Left hand, right hand lug nuts?

[gran coupe john]

Right hand nuts on rear? Left hand on front. What's the deal on these nuts???

 

[NixDad]

RH on right side of car...LH on left side of the car

 

[gran coupe john]

They are all right hand nuts that came off car.

 

[Xcudame]

70 was the only year that E-Bodies had left hand lug nuts on the left side of the car. All Mopars had left hand lug nuts prior to 1970. The theory was centrifical force would help keep the lug nuts tight.

But as l found out the hard way all the left handed lug nuts seem to do is cause moronic tire changers to bust them off!! So I always take my wheels off my 70 Challenger, toss them in the back of my Dakota and get new tires put on, balanced and them bolt them on myself. No more broken studs! I know, I could change them to right hand, but I look at them as a weak anti theft device.

 

[pschlosser]

The left hand nuts are typically left side, and backwards threaded. This was an effort to keep them spinning off at sustained high speeds, but always seemed like a novelty. Several design elements on these cars, like the hood tie down pins, were overkill and seemed like marketing gimmicks to present a "race car" image. It works, because I've always appreciated these elements.

I've seen more than one 1970s car (for example) where a previous owner changed out the studs so there are right-handed threads all around. I seem to recall fixing this, or putting the LH studs back on, at least one 1970 car (after breaking one off) to keep it original.

If you're ever taking your car in (with LH threads on the left side) for brake or wheel service, make sure they know about the left-handed threads. Many of the dummies working these shops, modern day, don't know they are LH threads, and end up busting off a stud before they figure it out.

 

[gran coupe john]

Well, another guy selling me stuff I don't need. Told him it was a 71!!! Who needs left hand tire lugs???

 

[gran coupe john]

I put a supposed to be nos power steering hose on it. Mine was a little ruff. The hose is on correct. Did try both method, still no go.

 

[gran coupe john]

She is running well. Rebuilt everything, but power steering pump. ****

 

[pschlosser]

Well, another guy selling me stuff I don't need. Told him it was a 71!!! Who needs left hand tire lugs???

Reach out to the seller and whine about it. The seller got it wrong, unless the listing/ad said it included both LH and RH.

 

[gran coupe john]

Yes, I am whinnying $25 could go to something needed. Get a lot of this from vendors that know everything about restoration of a 71 barracuda. I never got my hands dirty once, or even turn a wrench.

 

[pschlosser]

I agree what a seller claims to be accurate can be wildly... inaccurate. ePay is the biggest example. Unless I know what the accurate part is, dimensionally, and what it looks like, taking their word for it is pretty risky. But so, too, are other websites. Sometimes, the description is wrong accidentally. Other times, on purpose to make a sale.

If it's too much effort or expense to return the LH threads, just list them here and sell them to another in need. or ePay.

 

[gran coupe john]

I have learned all what you said the hard way. Bought them in Carlisle in 2023. Yes being more deliberate now. Always trusted people. Those days are gone.

 

[pschlosser]

It can take me all afternoon to research what the correct part is, and 10 minutes to find it online and order it. But then, I may be a geek about it. I enjoy the not knowing and figuring it out. Like a grand puzzle. I keep notes. Many of us do. So if there is ever a doubt, give us a shout, and one of us may have the answer.

 

[moparlee]

I put a supposed to be nos power steering hose on it. Mine was a little ruff. The hose is on correct. Did try both method, still no go.

You put this in your lug nut thread instead of your power steering thread.

 

[gran coupe john]

Yes, when not sure I rely on this site! Only been on it a year. Wish I knew about it back in 2016 when I started. Many mistakes, and or dumb decisions on my part.

 

[cuda joe]

my 71 came with left handed lug nuts a couple were broke when i bought it then i broke a couple more and replaced them all with right hand threads

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Weird fact , Freightliner , owned by Chrysler still has Left lugs on the left of the Semi trucks

 

[pschlosser]

Actually, LH (left-handed) threads are still in wide use on shipping semi-trucks. Sustained rotation in the wrong (RH on the left-side) direction could, in theory, work lug nuts loose. So it's not that uncommon, modern-day, to use left-handed threads on the left side of vehicles when safety is a priority. This may NOT be the case in some third-world and communist countries. Or for passenger cars in the US, since few passenger cars, these days, are on the road 50K miles or more, between tire/wheel servicing (and retightening of the wheel lug nuts)

Chrysler Corp had the right idea, but it was overkill, which is, IMO, our true historic American way: Over-engineering stuff, so it lasts longer than designed or expected. I think this philosophy is cool. But others may not. Particularly, those seeking profit (think CHINA) and every penny they can glean from a design.

 

[Adam]

This goes back a long way.. my 1942 Carryall, and 1948 Power Wagon had left hand studs on the left side. The lug nuts are 1-1/2 across, same size used on semis today. I went to order some from a Napa and they had a barrel of them.

 

[gran coupe john]

I love stuff that lasts longer than a week, or two. Over engineering is a good thing!!!