jonj1611 Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Don't worry almost run out of things to ask 🙂 Right went to have my new tyres fitted today and one of the nuts the thread had stripped, but the bloke doing the tyre change said the nuts are wrong for the car and that the thread on the spacers should be longer to complete fill the nut. I am a bit confused as other pics I have seen online look similar to mine, as anyone reading my comments may know I am not particular passionate about spacers but they came with the car and until I can get my jacking point fixed(quoted £150) I can't jack the car up (as its lowered) to remove the spacers so will have to live with them at the moment but I do want to make sure the nuts are correct! Its H&R spacers fitted and a mechanic done the work as I spoke to him on the phone so if anyone else has spacers do your wheel nuts look like mine? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke4efc Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 The Ford nuts are utter crap. They are a 2 piece nut and it appears yours are now only a one piece lol. There is a harder, stainless cap that gets crimped onto the outside of these nuts. The problem with this is that when garages use nut runners on them, the crimped cap falls off leaving the soft aluminium nut underneath (and therefore have to use an 18mm socket instead of a 19mm). You'll easily round this off so I'd recommend getting a new set of nuts (you can get a set of 20 for under £30 on eBay and amazon.). Whilst the threads do look a little short, you don't want it sticking out of the end as if you still had the caps fitted, the thread would bottom out on the end of the nut before seating on the taper of the nut. Basically your wheel would wobble around like mad even though the nuts are tight. I hate spacers too, heard far too many horror stories about them cracking etc. My stock ST is also too low to fit a regular jack under, however I drive the front wheels onto a couple blocks of wood (only about an inch or so high) and can then fit the jack under. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 23, 2019 Author Share Posted December 23, 2019 Thanks for replying, there was another fitter who said something similar to you but was contradicting the other bloke, I didn't want to start an argument was like hmm, yeah, I see to both of them then thought I would get advice from here 🙂 I am going to get a new set of nuts but one fitter said get the solid ones but reading if you have spacers you should have the spinning collar type nut, confused as to what to buy. I may go the wood route, I have a large high lift jack which I bought when i had a 4x4 and I really wouldn't want to get rid of it if I didn't have to. Your right about the 18mm though, my 19mm wouldn't fit when I wanted to remove them the other day! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 You should have the 2 piece nut for your age vehicle. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 23, 2019 Author Share Posted December 23, 2019 Right so need a set of 2 piece nuts then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke4efc Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 I got some aftermarket ones that are 1 piece. You just have to make sure it has the correct taper size (28mm I believe). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tekman Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 19 hours ago, Luke4efc said: The Ford nuts are utter crap. They are a 2 piece nut and it appears yours are now only a one piece lol. There is a harder, stainless cap that gets crimped onto the outside of these nuts. The problem with this is that when garages use nut runners on them, the crimped cap falls off leaving the soft aluminium nut underneath (and therefore have to use an 18mm socket instead of a 19mm). You'll easily round this off so I'd recommend getting a new set of nuts (you can get a set of 20 for under £30 on ebay and Amazon.). Whilst the threads do look a little short, you don't want it sticking out of the end as if you still had the caps fitted, the thread would bottom out on the end of the nut before seating on the taper of the nut. Basically your wheel would wobble around like mad even though the nuts are tight. I hate spacers too, heard far too many horror stories about them cracking etc. My stock ST is also too low to fit a regular jack under, however I drive the front wheels onto a couple blocks of wood (only about an inch or so high) and can then fit the jack under. 18 hours ago, jonj1611 said: Thanks for replying, there was another fitter who said something similar to you but was contradicting the other bloke, I didn't want to start an argument was like hmm, yeah, I see to both of them then thought I would get advice from here 🙂 I am going to get a new set of nuts but one fitter said get the solid ones but reading if you have spacers you should have the spinning collar type nut, confused as to what to buy. I may go the wood route, I have a large high lift jack which I bought when i had a 4x4 and I really wouldn't want to get rid of it if I didn't have to. Your right about the 18mm though, my 19mm wouldn't fit when I wanted to remove them the other day! Your right but don`t go to Halfords for a 18mm long reach socket a very nice lady told me that they don`t do 18mm it is a common problem for ford`s that they are actualy 17mm and my nut`s had swollen 😂 Had to get one of eBay ( and yes my Nut`s are still swollen must be all the rain 😂🤣😂🤣 ) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke4efc Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 It's definitely an 18mm if the cap has fallen off. I actually bust the cap off a few of mine using a nut runner and the 18mm fit perfectly straight after it happened. 17mm is just a common size for wheel nuts. The lady at Halfords wont have a clue about 2 piece wheel nuts and the cap falling off. They do sell an 18mm socket by itself, I've just had a look. Sadly it's a 12 point one though so not ideal for soft lug nuts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tekman Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 16 minutes ago, Luke4efc said: It's definitely an 18mm if the cap has fallen off. I actually bust the cap off a few of mine using a nut runner and the 18mm fit perfectly straight after it happened. 