stripped lug nut

[Allen_69]

So to make a long story short, I let the shop that changed my tires remove and reinstall all 4 tires on the bronco and he used a impact wrench to install the lug nuts. Not a big deal as long as it's not cranked up. This weekend I needed to replace a set of wheel bearings and Yup. one lug was so tight that I stripped the lug nut and still didnt' get it off. BTW it is possible to replace the wheel bearings without removing the wheel, but it's a pain in the a**.

So does anybody have and suggestions for getting a stripped, Overtorqued lug nut off of a wheel?

 

[huged29]

There are a couple ways that you could get it off.

1st- Go to sears and buy one of their lifetime warrenty sockets that is smaller then the acutal lug nut. Pound the socket on there until it won't budge then try turning. Then just go get a free replacement from sears.

2nd- If you have a welder, you could weld a nut to the socket and pull it off that way.

3rd- If all else fails you could drill and cut it off.

 

[wildbill]

;D ;D ;D If it is a steel wheel you can use a nut spliter on a mag it will be more work. And on the front you can pull the hub and drum off and use a die grinder in the back and drive it out good luck. : : : Bill 8) :

 

[Allen_69]

[quote author=wildbill link=board=5;threadid=19704;start=0#msg151165 date=1057599883]
;D ;D ;D If it is a steel wheel you can use a nut spliter on a mag it will be more work. And on the front you can pull the hub and drum off and use a die grinder in the back and drive it out good luck. : : : Bill 8) :
[/quote]

Great minds think alike ;D
I was thinking the nut splitter but I don't think I'd be able to get it on there, I think the hub will be in the way. the die grinder will probably be the way I go.

 

[Broncobowsher]

First thing I would do is take it to the place that put the tires on and have them pull it off. But since you don't like the place and want to do it yourself...

Depends on what stripped out. If it is the corners of the nut, do the pound on a socket trick works good. Also removes locking lugnuts without the key.

If the THREADS are stripped, then there is a tougher problem. Often the nut will spin, but not come off. just remove the other lugnuts. pull on the tire while spinning the nut off with an impact. with some luck you can get the threads to catch and back the nut off.

Another option is to tighten the nut off. just go until the stud breaks and deal with the broken stud.

 

[Bear1911]

There is a tool that is made specificaly for the removal of rounded off lug nuts.

Here is one and I am sure that there are others.

http://www.brocksupply.com/html/products/Tools.htm

 

[bert]

Take it back to the Tire Shop that did the work. Let them pay for any damages done to wheels etc.
Specify that no air wreches be used, only a torque wrench. It is easy to overtighten lug nuts with an air wrench without hammering on them. They can spin on so quick that when they bottom out they are too tight. Air wrenches have been known to warp some rotors because of unequal tightening patterns and overtorque.
My 0.02

 

[fuseman]

I'd say weld on another bolt and pull it off that way, bring it back to the shop that installed them.

 

[lightningfast2]

the best way to get off a lug nut from a stud that is stiped or that the stud spins on the rotor is to take a 4 way lug wrench or even just a regular single tire iron and put it on and stomp on it till the stud breaks. This came from a few guys I know who had shady pasts when i had the same problem. I tied the smaller socket, torch, everything. Then tried the 4 way lug wrench and stomped on it and it broke in 30 seconds. Tire off. stud out and then put the new one in and done.

Give it a try. Oh and it won't harm the rim as long as you don't let the end slam down on it.

Scot

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

To answer the other question, Yes you can remove the the hub/rotor with the wheel still mounted. The only drawback to doing this is the extra weight.
With the wheel and hub removed, the offending stud could be drilled or chiseled from the rear without marring the wheel.

 

[BwoncoHowie]

Pound the smaller socket on, it has worked every time for me. The metric in-between size seems to be the hot ticket. I still say the tire store owes you a set of lug nuts, so take it to them first.

~BH