frozen/rounded lug nut, what do I do?
06-12-2006, 10:12 AM
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 5,425
Had a flat/ripped tire. One lug nut was rusted, rounded, and looked like someone had tried hitting it with a chisel. We tried hammering on a smaller socket, no go. We tried chipping away at it with a cold chisel, and cutting it off with a dremel. It's mangled beyond belief now, luckily we didn't mark up the wheel too bad (and any marks will be under the center cap, it's a vert wheel).
So how can I get this damn thing off? The whole assembly on that corner is almost removed, just have to get the tie rod out of the steering knuckle, and it'll be loose. I had to get the car towed home, it pissed me off.
Once I get the hub off of the car, can I get to the back of the lug bolt to cut it? Since the lug nut is tapered, even if I cut it off flush it wouldn't free it. I'm afraid to drill, for messing up the aluminum wheel.
So how can I get this damn thing off? The whole assembly on that corner is almost removed, just have to get the tie rod out of the steering knuckle, and it'll be loose. I had to get the car towed home, it pissed me off.
Once I get the hub off of the car, can I get to the back of the lug bolt to cut it? Since the lug nut is tapered, even if I cut it off flush it wouldn't free it. I'm afraid to drill, for messing up the aluminum wheel.
06-12-2006, 10:41 AM
#3
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Location: Tallahassee, FL
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I think I'm going to end up drilling it out. There's nothing left there to chisel. I cut maybe 80% through the lug bolt before realizing it was tapere, and I don't even know if there are any remnants of the lug nut on there still. (but no, I don't have any air chisel...yet)
06-12-2006, 11:59 AM
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: A2, MI
Posts: 453
what about grinding/cutting some flats into the nut and try tyising it off with a jumbo pair of locking pliers (maybr with a breaker bar too)
or let all the air out of the tire (ESSENTIAL STEP!!!), blow-torch it, then give it a try
or let all the air out of the tire (ESSENTIAL STEP!!!), blow-torch it, then give it a try
06-13-2006, 03:02 AM
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 38
Man, thats a pain in the ***.
I always end up breaking the stud before a lugnut will ever round off. A much better situation, especially with a 5 lug
I say drill it too. Be patient about it and you probably won't have any problem if you're good (and lucky)
I always end up breaking the stud before a lugnut will ever round off. A much better situation, especially with a 5 lug
I say drill it too. Be patient about it and you probably won't have any problem if you're good (and lucky)
