Hey all,

So I've got a bad lugnut. Messed up the cap part. It's still on the car and in one piece, so I need advice on how to get it off. I've searched and found lots of stuff on "crap lugnuts", "why 2 piece lugs, "help!", "oh dear lord", etc, but no one seems to have managed my dumb problem.

What can I do?

Thanks

 

The first time I farqued one up I simply went to my friendly corner mechanic and begged forgiveness. The lowest man on the roster was assigned to pound an impact socket over the remnants of the lugnut and then remove it with a power bar. I slipped him a tenner and I'm his hero for life. And vice versa.

 

Chances are the tin cap is going to break off... Nothing you can do about that.

Then get yourself an extractor socket.. These dig into the metal and will hopefully remove the nut. In my case it ended up snapping 3 of them, but that's the price you pay... If they are not completely rusted on, then they should come off. If they snap then it's air hammer time.

George

 

And by all means, once you do manage to get that seized lug nut off, replace all 20 of them with the one-piece solid chrome lug nuts that are specifically referenced throughout the previous lug nut threads that you've read. There are multiple sources so you can order them on-line or pick them up at a local dealer. Just be sure to follow through and do it. This is some of the wisest money you can spend on your car....

 

I really doubt it is siezed on there. This was completely user error. So should I hammer a impact socket on there and go to town, or something else?

 

Id go with the extractor socket. It's designed for this purpose. It digs into the nut as it is spun, and its designed to be put into a vise and have the offending nut pounded out with a punch and a hammer. The problem with a reg socket is you're going to have to hammer on a smaller one, and then go from there.

Something like this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=G16

George