Locking Nuts Stuck

haseebgill12 · Post by **haseebgill12** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:18 pm

So I bought an R/t. The previous (idiot) owner has overtightened the locking nuts and they have now seized. I have two flat tyres now and cant get the wheels off. The locking nut key is useless as whenever I exert any force it slips off and just wears out the head of the nuts.
After looking online I have found that the easiest method to remove these is to use a breaker bar and a socket which is slightly smaller than the nut. However these nuts are a completely different style to conventional ones:

http://www.incarshop.co.uk/acatalog/Sto ... E115.4.jpg

I took a digital calliper to one of the nuts today and measured the widest point to be 25mm.

My question is that I know you need to hammer on a socket which will get "stuck" on the nut. So should I buy a socket which is 1mm smaller than 25mm? Or one that is 25mm?

I really need help guys. If anyone can suggest an easier way to remove these particular nuts then your advice would be greatly appreciated.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:05 pm

Buy a 24 and 25, I used a 15 on one that measured 17, then had to hammer the sockets out. It's easy if you have a vice, hard with just someone holding the socket and someone else hammering.

Easiest way would be getting it towed to a shot, but that would be the most expensive.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:45 pm

I would try cutting them off (in pieces - carefully ) with a Dremel tool and cutting wheel, if this happened to me.

I am sure there are other, maybe better, ways of accomplishing this - But that is what I would do, if this were my car. ( Since I already have a Dremel tool and cutting wheels.)

- Nick

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:45 pm

This is where I hate the recessed lugs in the holes, and probably why I have never went with "security" type lug nuts. There is little way to work with them, without destroying the wheel.

Might need to buy more than one socket, as they may not come back off the nuts. It may take some serious press fit to break them loose, especially if they have winter corrosion on the lug seats.

My regular lug nuts were wanting to seize to the wheels this last winter, even with anti seize on the threads and seat area. I really got to get some rubber for the steelies.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:49 pm

occasional demons wrote: My regular lug nuts were wanting to seize to the wheels this last winter, even with anti seize on the threads and seat area.

Even WITH anti-seize ??

So far, I haven't had a problem with frozen lug nuts using anti-seize.....
Maybe it's because I coat the HELL out of the studs.

- Nick

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:56 pm

I coated the hell out of everything, and they still were a PITA to break loose. Now they come off real nice.

This winter, I literally had to put a jack stand on the opposite end of the 4 way, and use a floor jack to jack the wrench to get them loose by jumping on the other side. I had the tire off the ground for a few of them.

Damn salt brine they use gets into everything. Asshole that thought of that prolly got an award from the car manufacturers.

haseebgill12 · Post by **haseebgill12** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:03 am

haha OD you crack me up.

Hmm I do have a Dremel tool but I don't see how I would do it without damaging the wheel.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 12:05 pm

I've heard of criminals that freeze the lug nuts with freon then shatter them with a hammer, never tried it though.

nerox · Post by **nerox** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:52 pm

1. buy a big nut.

2. weld it on the end

3. remove them both and dispose

4. fit new nuts

haseebgill12 · Post by **haseebgill12** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:47 pm

Well small update.

Today I went at one of the wheels with the locking nut key and a breaker bar. Managed to get it off. The rest of the nuts are definitely too worn. I will try the "slightly smaller socket" (or Triple S) technique in the coming days and see what happens...

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:57 pm

nerox wrote:1. buy a big nut.

2. weld it on the end

3. remove them both and dispose

4. fit new nuts

Ha, need room to weld.

But it gives me another idea.

A piece of copper tube, that will fit in the lug hole of the rim, but thin wall. Then use a torch to heat the lug nut, and drive the socket on/attempt to loosen. The tube should protect the wheel from the direct heat. Within reason anyways - 10 minutes maybe not.
A small oxy-acetylene tip might be better than propane. It would heat the nut faster, with less heat soak on the tube/wheel.

Oh, and remove the tube before hammering the socket home.