One missing lug nut
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
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One missing lug nut
I am about to take a trip and do not have time to replace a lug nut I twisted off on the right front wheel on my '84. Will this affect the driving and cause right front tire to be out of balance?
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
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[QUOTE=jerryL98;1573911445]Probably won't hurt anything but I wouldn't feel all that safe at highway speed.
[/QUOT
My lug nuts did not seem tight enough when tightening with my small tee handle lug wrench, so I put a pipe over the end to get more torque. That is how I twisted the lug nut off. I tried to remove the right front tire immediately and another lug nut collapsed so the lug wrench will not take it off. Any ideas how to get that nut off? I guess I feel safe at highway speeds since I tightened the other four nuts pretty darn tight.
[/QUOTMy lug nuts did not seem tight enough when tightening with my small tee handle lug wrench, so I put a pipe over the end to get more torque. That is how I twisted the lug nut off. I tried to remove the right front tire immediately and another lug nut collapsed so the lug wrench will not take it off. Any ideas how to get that nut off? I guess I feel safe at highway speeds since I tightened the other four nuts pretty darn tight.
Race Director
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From: El Paso Texas
Race Director
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From: Color my life with the chaos of trouble.
My lug nuts did not seem tight enough when tightening with my small tee handle lug wrench, so I put a pipe over the end to get more torque. That is how I twisted the lug nut off. I tried to remove the right front tire immediately and another lug nut collapsed so the lug wrench will not take it off. Any ideas how to get that nut off? I guess I feel safe at highway speeds since I tightened the other four nuts pretty darn tight.
I use stock GM lug nuts and torque lugs to about 120ft-lbs on the track car (ARP studs) and even with that I have never had one so tight that it "collapsed."
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: El Paso Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
torque your lug nuts for free, whether you bought your tires there or not.
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I did not use a torque wrench so I do not know how tight. I used my small 1' X 1' tee lug wrench and put a 2' pipe over wrench. I was pushing about 2' from center of lug but did not push with all my strength.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Dublin CA
should torque to 100 pounds. Take a few minutes and replace the stud and but. You can use a punch and hammer to knock the old stud out....be sure that you turn the disk so you have a small free area behind the stud for it to be driven out. Then put the new one in and rap it with a hammer a couple of time to seat it as well as you can. Then place a several washers over the stud and install a nut and tighten to 100 pounds. Install the wheel and torque all nuts to 100 pounds. Drive the car for 15-20 minutes and re-torque.Check the torque for the next couple of days, sometimes it take a while to seat the stud.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: LaGrange Highlands IL
I wouldn't risk it, it doesn't take long to replace a stud or lug nut. I had a stripped one I just replaced and noticed a few were changed already. I didn't drive the car until I replaced it.
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What if you get a flat in BFE and havent made that repair?
Race Director
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the only trip i'd make in that 84 is one down to the repair shop. seriously, if you twisted one stud off with that cheater bar thing, the other studs are most likely in a weakened state. torque on threaded fasteners is a science in itself, and too often taken too lightly. wheels studs are pretty hefty pieces, and i can only imagine the amount of torque the OP applied. i would not trust the other wheel studs. taking this car on a trip - traveling at 60-70 mph on the highway - this scenario has disaster written all over it...
here's some good reading:
http://www.metalconsult.com/articles...20Failures.pdf
if it were my car, i'd be replacing all 20 wheel studs, and using a frickin' torque wrench!
here's some good reading:
http://www.metalconsult.com/articles...20Failures.pdf
if it were my car, i'd be replacing all 20 wheel studs, and using a frickin' torque wrench!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 342
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From: liberty illinois
I whole heartedly agree Mike! I've been in BFE in Central Nevada and had one lug that had been tightened with so much torque I couldn't break it loose so I had to get a piece of pipe I had in the truck and actually had to get a 9 o'clock and bounce on it while praying for it of break off so I could get the tire off, change it and get home.
