56 gold le sabre wheels.

[Russell griffiths]

Hi from sunny England, I’m posting this question for a buddy of mine who’s not that flash on the computer.

He has a set of the 56 gold wheels, I believe these are the rare ones, the question is does any know the correct wheel nuts to use, he has some standard looking steel wheel nuts on them but we are both concerned that the aluminium centre on these wheels needs a different wheel nut.

I’m a car guy but more into hotrods and stuff, just trying to help him out.

Cheers russ.

[Lexi]

Russell the Master Parts List does not provide a separate part number for lug nuts designated for the aluminum sabre rims. So the same nuts were used for both rim types, steel and sabre, in 1956. No other data is given, not even in the hardware section. Been a while since I have looked at mine but I do seem to recall that there is the "usual" conical taper to them. This taper is not stated in the MPL, but I think the usual is 60 degrees. If your buddy has what are perhaps different lug nuts just eyeball them. If studs original, the driver side are LH threads with the passenger side being RH. Not sure if that would change for a car shipped to the UK when new. You are quite right that one must be careful NOT to over tighten these, on pain of distorting the aluminum rim. Torque values as stated in the shop manual are 90 - 100 ft. lbs minimum to maximum. Clay/Lexi

Edit: The link & info below offers reproductions and has both LH and RH lugs with the stated thread size. Yes, a 60 degree taper. Wheel studs also available, if UK ones different:

LH Lug Nut ATTRIBUTES:

Seat Type: Conical Seat - 60 Deg.

Nut Height: 0.625 in.

Hex Size: 13/16 in.

Thread Size: 1/2 Inch -20

Thread Type: Left Hand

FITS:

1952-1959 Cadillac Models


RH lug nut ATTRIBUTES:

Seat Type: Conical Seat - 60 Deg.

Nut Height: 0.625 Inch

Hex Size: 0.812 Inch

Thread Size: 1/2-20 Inch

Thread Type: Right Hand

FITS:

1938-1942 Cadillac Models

1946 Cadillac Models

1947 Cadillac Models EXCEPT Series 75 Limousine

1948-1959 Cadillac Models

https://www.caddydaddy.com/nsearch/?q=wheel+lug+nuts

[Roger Zimmermann]

Russel, I have a '56 Biarritz and a '57 Brougham. Both cars are equipped with the factory aluminum wheels; the nuts are the usual ones. There were no specific nuts for those wheels.
The torque for the nuts is also the same as for steel wheels, 90 to 100 foot pounds.

[Russell griffiths]

Thanks for the reply’s lads, another question then.

If they use the standard nuts with a 60 degree conical taper on them, then should the wheel have a corresponding 60 degree inset taper for the nut to locate into.

His wheels seam to have a reasonably large hole compared to the stud diameter.
And they have a flat face, so it looks like the tapered nut is trying to locate on a flat surface.

[Roger Zimmermann]

It's so. Have a look at that picture I did many years ago when I restored the wheels to be rechromed.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I used my standard lug nuts on my sabres.