Powder Coating Wheel Lug Bolts

[Jim Peek]

I'm planning to have a professional powder coat my wheel lug bolts. They are only going to coat the top of the lug and protect the threads from the coating process. My question is: has anyone done this and do I need to be concerned about over heating the lug bolts and causing fatigue once they are re-installed on my Cayman? Thanks

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Hello and welcome to the forum! If you're thinking of powder coating them black; wouldn't it be easier to just buy a set that's black already and avoid the whole process?

Let me know if I misunderstood something.

Thanks.

[jdavis7600]

If you're only interested in coloring only the tops/ends of the lug bolts, and not also the sides, it'd be a lot easier and less expensive to rattle can them.

If you do powder coat the tops/ends and also the sides of the lug bolts, you might expect the powder coat's bond to the bolts to fail due to the compression forces acting on the bolts when they're tightened or loosened.

If the powder coating is applied too thickly, your 15mm, 17mm, or 19mm socket may no longer fit your lug bolts, or may damage the coating when it's pushed onto the lug bolts.

Also, if you have locking lug bolts into which the special wrench tool is inserted, powder coating may make subsequent insertions difficult, if not impossible. Same may also occur if you have spline locking lug bolts.

[Jim Peek]

Thank you Dmitry at Pelican and Jdavis7600. I appreciate both of your comments. You are correct Dmirty that I was trying to change from the stock non polished warn look to something cleaner. If you look at my recent orders I purchased stock off silver with the intention to powder coat them black. I will return these on Monday and reorder them as black paint IF the paint is tougher than what I can get from a can from my local hardware store. How does the paint hold up? Are they just can sprayed. Thanks!

Jdavis - thanks for your great advise

[TOM RUE]

They are called nuts not bolts

[Brian in Tucson]

Originally Posted by TOM RUE

They are called nuts not bolts

My Boxster has lug bolts. Lug nutsare used on cars with studs, like my Toyota.

[jdavis7600]

Originally Posted by TOM RUE

They are called nuts not bolts

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a19841056/wheel-studs-versus-wheel-bolts-difference-explained/

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by Jim Peek

Thank you Dmitry at Pelican and Jdavis7600. I appreciate both of your comments. You are correct Dmirty that I was trying to change from the stock non polished warn look to something cleaner. If you look at my recent orders I purchased stock off silver with the intention to powder coat them black. I will return these on Monday and reorder them as black paint IF the paint is tougher than what I can get from a can from my local hardware store. How does the paint hold up? Are they just can sprayed. Thanks!

Jdavis - thanks for your great advise

I don't have personal experience with them, but I'm guessing the Genuine ones are a bit higher quality than just from a rattle can - likely some sort of oxidized finish/coating. Nonetheless, even with anodized ones, which are supposed to be a very hard coating, a wrench will eventually get to them. Maybe just use a rattle can and then reapply again down the line.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by TOM RUE

They are called nuts not bolts

Nope, & the engine is cooled by liquids

[kohi30]

I have had a set of lug bolts powder coated black before and had no issues with fatigue or stress from the oven. The parts are not left in there long enough really to qualify as a heat treatment. The powder will stand up a bit better than rattle can paint but the lug wrench/ socket will mar it. I had to order a special socket with a nylon insert to protect the lug bolt.