lug nut removal

P

Paul Bjarnason

Senior Member
I want to help a friend remove a lug nut on a rear wheel where the swedging was not done correctly and, thus, the stud spins and the lug nut will not loosen. What has worked for anyone else in this situation? I don't want to use a cutting torch and I can't get a grinder in between the spokes. I'm thinking that maybe drilling some holes in the lug nut and then splitting the nut with a cold chisel might work. Or possibly an osscilating tool with a hack saw blade on it to cut the nut (and stud) down the middle. Thoughts and recommendations, please.
 
If you have the other nuts off try pulling on the wheel while turning the stuck nut. The stud should have a nub on it and if you can get it in the slot on the hub you may be able to get it off.
 

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You might find that the hub is not solid on the taper maybe it has shims . I would remove the hub cap and undo the axle nut if it is not tight tight you could get lucky and wiggle the hub and wheel off as a unit . You could then MIG a tag on the loose stud and undo the lug nut . My experience is that a lot of cars the hub is not mechanically bonded to the axle taper so you could get lucky . Back off the brake adjusters and bop the tyre sideways with a hefty bopper . If it wont budge back the big nut off a couple of turns and go ahead and astern in the driveway to pop the hub off the taper .

John in was sunny 55F evening twilight now Suffolk County England .
 
Are you unbolting with a manual socket, a 4-way, or what?

Don't try a chisel or something like that. The blows like that will break the shoulder the studs go through on that 90+ year old hub.
 
Someone previously suggested removing 4 nuts and lowering the weight of the car onto the loose stud to provide some friction. This may work. Bob C' s suggestion is a good one too. You might be able to combine the 2 effects.
Otherwise it is out with a drill, which is what I had to do.
SAJ in NZ
 
SAJ said:
Someone previously suggested removing 4 nuts and lowering the weight of the car onto the loose stud to provide some friction. This may work. Bob C' s suggestion is a good one too. You might be able to combine the 2 effects.
Otherwise it is out with a drill, which is what I had to do.
SAJ in NZ
Click to expand...

Yes, and use a rattle wrench.
 
I had the same problem...with a Dremel Motor Tool& cutting disk, I cut a slot in the end of the stud and the held the stud with a bladed screw driver and untreated the nut..Good Luck
 
I had to remove the entire hub, drum & wheel assembly from the car. Tack welded the stud on the back to the hub, and was able to remove the lug nut that way. after the nut was off i replaced the one stud.
 
yeah it is hard to find an old hub that hasn't had the wheel stud heads welded.

some are brazed some are stick welded.

i really want to tack mine with the MIG but so far i have refrained. and so far they still hold tight.
i am waiting for the day on the side of the hyway when they spin.

ou
 
Take it to a friends house. Jack it up and put it on a jackstand. Take the 4 lugs off. Have your helper kind of pinch the wheel p\by pulling on it, or use the weight oif the car to create side pressure on the stud. Turn the impact gun down. Way down! Hit the trigger briefly till it bumps loose. Add air pressure at incraments of 10 lbs till it breaks free. Once it starts spinning keep the pinch/side pressure on and don't let off the trigger.
 
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