# What type of lugnut is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 3, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660 "2023-09-03T18:33:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/1 "2023-09-03T18:33:25Z")
my girlfriends car needed brake pads replaced and turns out one of the lugnuts is like this. what type is this so i can get a socket for it? ![IMG_8310](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/9/69887e98af184ceed8b261cb96787a518016fcb6.jpeg) she also drove without a lugnut for years i cannot believe her!! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/2 "2023-09-03T18:53:56Z")
It;s a security lug nut. It’s to prevent theft of the wheels. The special socket should somewhere in the vehicle. Check the spare tire area, glove box, etc… If you can’t find it, parts stores sell special sockets to remove them ![58535_W6](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/2/024e4e60a523f5c5904afe43ee4a1f50ee3d58f5.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/3 "2023-09-03T18:58:03Z")
tester the lugnut has 10 splines. i dont think its a security lugnut?? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/4 "2023-09-03T19:07:40Z")
I’ve owned my own automotive shop for over 35 years. The lug has a different head than the rest. That’s a wheel lock or anti-theft lug nut. > **[10 Spline Lug nut key, Wheel lock key Small 10-Splined (Female) Bimecc® brand...](https://www.brandsport.com/bmcc-79241-1.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=freelistings&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInojM3ZCPgQMVJHFMCh0XHwo6EAsYBSABEgKievD_BwE)** > > In Stock NOW! Hardened Steel Zinc Plated 10 Spline Lug nut key, Wheel lock key Fits small 10-Spline Lug Nuts with symmetrical (evenly spaced) external splines. GET YOURS NOW! (#79241) Tester ---
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/5 "2023-09-03T19:10:53Z")
thank you for the feedback so would this from harborfreight work to remove this lugnut? > **[Universal Locking Lug Nut Removal Set](https://www.harborfreight.com/universal-locking-lug-nut-removal-set-58535.html?event_id=182304&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20506713293&campaignid=20506713293&utm_content=153744000195&adsetid=153744000195&product=58535&store=63&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8NL3w5CPgQMVsjbUAR1yuwNiEAQYASABEgLdafD_BwE)** > > Amazing deals on this Locking Lug Nut Universal Removal Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/6 "2023-09-03T19:23:18Z")
Yes. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/7 "2023-09-03T19:47:46Z")
Spline drive lug nuts. If you are still looking for the tool in the car, this is what the socket looks like: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1dd15e2cd8fb61ff26bffc9649a6a81d1a6a8457.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/8 "2023-09-03T21:17:23Z")
Ask her where she last bought tires at, I have seen Discount Tire put those tuner spline type lug nuts on and keep the key so you have to go back to them… Don’t think that is the norm, but people do strange things sometimes… Work beside a Mazda dealer in Nashville that kept the factory wheel lock key so you had to go back to them… Stupid but I have seen it… If she bought the vehicle that way then if not in the vehicle then the last owner keot it in there tool box… lol BTW Looking at the other lug nuts in the picture, you might want to go a head and just buy 20 new lug nuts cause those stupid cap covers are about to become lock nut… lol… ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/9 "2023-09-03T21:21:53Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > BTW Looking at the other lug nuts in the picture, you might want to go a head and just buy 20 new lug nuts cause those stupid cap covers are about to become lock nut… lol… Agree been there done that. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/10 "2023-09-03T21:45:11Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > buy 20 new lug nuts cause those stupid cap covers are about to become lock nut… lol… And also possibly new studs. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/11 "2023-09-04T11:44:34Z")
I suspect the two “good” lugnuts are stock from Chevy. But yes, new lugnuts are a good idea. Does GM use the same type of lugnuts as Ford that are subject to swelling? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/12 "2023-09-04T13:33:24Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Does GM use the same type of lugnuts as Ford that are subject to swelling? Yes GM, Ford as well as Mopar’s, Toyota and Jeeps and maybe a few others use those stupid capped lug nuts, I would not bet anything on who all I remember using them, but they are a big problem when customers are waiting in the show room, and a lot of customers blame the mechanics for the damage… They make half size sockets just for them… ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/13 "2023-09-04T14:04:37Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Ask her where she last bought tires at Before the at! ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/14 "2023-09-04T15:16:37Z")
Yep, last oil change and tire rotation they found several on my truck, but I knew of the problem, did not surprise me. I mentioned it to the other people that were there. About 15 minutes later another customer was informed he too had a few problematic lugnuts, even though he heard my comment, he was livid. I had a 70 Cutlass, it had a chrome cover over a conventional lugnut, with the cover on it took an SAE socket, if the cover fell off it took metric. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/15 "2023-09-04T15:18:05Z")
I call them lug nuts with condoms. Tester ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/16 "2023-09-04T15:22:30Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Ask her where she last bought tires at Close enough for horse shoes and hand grenades, I have never clamed to be a grammar expert… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/17 "2023-09-04T15:36:29Z")
Lady comes to a house, a boy answers the door. “Hello, is your mother at home?” Boy “She ain’t home.” “Oh my, what about your grammar?” Boy “She ain’t home either.” ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/18 "2023-09-04T18:04:16Z")
I would consider replacing ALL of the lugnuts with solid hex-head ones with no cover ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/19 "2023-09-04T18:25:55Z")
I call out “Where are you at” and such wherever I read it, so nothing personal. ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660/20 "2023-09-04T18:59:55Z")
That’s a spline drive lug nut. Very common for aftermarket wheels where the holes for the lugs are too slim for OEM lug nuts. Spline lug tools are easily found on the internet. My “go to” for corroded, missing, or mismatched lug nuts is McGard. They are based out of Buffalo, NY (in my backyard) and they are always high quality. It costs a few bucks but saves a ton of aggravation if you have to change a tire on the road. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-type-of-lugnut-is-this/192660.md?page=2)