Plastic Sleeved Lug Nut Socket

[MikeS]

Does anybody use plastic lined lug nut sockets to help protect wheels during removal? Or maybe it's just as easy to put a few wide rubber bands on a standard socket (check the broccoli or lobsters at the grocery store)...

 

I guess I could plasti-dip a regular socket as well. Hmmm, lots of ideas the more I think about it! None of them protect the lugs themselves though.

 

I'm debating on whether it's worth tracking down a purpose-made protective socket.

 

Any thoughts?

[Chris@Adams]

I used duct tape on mine.......

 

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[b_pappy]

I used duct tape on mine.......

 

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And that holds the wheels on?

[randyfox]

The only issue that I see is if you have a tight gap between the nut and the wheel itself which would prevent you from using a sleeve of any sort. I definitely would be interested in one, the idea of using a bare socket on my Volks send shivers down my spine!

[BRZN]

I, like Chris, use a wrap or two of duct tape on my lug nut sockets. On one set of wheels I own, more than one wrap binds!

[Chris@Adams]

And that holds the wheels on?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I, like Chris, use a wrap or two of duct tape on my lug nut sockets. On one set of wheels I own, more than one wrap binds!

 

You are a sick man!

 

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[Chewy]

I have them... I think I ordered them from Sears a few years ago. They're anodized steel with a opaque plastic sleeve screwed on them.

 

Chris

[Golf for Life]

I find that blue painters tape works well. (on the outside of the socket,doesn't work well to hold wheels on though)

[randyfox]

Nice Mark, I didn't think of the blue tape!

[Sizzle Chest]

The only issue that I see is if you have a tight gap between the nut and the wheel itself which would prevent you from using a sleeve of any sort. I definitely would be interested in one, the idea of using a bare socket on my Volks send shivers down my spine!

 

 

 

^^^This. I bought a set of them, very nice, however I can't use them on my wheels on the NastyGT500! LOL. Just look and see if you have enough room before buying them. They are somewhat 'thick'.

[Z71_Denali]

they do make thin walled impact sockets. i used them all the time when i worked at a tire shop. i've never scratched a wheel with one

[THE Mook]

I went and bought these at Harbor Freight...

 

Lined Sockets

 

[randyfox]

Oooo, nice. This thread is full of win. Scratching one of my wheels is what nightmares are made of.

[THE Mook]

Oooo, nice. This thread is full of win. Scratching one of my wheels is what nightmares are made of.

 

Yeah Randy! I didn't want to scratch my paint up, so I got these, but the Gorillas all come locking with their own socket...I have to take it SO slow man!

 

Mook

[Chewy]

OK, mine are nice because they're no larger than a normal socket. The socket is smaller than a normal one and then the plastic slides on making it the same size.

 

My winter wheels are so tight I can barely get the socket in them without the plastic installed. This is what you get when you go cheap on wheels. (JUNK)

 

Chris

[02Xtreme07ss]

Yeah Randy! I didn't want to scratch my paint up, so I got these, but the Gorillas all come locking with their own socket...I have to take it SO slow man!

 

Mook

 

Mook, do you have room between the outer wall of the socket and the recess on the wheel for a piece of heat shrink tubing over the outer wall of the socket? Either that or some vinyl wrapped around the outer wall will help minimize and damage.

[THE Mook]

Mook, do you have room between the outer wall of the socket and the recess on the wheel for a piece of heat shrink tubing over the outer wall of the socket? Either that or some vinyl wrapped around the outer wall will help minimize and damage.

 

It's not all that hard to exercise caution! The pain of it all is having TWO locks. Because I am six lug, I had to order an additional 4 lugs to complete the set, and well they have their own lock too.

 

[02Xtreme07ss]

It's not all that hard to exercise caution! The pain of it all is having TWO locks. Because I am six lug, I had to order an additional 4 lugs to complete the set, and well they have their own lock too.

 

 

Ahh...you didn't order the 6-lug set?

[MikeS]

Thanks for the thoughts, all. Sounds like plenty of options to protect the wheel itself, but fewer options for the lug nuts themselves.

 

I may throw the HF lined sockets onto the Christmas wish list, although I'm always conflicted buying their stuff for various reasons...

[Marylander]

What about putting a turn or two of something like saran wrap around the lugs or inside the socket to give a bit of protection? Or get one of those cheap plastic drop cloths from HD and cut out a few strips of plastic.

[randyfox]

Saran wrap may work, but you may need to double up on the layer. I wish I would of thought of that one too when I had my Civic and I had those Work lugnuts. I was super cautious with them, but you are still going to chew them up a little the first time you use a socket on them.

[BlazinSS934]

I found some jumbo sized heat shrink that fit over a chrome socket. I know never use chrome socket with a impact wrench. So dont flame me lol

[Markeeemark]

2-3 layers of blue tape on the inside of the socket to protect the lugs from excessive marring. Plus if you wad a ball of blu tape and stick in the center the sticky side will hold the lug nut from falling out. Plus it helps on wheels with a deep recess for the lugs.

[RTM355]

My friend got a can of plastic dip not the spray but the small size can tape the inside up and dip it .

[LFairbanks]

Astro Pneumatic 7835 1/2 inch - Impact Sockets - Set, Adapter, Extension

 

Torque Sticks, Torque Sockets and Other Discount Tools

[THE Mook]

Ahh...you didn't order the 6-lug set?

 

I guess I didn't look in the right place on Amazon!