Ray_G
Explorer
Unofficial lug nut roundup
Amidst jet lag, laundry for the next trip, and work antics I found some time today to actually take a look at the recently arrived gorilla lugs and then take some pics amidst putting them on the truck.
Bottom line: if you see yourself taking your wheels off a fair amount due to flats, repairs, etc-these appear to have merit. If you are going with black wheels, particularly if the previous statement applies, these have merit. If you have perfect stock lugs or only need to replace a few, or if you are going with gunmetal and are only worried about aesthetics...these may not be worth the $100, but read on...
This shot shows one of the silicone caps, a black gorilla lug, and a brand new LR lug side by side. Essentially the gorilla lug and the LR capped lug are nearly identical in proportions, particularly where it matters in terms of the washer and depth of the lug itself.
From the side, the LR lug is slightly taller/longer because of the curvature of the cap, whereas the solid gorilla lug is flatter across the top.
Flipped over, the washer you can see is nearly identical which to me is an important aspect given how LR lugs work.
A series of shots to illustrate the lugs on the truck as I switched out one set on the wheels, apologies for the poor lighting-time was at a premium this afternoon. This is where my comments regarding using the silicone caps may be more aesthetically pleasing if you were going with gunmetal vice black. I'm not all that concerned with it but did find the silicone caps to be a very good fit and look, esp for $8.00...and that leaves plenty of $$$ left over to buy the 23mm impact socket you're going to want to get your swollen lug nuts off.
Regardless of silicone cap or black gorilla, for dark wheels I think either are superior to leaving them silver.
All black lugs, blend fine with the truck with the gray all told and now I don't worry as much about shop monkeys and their impact guns going to town if they are putting my wheels back on for some reason. That said I do believe at some point they'll scratch and such, but much like my solid RRC lugs on Coyote I would rather spray paint them once a year or so then deal with the different sizes of socket needed to get the swollen capped nuts off-other's preference and opinion may vary of course.
Amidst jet lag, laundry for the next trip, and work antics I found some time today to actually take a look at the recently arrived gorilla lugs and then take some pics amidst putting them on the truck.
Bottom line: if you see yourself taking your wheels off a fair amount due to flats, repairs, etc-these appear to have merit. If you are going with black wheels, particularly if the previous statement applies, these have merit. If you have perfect stock lugs or only need to replace a few, or if you are going with gunmetal and are only worried about aesthetics...these may not be worth the $100, but read on...
This shot shows one of the silicone caps, a black gorilla lug, and a brand new LR lug side by side. Essentially the gorilla lug and the LR capped lug are nearly identical in proportions, particularly where it matters in terms of the washer and depth of the lug itself.
From the side, the LR lug is slightly taller/longer because of the curvature of the cap, whereas the solid gorilla lug is flatter across the top.
Flipped over, the washer you can see is nearly identical which to me is an important aspect given how LR lugs work.
A series of shots to illustrate the lugs on the truck as I switched out one set on the wheels, apologies for the poor lighting-time was at a premium this afternoon. This is where my comments regarding using the silicone caps may be more aesthetically pleasing if you were going with gunmetal vice black. I'm not all that concerned with it but did find the silicone caps to be a very good fit and look, esp for $8.00...and that leaves plenty of $$$ left over to buy the 23mm impact socket you're going to want to get your swollen lug nuts off.
Regardless of silicone cap or black gorilla, for dark wheels I think either are superior to leaving them silver.
All black lugs, blend fine with the truck with the gray all told and now I don't worry as much about shop monkeys and their impact guns going to town if they are putting my wheels back on for some reason. That said I do believe at some point they'll scratch and such, but much like my solid RRC lugs on Coyote I would rather spray paint them once a year or so then deal with the different sizes of socket needed to get the swollen capped nuts off-other's preference and opinion may vary of course.
