MTFCA Forum

A couple of years ago I bought a set of chrome wire wheel lug nuts. They have begun to rust under the chrome that is peeling off. Did I get a bad set or is this a common issue? For $190 I expected a longer life.

Jim - I'm gonna' start by saying this most of what I'm about to write is conjecture on my part, but here's what I perceive as the problem:

Not sure how much your car and of course the chrome lug nuts are exposed to "the elements", but I'm betting that this is what's going on:

I believe that there are chrome platers that take a few "shortcuts" of chrome plating, especially on items like lug nuts. I think that for a show car, or a "trailer queen" that is probably almost never exposed to the elements, most chrome lug nuts will look just fine for many years. But consider this,....a PROPER chrome plating job consists of several time-consuming steps, which are especially time-consuming on small items like lug nuts. Each item, in this case, each lug nut must be polished to perfection, then copper plated, then polished again, then nickel plated, then polished again, then chrome plated. I firmly believe that the most commonly "skipped" step is at least the copper, which I think might be the case with your lug nuts. They'll look pretty darn good for quite awhile, especially on a show car, but not too long if the car is a "driver" which is outside a lot, and subject to all the normal elements and road grime and such.

I believe that the more "inexpensive" chrome plating job on lug nuts is simply because in so many cases, they are used on show cars, and that is why most buyers are opting for the fancy chrome lug nuts in the first place, and why in most cases, the show car owner doesn't realize how "mostly cosmetic" the chrome plating really is on those lug nuts, so the lug nut manufacturers get away with taking "shortcuts"!

Now before anyone gives me a bunch of #&$@# for even "daring" to criticize our hobby's parts suppliers and manufacturers, let me further explain that this isn't exactly criticism, because it should be understood about putting the proper accessory "beauty" and dress-up items on our cars, depending on the type of "usage" of the car. Another way of explaining is to say that for a "driver" grade car, polished stainless steel lug nuts, while they are not quite as fancy and bright as chrome ones, they make much, MUCH more sense, because they will still look very good, after many years and miles on that "driver" grade car, while the prettier fancy chrome ones will look beautiful on the show car for many, many years. It's just a matter of knowing a bit about knowing the most sensible application of the right product, for the right usage of the car, which is why I went to the trouble to try, in my much too "wordy" way to explain my thoughts on the matter,........FWIW,.....harold

Jim, believe it or not, but chrome plating is porous. That is why a proper chrome job is applied over nickel, which is not porous. If it is possible to buy period correct nickel plated nuts, that would be the way to go. Whatever plating is applied will suffer nicks and abrasions from the tools being used to fasten them, and then the liklihood of rust is a given.

Allan from down under.

Right on Harold,
I have been working with reproduction Ford parts in my restoration work since 1977 when many of the Ford parts came from Argentina where the molds remained from Model T and A Production. Many were inaccurate and quality control was sub standard. Taiwan was one of the other manufacturer - suppliers mainly because at the time, the dealmakers/importers did not want to pay for the superior Japanese technology and proven capability IMHO. I want to add that Bob Bergstadt's lug nuts were reputed to have been of good quality so these of mention may be from elsewhere.
Ken Buhler

I’ll take a look and see if I can determine if there were
any copper or nickel layers. These lug nuts haven't been outside my shop since they were initially installed. Just waiting on me to get other things done. I haven’t looked lately but think I will go for a steel set.

Looks like stainless steel lug nuts have been discontinued. At one time I had a set but thought I needed the fancy chrome ones.