Thanks for input guy's I will make sure all the threads are clean and torque accordingly with no lube and check they are free from time to time maybe.