My bolts on the wheels are pretty rusty looking from the outside.

Is there a way to clean them up and get them black again or should I just buy some newer ones? If so, what is the best replacement? I have S lites..

 

Inspect the lug bolts for wear / safety then you can either sandblast them and re-paint them black or you can buy 16 new lug bolts. Weigh the cost vs effort vs time vs safety and see which one works best for you!

Good Luck!

 

I like to clean & inspect and repaint my lug bolts every couple of years. Use good paint like Rust-Oleum and bake the freshly painted bolts in an oven at 200 degrees for 10 minutes or so. They will look better then new. I have a 2x4 with holes drilled for the bolts to fit in. That way I don't paint the bolts threads and it works great for painting the bolts and oven curing the paint

 

I've had lug bolts break on me so I am extra sensitive to this. Rust by itself may not be a problem.

When you break them free, do they spin easliy or do they continue to be hard to remove? As you remove them, do they screech as you unscrew them? When you tighten them, are they hard to get in before they clamp down on the wheel? When you torque them to spec. do they slip and then become tight? If any of those things happen, replace them. If you break one it will be much more expensive to repair than buying a new set. If none of those things are happening, then it is just a cosmetic issue and you can do what ever you want as far as cleaning them goes.

 

Thanks everyone !! big help !! when 70 degrees rolls around i have a ton of painting to do!