Washers Needed For Non-Unilug Cragar Wheels?

I have a pair of 4.5" x 15" Cragar S/S wheels with the 4.5x5 bolt pattern. I stole the lug nuts from my E-T Daisy wheels and tried them with the Cragars, but when the lug nuts were fully tightened the Cragars were still loose. I went to the local tire store and asked about washers for the Cragars, and I was told it didn't matter if the wheels were unilug or not - they still needed washers. I picked up the offset hole washers (they insisted that they were the correct ones for my application) but I think the center hole washers would of been better (judging by the marks around the lug nut area the previous owner used the center hole washers). Can anyone give me some insight on which lug nut washers are the correct ones, or what other people have done for the non-unilug Cragars?

Thanks!
Tom - Glass_Packs

 

I've run many of these over the years, all direct fit, and have always used the standard center hole style washers on mine.
You DO need to run the washers like they said but i'm pretty sure you know that from what you wrote, just thought i'd mention it just in case..
One thing i will say though is to retorque the wheels after a short time.
Although i have never personally had an issue with them loosening up, i know of a couple friends who did. Not pretty.

Tony

 

If the nuts are tight but your wheels are still loose , most likely the shank on the nuts are too long causing the nuts to bottom out before they tighten down on the wheel. Different wheels use different nuts..

 

Thanks for the info guys. When I went to the local tire store I had the lug nuts on me and found out that the were the standard size.

Thanks!
Tom

 

I just went through the same thing about six months ago. Find a local place that sells custom wheels, they should be able to hook you up. The lugnut with the washer installed should be just a tiny bit inside the hole before installation. It sounds like the lugnuts you have will be fine once you find the washers. They are cheap, buy some spares while you are at the wheel place.

 

THANK YOU Muttley, I'll check out some of the custom wheel shops and see if they stock these lug nuts.

Thanks!
Tom - Glass_Packs

 

Take a wheel with you to the shop. When the shank on the lugnut is inserted into the hole it should be just a little shy of being flush with the backside, with the washer installed. I hope that makes sense.

 

If I recall, Cragers/Keystones take a standard size aftermarket lug nut and they will come with washers.

They should be available in your thread size from your local pep boys or similiar. They are not anything to special. I used to buy them at Canadian Tire in my required 1/2" thread size (Ford) for cragers and keystone mags. I would think that CT still carries them??

Also, CT carries the locking lug nuts in the same sleeved style if need be or at least they used to.


.

 

You can get the proper lug nuts AND centered washers from Summit. At least that's where I got mine

 

Thanks for the info everyone, I'm going to contact a local guy that mainly deals with lug nuts (known as the lug nut king) and see if has any lug nuts/washers that will work.

Thanks!
Tom - Glass_Packs

 

I found them at a local Canadian Tire but the guy at the counter wasn't much help. I brought in one of my standard 1/2"x20 lug nuts from my ET Daisies to find a match. Of course he starts asking (and checking the computer) what car is it - is it a 6 or 8 - etc and doesn't find a listing. I gave him my lug nut and he went into the back looking for a match, and came back with an acorn lug. I kindly told him that it wouldn't work in my situation as I need a lug nut with a shank. He told me that they didn't have any and I pointed out the lug nuts behind the counter. Sure enough there was 2 sets of 1/2"x20 lug nuts with the washers I needed. The only bad thing about it was I had to order in another pack with fully do both wheels.

Thanks!
Tom

 

I cut my wheel lugs down