Stripped Lug Nut
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 5
From: Upstate South Carolina
Stripped Lug Nut
Trying to rebuild my front suspension. All the lugs on my wheels were difficult to remove. I got all but one off. I stripped the remaining one pretty good. What's the best way to get it off now?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Originally Posted by mstanton
Trying to rebuild my front suspension. All the lugs on my wheels were difficult to remove. I got all but one off. I stripped the remaining one pretty good. What's the best way to get it off now?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Originally Posted by mstanton
I thought that might be the only way to go. Are there any special tools are just start banging away?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 872
Likes: 3
From: Cortlandt Manor New York
Before you get too involved go to a good tire shop. I had the same problem and was going to chisel the nut off but I tried my local tire shop. They wacked a socket onto the lug nut with a 5 pound hammer then hooked it up to the air and it came right off with a little coaxing. It was not as easy to get the lug out of the socket but I didn't care.
Didn't cost me anything. I told them to go ahead and rotate the tires while they were at it.
Didn't cost me anything. I told them to go ahead and rotate the tires while they were at it.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Originally Posted by lowbuck72
All you need to do is take a lug wrench or socket and flex handle to the nut. It will snap off without much effort. Then just tap out the stud and replace it.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Once the nut is off, just replace the stud, it'll take 10 minutes. If the nut is still oin the stud, and the threads are stripped, by trying to remove the stud, the heat builds up so fast due to friction, the stud will snap off, guarranteed.
A wheel stud is essentailly a spring. The clamping force that holds the wheel on is due to the slight stetching of the stud as the nut is tightened. When the nut is removed, the stud returns to it's original shape.(elastic deformation) If a lugnut is overtightened, the stud gets stretched to the point it will not return to it's original length, then people say the threads are stripped. (plastic deformation)If it's a mild case, the nut comes off, but it takes effort (doesn't spin freely). In any case, if any lugnuts are difficult to remove or install, replace the studs and nuts. It's cheaper than losing a wheel on the road someday. If the studs are just a little rusty, you can clean them up by chasing the threads.
A wheel stud is essentailly a spring. The clamping force that holds the wheel on is due to the slight stetching of the stud as the nut is tightened. When the nut is removed, the stud returns to it's original shape.(elastic deformation) If a lugnut is overtightened, the stud gets stretched to the point it will not return to it's original length, then people say the threads are stripped. (plastic deformation)If it's a mild case, the nut comes off, but it takes effort (doesn't spin freely). In any case, if any lugnuts are difficult to remove or install, replace the studs and nuts. It's cheaper than losing a wheel on the road someday. If the studs are just a little rusty, you can clean them up by chasing the threads.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
From: Melrose Florida
Originally Posted by mstanton
I thought that might be the only way to go. Are there any special tools are just start banging away?
Nut splitters, I've seen at discount auto parts stores and hardware stores.
Has a wedge that tightens down with a wrench, will bite right into it.
Steve
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
