Allen,
KD may make thread chasers for lug nuts and other metric, and SAE fastners,
I'm not sure. They do make a double ended spark plug thread chaser (14mm on
one end 18mm on the other)
Chasers are not exactally "dull Taps and dies" They are more like a nut or
bolt made from very hard steel with reliefs cut for debris. Rather than
cutting threads, they are designed to just clean the existing threads. In
other words they have a little more positive clearance rather than the
negative clearance that a tap or die would have.
As far as the problem with the lugs, I have run into this many times on both
lugs that had been anti-siezed and ones that had not. If you think about it,
there is very little area of the threads for the brake dust to mix with the
anti-sieze, so I looked for a different cause. Upon close examination what I
have discovered is that the tire shop (or whoever) that uses a mega air
wrench to tighten the lugs streaches the threads on both the lug studs and
nuts! replacing just the nuts does not clear up the condition. I have seen
some cars so bad that lugs could not be restarted after removal. The cure
is to replace the lug nuts (cheap) and use a thread chaser on the lug studs.
I found a thread chaser for lug studs that was a two piece affair that goes
on the inner part of the stud (where the threads are still good) and then you
unscrew the tool and clean the threads along the way. After doing this all
remains ok until the tire store is visited again.
Needless to say, I either torque my wheels myself or go to a tire store that
uses a torque wrench not an air wrench.
Rick
In a message dated 05/24/2000 7:22:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Ajhsys writes:
> I borrowed a set of thread chasers when I was having trouble with the lug
> nuts on my Mitsubishi. It seems that all the anti-seize on the lugs was
> CAUSING the threads to seize. Probably because brake dust was getting
caked
> into the anti-seize compound. I tried wire brushing the lugs and carb
> cleaner in the capped lug nuts, but it doesn't help.
>
> Thread chasers are like very dull taps and dies. The ones I used were
Snap
> On. You said that K-D also makes them? I have looked for an inexpensive
set,
> but have had no luck. Sears doesn't have them, nor does Harbor Freight.
> Maybe I'll try Advance Auto.
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