17mm is just a common size for wheel nuts. The lady at halfords wont have a clue about 2 piece wheel nuts and the cap falling off. They do sell an 18mm socket by itself, I've just had a look. Sadly it's a 12 point one though so not ideal for soft lug nuts. Lol wife did have a big smile when she said it and bless she did try and convince me , I Did explain been mechanic for 45yrs and it was def a 18mm with my wheels being on and off the caps did come off but got a new set. I prefer 6 point sockets and they didnt have deep socket but all sorted now and I am waiting for santa to bring me my wish list lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 Right trying to work out what I need, is it one of these or both : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alloy-wheel-nuts-washer-wheels/dp/B01BLPM9J2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ford+focus+wheel+nuts&qid=1577201503&sr=8-3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Aluminium-Cosworth-StreetKA-Windstar/dp/B07JW6VRQ4/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=ford+focus+wheel+nuts&qid=1577201503&sr=8-9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 And this suitable to get them off and on ? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DEEP-Alloy-Wheel-Nut-Removal-Socket-Tool-18mm-Hex-6-Point-FITS-SOME-NEW-FORD-/163750345154 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke4efc Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 I've just replaced all the nuts on my Focus and used the second link you posted (mostly because it was prime delivery). They all use a 19mm socket though. The only reason you need an 18 is to remove any old ones you have fitted where the cap has fallen off. Just buy the cheapest 18mm, 6-point socket you can find (it doesn't need to be a deep one). Seems a little excessive to spend £13 on a socket you wont use again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 25, 2019 Author Share Posted December 25, 2019 Many thanks for the reply, will get them ordered 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 Didn't order them yet as realised my prime run out lol. Anyway these ones ok? :- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-X-ALLOY-WHEEL-NUTS-FORD-FOCUS-MK1-MK2-MK3-ST-RS-M12-X-1-5-19MM-BOLT-LUG-STUD/323854687400?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40732%26meid%3D0ab558504d6d46d4a99482ba8c4ba2e4%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D323854687400%26itm%3D323854687400%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad56413a8-298b-11ea-b3d6-74dbd1803ba5|parentrq%3A4d412c8816f0a128ed09e737ff91bb12|iid%3A1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 Or they the wrong ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicam49 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Just a thought... Seeing how deeply inset your Wheelnuts are, does your 'normal' 18mm socket fit into the recess as you might just need to use a deep socket to remove 'em. That link shows Wheelnuts that are 32mm high, which sounds like standard ones to me, aren't you looking for longer ones so that they thread further onto the studs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj1611 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 I have deep reach sockets thankfully. The studs are the same length so having longer wheelnuts wouldn't make much difference as the studs only go half way into the current nuts as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicam49 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 DOH! Yeah of course what you need are longer STUDS then or dispensing with the spacers so that you get more of the thread engaged inside the nut. Simples! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm265 Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Hi I’m having a similar problem. I put new alloys onto my focus and the original wheel nuts don’t thread onto the stud now as much as they should / did with the old wheels. A few people have told me that I need special alloy wheel nuts, but I don’t see how this will help as they will still only thread in as far as the original wheel nut does. I’m assuming I need longer wheel studs but mabye someone with experience can give me advice. To me, it doesn’t seem safe to drive on but mabye some of you might know better from the pictures below ( pictures in post below as won’t send with this one) the red line is how far wheel nut threads onto stud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm265 Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botus Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 I you are running stock wheels then spacers will increase undesirable bump steer on the front making the handling worse. On the rear - where one might think there's no steering, you should step back and think about modern suspension design where a lot of time and effort is made to include passive rear steer into the compliance of the suspension bushes and as such altering this set up should only be done where the change is expected and desirable and within the driving skills of the usual vehicle user. secondly spacers that are just a blank plate should be avoided as the vehicle load is usually not taken by the nuts /studs but the wheel acting of the hub shoulder. so removing this designed safety feature puts additional load on stud and wheel nuts which may fail or work lose. If messing about with a 10 mm spacer had desirable effects the manufacturers would have made it like this... in most cases the car will handle worse and go slower but I can imagine having made the car unroadworthy some probably think differently in the first pic I'd say the wheel is not correctly attached to the vehicle, with too few threads (that may fail) not really holding the wheel on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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