Lug nut stuck.

kilby

kilby

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Charlotte, NC
I've broken one 3/8" ratchet and one 1/2"-3/8" impact adapter trying to get a lug nut off. Right now there's a 12pt. socket hammered onto the nut which is what I've been trying to use to get the lug nut loose. NOTHING will budge it. I'm thinking I'll have to weld a sacrificial extension onto the end of the socket just so I can get it off the nut. But then what? How can I get the nut loose? Any ideas?

I've already tried heat and PB Blast.

I've never had a lug nut seize up like this before. Even the worst ones, I've been able to get off w/ my breaker bar. :rolleyes:
 
Get an impact spcket that fits on it and a breaker bar. The slide a 7ft piece of tube over that. Wear safety goggles and put your weight into it. :)
 
Put your lug wrench on the lug nut and then put your high lift jack handle on the end of the lug wrench and lean on it gradually. It's amazing what leverage will do for ya. If you don't have a lug wrench go get one they are only like 8 bucks and they are strong. Go ahead and get a new stud too just in case it breaks.
 
It's likely crossthreaded and rusted, put a long ass breaker bar on it and snap the lug off. Replace the lug and nut.
 
WTF are you doing trying to get a stuck lug nut off with a 3/8" socket in the first place?

I'm with Rob... you're fawked, snap that bitch off.
 
The nut was rounded off, and my lug wrench wouldn't work...
So, I tried the ole bang-a-12pt-socket-on-it so I could get a wrench on it.

So now, there's a socket stuck to the nut that's stuck to the lug. 3/8's was just what I had on hand. And I broke my impact adapter that let me use my 1/2" breaker bar. I didn't think I'd break that, really. Too much Wheaties, I guess. :flipoff2:

And to make matters more stoopid, the 3/8 drive part of that is stuck in the socket so I can't get another wrench in there to get it off. So, I guess I gotta weld a bar to the socket so I can at least pull that off the nut, but then I've still got the issue of a rounded nut.

And, the hi-lift handle is what broke the ratchet before all this mess.

And now, everybody knows what a TOOL I am. :smokin: :D

OH, and the nut splitter won't work cuz the nut is recessed down in a hole in the wheel.
 
Yeah, I laugh at other peoples' misfortunes sometimes... guess I'm gettin' my dose now. :flipoff2:

Just wait til Rich can't get the top off the rustoleum can when he gets around to finishing up the CaROOZA's cowl. That'll be friggin' hilarious. :flipoff2: :flipoff2:
 
kilby said:
Just wait til Rich can't get the top off the rustoleum can when he gets around to finishing up the CaROOZA's cowl. That'll be friggin' hilarious. :flipoff2: :flipoff2:
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I should tell you the story of how it started as that, and ended up as a huge mess on the garage floor, and flinging a paint bomb.. :D
 
put the lug wrench on the lug where the handle of the lug wrench is about 8" off the ground. get a jack and put it under the lug wrench. jack it up until the lug breaks free.
 
go back and read the rest of the post. he has a socket stuck on the lug already. kilby im gunna go with welding somthing on it. just get some rod stock and bend it into your own wrench and weld it on
 
didn't you say something about having recessed lug holes in you rims? might be a bit difficult to break it off from the outside. only thing I can think of, and you'll trash this particular hole, is to remove all other lug nuts, and pull/pry/slam the rim off breaking the lug. like what you have to do when some idiot runs locking lug nuts and forgot his key.
 
They make special bits that look like sockets but fit over the nut and will bite into the lugnut to turn it out, anyone can buy them from sears and use it to get those special lug nuts off. Kinda makes them pointless hua?

About your dilemma. Does it not suck that what SHOULD take 30 sec. at the most turns into a half day ordeal? :mad: For some reason I get one of those everytime I try and do a big project.

Just weld on it like you are saying. ;)
 
What are you doing to my poor cherokee?

I never had the wheels off, so at least I didn't do it, but that doesn't help you much.

Do you have a craftsman rachet? Use it with the Hilift handle. At least if you break it, it will be replaced.
You may also try using some thing under the pivot point of the rachet, then stand on it. Bounce if neccasary... :D
 
92illpony said:
drive that crap next to the dumpster and leave it. go to the dealership and get a new ride.
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OH this helps. Don't post if you don't have anything constructive to say.
 
nut

I would saturate it with WD-40 or any other good break free solution and let it work over night. Next get you socket off, if possible, then use a removal type socket and an impact gun. It will come off or break the lug bolt, which can be replaced. You may have to split your socket to remove it.
 
Rob said:
OH this helps. Don't post if you don't have anything constructive to say.
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I think in this case it's " destructive"

Several things been said to try, I can't ass to, but, I am more interested in what caused this in the first place. I sure hope the rest of the lugs come off with no problem. I had a car trailor once and went to change wheels,... I broke 12 lugs off! Had to replace all of them, some one had put metric lugs nuts on standard studs!
 
When I found this'n stuck, I took my lug wrench to all the others to make sure I wouldn't have to repeat this process. None of them were stuck. I gave 'em all a lil dose of WD-40 just to keep 'em smooth.


Anybody in Charlotte got a portable impact setup I can borrow? :rolleyes:
 
forget WD-40. anti-sieze compound. brush it on lightly on the lug studs, you'll never have a problem again.
 
thers really only two things we do at the shop when this happens and one of them you cant do b/c of the socket being stuck, there is a special tool to get off locking lugnuts or rounded lugnuts that hammers on and then hit it with the impact gun, but that probably wont work for you.

the other way is to grab an air hammer and fine point punch bit for it. you actually push the stud out of the vehicle thru the lugnut, then voilla, the lugnut drops on the floor. you will have to replace the offending stud and lugnut though. as far as the portable air goes, i have a full powertank sitting up at CRS, I WILL BE COMING TO CHARLOTTE THIS WEEK AND COULD BRING YOU AN AIR HAMMER AND TANK. probably around tues/wed. depending when andy thinks my rig is gonna be completed.
 
Rich said:
forget WD-40. anti-sieze compound. brush it on lightly on the lug studs, you'll never have a problem again.
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yeah, until your wheels fall off! :lol:

never use any type of lubricant on lug studs. some jackass put white lithium grease on all of the studs on all of the triangle rent-a-car airport shuttles and i spent an entire rainy ass day cleaning them off, waiting for them to fall off again, and repeating.

use a wire brush to remove rust or corrosion and leave it at that. you will not be able to acheive proper torque with anything else on them.
 
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