Hi all, I am still around my Ford Mondeo 2015 Titanium, could someone let me know the size of the socket of the wheel nut? I am trying to take off the tire to install some led lights. However can't seem to find the proper socket. Its, not the 21 mm  or 19 mm. I think is the 20mm not sure. Could some one help me out please? And some advice on a good socket , that don't scratch the wheels? A Thanks.

 

I suspect that they were originally 19mm but have actually 'swollen' The problem of the expanding wheel nuts (lug nuts for our American readers) has affected a number of models since around 2010 - 2016ish

You can easy check to see if this is the case. Use the wheel brace supplied by Ford, normally kept with the jack. Does it still fit the wheel nuts ?

 

1 hour ago, unofix said:

I suspect that they were originally 19mm but have actually 'swollen' The problem of the expanding wheel nuts (lug nuts for our American readers) has affected a number of models since around 2010 - 2016ish

You can easy check to see if this is the case. Use the wheel brace supplied by Ford, normally kept with the jack. Does it still fit the wheel nuts ?

 

Hi Unofix, thanks for the answer , The only thing I found was this handle, it has the shape to take off the wheel nuts, however , is a little small for it. So it does not work.

Yes that's the Ford tool for taking off the wheel nuts. So if it is a little too small then you have "Swollen Nuts" if you pardon the expression 🤣

You probably need to buy a 20mm socket. Make sure to only get the 6 sided and not the usual 12 point socket as the corners of the nut will be slightly rounded.

Looks like this will be an expensive project for you as you need to replace all of the wheel nuts before they get to bad and become stuck.

Also looks like those protruding spokes means a normal socket and wrench will hit the spokes and damage the paint. A wheel brace sounds your best bet. 

I'm thinking that those shiny nuts are actually covers over the real steel nuts.... I've got the same on my mk3 Mondeo. See if you can pull a cover off with a pair of suitable pliers or 2 screwdrivers clamped one each side of opposite nut flats. You'll have to improvise something. 

2 hours ago, unofix said:

Yes that's the Ford tool for taking off the wheel nuts. So if it is a little too small then you have "Swollen Nuts" if you pardon the expression 🤣

You probably need to buy a 20mm socket. Make sure to only get the 6 sided and not the usual 12 point socket as the corners of the nut will be slightly rounded.

Looks like this will be an expensive project for you as you need to replace all of the wheel nuts before they get to bad and become stuck.

Thanks for the advice, I ordered and 6 sided socked with 19.5 mm and see how it goes. I could not imagine that Ford had this issue, so annoying. And yes I was thinking to replace them , by the way do you advice in any good ones? and size?. Thanks.

57 minutes ago, nicam49 said:

Also looks like those protruding spokes means a normal socket and wrench will hit the spokes and damage the paint. A wheel brace sounds your best bet. 

I'm thinking that those shiny nuts are actually covers over the real steel nuts.... I've got the same on my mk3 Mondeo. See if you can pull a cover off with a pair of suitable pliers or 2 screwdrivers clamped one each side of opposite nut flats. You'll have to improvise something. 

Thanks for the answer. I watched a video with a dude with the same issue, to take off the cover he basically obliterated the cover, after taking off the nut.

Should just pull off quite easily. 

Here's a Pic of mine, some with and some without the shiny covers

If you remove the caps, you'll need an 18mm socket for the nut underneath.

The caps on these Mk4 Mk5 wheel nuts do not come off very easily - quite a pain to get off as they are meant to stay in place.

I also used a standard 12 point normal socket (19mm) and hammered it on, took the nut off completely then struggled to get the socket off to do the next one 

It was not on my immaculate cherished well looked after car, ha ha 

3 hours ago, nicam49 said:

Should just pull off quite easily. 

Here's a Pic of mine, some with and some without the shiny covers

I will need to do that to mine, and most likely buy a new ones without that nonsense cap.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

If you remove the caps, you'll need an 18mm socket for the nut underneath.

Thanks for the answer. Really the 19 mm will not do it? This issue never stops.

1 hour ago, TrevorB said:

The caps on these Mk4 Mk5 wheel nuts do not come off very easily - quite a pain to get off as they are meant to stay in place.

I also used a standard 12 point normal socket (19mm) and hammered it on, took the nut off completely then struggled to get the socket off to do the next one 

It was not on my immaculate cherished well looked after car, ha ha 

I can imagine the surgery you did , 😂. I tried to take it off with a screw driver, however , was afraid to damage the wheel , so I ordered a 19.5 mm hope it helps. Thanks for the answer.

4 minutes ago, coolissimo said:

Thanks for the answer. Really the 19 mm will not do it? This issue never stops.

The cap itself has a thickness of 0.5mm, adding 1mm to the overall diameter.  So the nuts are 18mm with the cap removed.

42 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The cap itself has a thickness of 0.5mm, adding 1mm to the overall diameter.  So the nuts are 18mm with the cap removed.

Thanks Mate. Do you suggest any good lug nuts to buy?

You won't be able to prise the chrome cap off the new type nuts like you did on the older pre 2104 nuts. Just hammer a socket on a third of the way to grip then loosen the nuts. Then wiggle the socket free to do the next nut etc.  I personally would just buy a set of ford nuts again. They did last 8 years so will outlast the ownership of the car no doubt. I have a few spares ready to do my partner's fiesta.

3 hours ago, iantt said:

You won't be able to prise the chrome cap off the new type nuts like you did on the older pre 2104 nuts. Just hammer a socket on a third of the way to grip then loosen the nuts. Then wiggle the socket free to do the next nut etc.  I personally would just buy a set of ford nuts again. They did last 8 years so will outlast the ownership of the car no doubt. I have a few spares ready to do my partner's fiesta.

I bought some from Amazon, the car has 7 years, and don't know how long the lug nuts been there. It does not make sense to have nut lugs with this issue. Maybe you been lucky or have an extra care with the lug nuts.