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LH Thread on rear left wheel : how to be sure!?
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Author:  marc426 [ Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  LH Thread on rear left wheel : how to be sure!?

Well, I'm just wondering if my '67 Dart could be an exception before I use the impact wrench and screw (...) it all...
My Dart has been manufactured in Belgium so could it be any different and have a RH Thread?
For now, my only way to remove the nuts is to go the impact wrench way so I want to be as sure as possible...
Thanks for your help

Marc

Author:  emsvitil [ Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:40 pm ]
Post subject: 

If it's left hand thread, there should be a little 'L' in the center of the stud (and the lug nuts usually have a 'L' somewhere on them too)


Also you can look closely at exposed threads and figure it out.......

Author:  Pierre [ Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:42 pm ]
Post subject: 

I believe left hand thread studs had an L stamped into the end pointing outwards towards the hubcap. Clean the ends up and see if you can find the L. If you can't, try to unscrew one by hand with a tire iron or breaker bar to make sure before you go all out with the impact.

Author:  DustedIn05 [ Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:35 am ]
Post subject: 

Try screwing on a like sized nut?

Author:  marc426 [ Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:38 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks guys! I'm gonna check out if there's a L written on the studs...
DustedIn05 => The nut is already in and there ain't no thread left! :)

Author:  slantvaliant [ Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:15 pm ]
Post subject: 

Image

Author:  mcnoople [ Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:35 pm ]
Post subject: 

Anyone ever notice that factory LH studs were a copper color? Electroplated perhaps?

Author:  emsvitil [ Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:41 pm ]
Post subject: 

Quote:
Anyone ever notice that factory LH studs were a copper color? Electroplated perhaps?
Mine are rust colored......

Author:  Frank McMullen [ Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:17 am ]
Post subject:  Colored LH studs/nuts

Copper ? Perhaps cadmium ?


This probably qualifies as more of an owner-upgrade, but I'll offer it up...

My first experience with old MoPars was a '55 De Soto, quickly followed by a '48 New Yorker. My intro to LH lugs on the driver's side of the vehicle... since then ( high school days), I learned that quite a few other makers used the lefties as well, including Buick ( my '63 Wildcat), Willys, Husdon, and some others I'm sure.

Whether or not it was factory, or a tactic employed by a previous owner, when I pulled the wheels off the NYer for its resurrection brake work, I noticed that both the front and rear hubs had been painted red on the driver's side, presumably to warn tire monkeys that "something's different here". I went ahead and re=painted those hubs red when I painted the drums.

I have not encountered another MoPar with red hubs, but my '60 Windsor and my '64 Valiant still have LH studs, and have the "L" stamped in the end of the stud.

Additionally, many LH nuts have two lines stamped across the flats or corners of the nuts ( perpendicular to the axis through the nut) for add'l ID.

I would suggest using your impact gun ( set at lowest torque), and try removing them as though they are RH thread at first...
This is one situation (lug REMOVAL) where I favor the impact gun over a lug-wrench/strong-bar : I've managed to actually twist-off studs or turn corners on the nuts using a strong-bar... the re-peated hammering of the impact gun seems to do a better job of breaking loose seized lugs.

I still advocate HAND-tightening the lugs though... makes for happier tire-changing should you have a flat out on the road...

Good luck !!!!

De Soto Frank

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