I hadn't taken the wheels off my XJ since buying it. It was a Florida car so corrosion wasn't a problem. What I didn't bargain for was the Chimp with an impact wrench. Every lug was on with at least 500ftlbs. I was doing pretty well balanced at the end of the breaker bar (19mm socket) until the last wheel. Snap! On closer inspection the nut had sheared in half leaving the pretty aluminum bit with me, and the rest of the steel bit firmly locking the wheel on. Enquiries amounted to the use of a "LugRipper" (which you can purchase online for about $200), or get the man at the tyre place to do it. Alas the "LugRipper" also trashes the stud. Which means a stud replacement, but not on the X350 - its integral with the hub! New hub - $170 approx. I started drilling; trying to stay away from the stud threads and wheel at the bottom, but still reduce the amount of nut. It the occurred to me that the washer at the bottom of the nut would help as an indicator on depth --- and if a got a bi-metal hole saw to clear the stud internally I could be out of jail. After messing about, and thinking about this for a couple of days the hole saw (3/4 inch 19mm) took a couple of minutes and it was done. After some thought you could probably just use the holesaw, as long as you kept it parallel with the stud (the holes helped guide the saw in my case). The washer at the end of the nut spins when you get down there. The core was easily removed. Hope this helps someone.

 

I just had a similar encounter on our 2004 VDP. Had a flat and found thatthere was no chance of getting the lug nuts off with the Jaguar providedwrench. Even after borrowing a socket wrench, had to have car towed to myalignment shop (late a night and thus premium on towing charge).

After the new tires were installed, I manually torqued the lug nuts with the hope Imight be able to remove them in the future. Also, I will carry an appropriatewrench in our cars going forward.

My alignment shop also suggests that the lug nuts should be loosened and torquedperiodically.

 

brakeboost,

Thanks for taking the time to post your account and photos. You came up with an ingenious solution that will help others in the future. Well done!

Cheers,

Don

 

Great idea for using a hole saw. I had one of my rear lug nuts freeze on my 04 XJ when the car was only a few months old. We suspected grit got in the threads, as the lug nuts had been tightened by hand with a torque wrench. Long story short, the dealer had to chisel the nut off which damaged the hardened stud. Once the stud and wheel were off, they were able to replace the individual stud without replacing the hub. If I recall correctly, they said the studs are simply a press fit.

 

Always use a light oil or antisieze on the nuts and studs before installing. Only torque using a torque wrench. Many sorry shops will use the old line of "I can turn the impact wrench way down". I have walked out of every shop that gave me that line...and there have been a lot! You usually learn that they gorilla torqued the nuts on some lonely road in the middle of the night.

 

Shortly after purchasing my 2005 XJR I tried to install locking lug nuts only to discover I could not successfully budge any lug nut. I did however loosen two metal caps! Since the dealer installed new brake pads I took it back to him and his mechanic managed to break a lug nut. Long story short I ended up replacing the Jaguar lug nuts with appropriate Toyota solid one piece Lug Nuts and I torqued them down to Jaguar specifications for my car.