Pelican-Offered "Stoddard" Soft Socket

[Ironman88]

I purchased an expensive "soft" socket for use on a set of new titanium lug nuts for my 911. I purchased the socket here on Pelican.

Here's the product:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/T52508300.htm?pn=T52-508-300&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOCRBhA8EiwA0X8hi_UI-v94-JdKIzv-DDE-NxZwmWdhjr-Va0Yjo-3r-SwN1Dui691_oxoC6akQAvD_BwE

Total cost with tax and shipping was $62.22

This socket destroyed the PVD finish on the new lug nuts. The tool is just terrible. The net result was the loss of $62 for the worthless tool, and $300 for the set of lug nuts.

And - by the way, Pelican will not provide a refund of any kind on tools...

There is no apparent way to leave a review for the tool on the Pelican sales site - unfortunately.

If you care about the finish of your lug nuts - DO NOT purchase this tool.

[theiceman]

that's odd .. were your new lug nuts Factory or aftermarket ? ( i have no idea what PVD means ) Painted Very Dark ??
any pics of the damage ?

[Ironman88]

PVD - Physical Vapor Deposition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_vapor_deposition

Here's the (aftermarket) provider:

https://www.tiporscheproducts.com/product-page/closed-oem-style-titanium-lug-nuts-black-pvd

The individual that sold me the titanium lug nuts (great quality!) was kind enough to send me a replacement set (and at no additional cost to me!). However I did not feel that under the circumstances that he should have to eat the cost of the second set since the damage was caused by the faulty tool. So I paid for the second set.

I installed the second set with a different 19mm socket and the end result was perfect.

[GH85Carrera]

The soft socket I have is one I bought in 1996 a year after I bought my 911. It has a very hard plastic insert that contacts the nut. Rule one for any lug nut for a 911 is no power tools at all. Just turn with a wrench and tighten with a torque wrench.

It will still wear the finish after a lot of use. It is just a lot of pressure on the corners of the nut and wear will happen.

[Ironman88]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The soft socket I have is one I bought in 1996 a year after I bought my 911. It has a very hard plastic insert that contacts the nut. Rule one for any lug nut for a 911 is no power tools at all. Just turn with a wrench and tighten with a torque wrench.

It will still wear the finish after a lot of use. It is just a lot of pressure on the corners of the nut and wear will happen.

Certainly is true.

In this instance, hand tools were used...

[theiceman]

i wonder if original factory nuts are finished with more resiliency and would not have done this with provided socket ?

[dg567]

Robert, I'm glad we were able to fix your issue.

Like I said, I've never had any complaints on the durability of the PVD finish on the lug nuts I make.

What makes that a "soft" socket? The only "soft" sockets I remember are ones that were sold with a plastic insert on the inside that made contact with the lug nuts, and I don't think they are available any longer.

[KTL]

The intent behind the aluminum socket (I too have one of these that I bought many years ago direct from Stoddard- early 2000s after buying my ‘87 911 in March 2000) is to avoid a harder steel socket from rounding the edges of the factory aluminum lug nuts. That said, even the anodized aluminum lug nuts would show the edges of the black anodizing removed by the socket. I had a set of brand new aluminum lugs way back then and I noticed the edges were not black anymore.

Oh well. I tried. They’re lug nuts so I sorta got over it. But I’ll admit my anal behavior is still hard to resist. I hate that the plating has chipped off the edges of my steel lug nuts.

[dg567]

I remember these, but haven't seen them forsale anywhere in a long time.

[Ironman88]

Originally Posted by theiceman

i wonder if original factory nuts are finished with more resiliency and would not have done this with provided socket ?

Maybe someone else can conduct that experiment. Not me.

[Ironman88]

Originally Posted by dg567

Robert, I'm glad we were able to fix your issue.

Like I said, I've never had any complaints on the durability of the PVD finish on the lug nuts I make.

What makes that a "soft" socket? The only "soft" sockets I remember are ones that were sold with a plastic insert on the inside that made contact with the lug nuts, and I don't think they are available any longer.

Thanks again Danny for the exceptional after-sale support, and for a great product.

[jac1976]

There are a number of options out there with a protective core.

[rumlyne]

I bought one from pelican a few years ago. The craap plastic broke in the socket
before i finished torqueing the lugnuts the first time I used it.
It made a nice splash in the creek outside the garage.
A set of steel lugs is cheaper and better.
For street use I put the old alum. one's back on. Every now and then I hit them
with a little paint.
Car shows bore me. YMMV

[sky1jord]

Yup, they don't make 'em like they used to

[Geneman]

dg is THE BEST!! I ended up snapping the cf . hood prop I got from him by raising the garage door while car was high on the lift yes I am an idiot. he sent me another one asap... dg. tell me how much to send you!!.. BTW. I also have dg titanium 110mm studs and lug nuts,. together they work like a charm. beautiful

[BSNMOE]

i have the aluminum soft socket but also use a thin plastic bag over the nut.

[Uwon]

Originally Posted by BSNMOE

i have the aluminum soft socket but also use a thin plastic bag over the nut.

Same here but I use masking take inside which I replace as needed.
No issues on my yellow zinc plated open lug nuts.
Johan

[KTL]

By the way you can indeed leave a review on the product. It just takes some time to get the follow up email from Pelican that requests you to review your purchase. At least, that's how it used to work. With the new catalog site, maybe that feature doesn't happen anymore. I have seen a lot of people complaining that the new site is NFG and is a downgrade from the old.

[Ironman88]

Originally Posted by KTL

By the way you can indeed leave a review on the product. It just takes some time to get the follow up email from Pelican that requests you to review your purchase. At least, that's how it used to work. With the new catalog site, maybe that feature doesn't happen anymore. I have seen a lot of people complaining that the new site is NFG and is a downgrade from the old.

I'll be sure to leave a review on it - if that opportunity is possible.

[creaturecat]

use a black marker pen. for touch ups.