Lug nightmare after wheel swap!

[BigFoot]

A friend just scrapped his E250 van and we swapped the wheels off of it before he called the junk man.
I've been driving on them for about 2 days and my front wheel almost fell off! Luckily I was near a auto shop and they could tighten it back up (forgot my lug wrench).
It seems that the OE lugs on my truck don't have a big enough seat for the new wheels. Has anyone had this problem? Help!

[BigFoot]

OK, so our trucks have 1/2x20 lug nuts and my friends E250 had 9/16 lugs. So obviously the holes are a tiny bit bigger. Has someone had this problem? Need this truck on the road ASAP. I don't want to order in the wrong nuts.

[BigFoot]

Just checked my old wheel with a new one. Both holes are .675 in diameter.

???

[hazelnut]

Are the new wheels hub pilot or stud pilot ?

[BigFoot]

Are the new wheels hub pilot or stud pilot ?

Well, There is a hub ring, but the lug holes are countersunk so ...I dont know. Both? I mean the wheels look identical to the stock ones with the exception of the diameter.
I did notice that the hub hole is slightly larger on the new wheels because when I put the truck wheels on the van the hubs didnt pass though the center hole all the way. I didnt care because the van was going to the junkyard via tow truck.

[marvin2]

I had the same problem with my F250 when I installed late model Dodge 8 lug steel wheels. Though its the same lug pattern, the lug sizes are slightly different. I even upgraded to wider lug nuts to try and draw the wheels down tighter...but whenever I drove the truck the lug nuts would start to loosen up.

I ended up switching to a standard "wagon wheel" aftermarket setup. I haven't driven it much since then, but I don't anticipate any more issue.

[BigFoot]

I had the same problem with my F250 when I installed late model Dodge 8 lug steel wheels. Though its the same lug pattern, the lug sizes are slightly different. I even upgraded to wider lug nuts to try and draw the wheels down tighter...but whenever I drove the truck the lug nuts would start to loosen up.

I ended up switching to a standard "wagon wheel" aftermarket setup. I haven't driven it much since then, but I don't anticipate any more issue.

Well crap.
Did you have the problem with the rear wheels too?
So far, the fronts are the only ones to get loose.

[motzingg]

i've seen some setups that use a bevel washer along with a flat flanged nut. you might be able to find something like that with the bigger washer and the same size stud.

otherwise, maybe drill/ream your hubs for the bigger stud?

if you're swapping to a more common size from a less common size... something that gives you a better chance of an 'off the shelf' solution if you break down in bumfuck idaho... its probably worth doing.

[BigFoot]

Yeah, I was wondering about putting in larger lug studs.
But so far it's been OK. I just got new lug nuts and cranked em' down real tight.
I'm going to check them tomorrow to see if they are all still tight.

I'm beginning to wonder if I didn't tighten them down enough in the first place..... DOH!