What does lug mean in wheels?

Your vehicle’s wheel lugs are what keep the wheels secured to your vehicle. There are anywhere from three to eight of these lugs spread evenly around the center hub of the wheel and axle. The arrangement of how they are spaced around that hub is called the wheel’s bolt pattern.

What are lug nut bolts called?

Wheel studs
Wheel studs are the threaded fasteners that hold on the wheels of many automobiles. They are semi-permanently mounted directly to the vehicle hub, usually through the brake drum or brake disk.

What are lugs on a car?

Lug nuts fasten a wheel’s hub to threaded wheel studs on the vehicle’s axle, securing the wheel in place and centering it properly on the axle. The lug is placed onto the wheel stud atop the wheel, with the lug’s seat in contact with the hub.

Why do they call them lug nuts?

Typically, lug nuts are found on automobiles, trucks (lorries), and other large vehicles using rubber tires. What is the meaning of “lug” here? According to the Etymology Dictionary, “lug” is “a broad-meaning word used of things that move slowly or with difficulty”.

Why is it called lug?

From 1620s as “handle of a pitcher,” this sense probably from Scottish lugge “earflap of a cap; ear” (late 15c. and according to OED still the common word for “ear” in 19c. Scotland), which is probably from Scandinavian (compare Swedish lugg “forelock,” Norwegian lugg “tuft of hair”) and influenced by the verb.

What is the difference between lug nuts and lug bolts?

With a lug bolt, a threaded stem is affixed to a tapered head. Think of it as a lug nut permanently attached to a wheel stud that screws directly into the hub. While a lug nut screws onto a threaded wheel stud that is attached to the hub, a lug bolt eliminates the need for a wheel stud.

What do you put on lug nuts?

Lubrication. There is a great deal of argument is whether to lubricate lug threads. Some swear by the use of some form of anti-seize on the threads, whether lithium grease, WD-40, motor oil or Teflon spray. The idea is to prevent rust and make it easier when it comes time to remove the lugs.

Do you need a locking wheel nut?

Locking wheel nuts (also known as lug nuts or alloy wheel nuts) are used by car manufacturers the world over to keep wheels secure to a vehicle, something which has been instrumental in combating car wheel theft. If you’re going to try and remove a locking wheel nut, you’re going to need a locking wheel nut key.

How do I know if my lug nuts are locking?

If you’re unsure whether you have locking wheel nuts, try the following:

1. Inspect your wheel nuts — if one has a pattern then this is a locking wheel nut.
2. Check to see if any of your wheel nuts have a plastic cover (which gives all the wheel nuts a uniform appearance) – if they do then this will be the locking nut.

Do cars have different lug nuts?

There are actually a variety of different lug nuts and lug bolts out there. Each of the eight different types have their own distinguishing features. Many of these you’ll rarely encounter outside of a busy commercial garage.

Why is a lug nut?

A lug nut is a nut fastener with one rounded or conical (tapered) end, used on steel and most aluminum wheels. A set of lug nuts is typically used to secure a wheel to threaded wheel studs and thereby to a vehicle’s axles.