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Destroyed Lug Nut Removal


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fordbg
New User

Oct 22, 2008, 6:55 AM

Post #1 of 8 (6279 views)
Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

2004 Ford Focus
I have attached a picture of the lug nut I am attempting to remove. The local car shop stripped the nut with the original size socket, then beat the next smaller size onto the nut but it also stripped. At this point they tried to split the nut but instead it just mushroomed the head of the nut into the sides of the rim. Now there is no space at all on the sides of the stud. It looks like a mess. They told me they could possibly torch it off but that it might burn through the rim. I thought I might be able to drill out the entire lug and what’s left of the nut by stepping up the size of my drill bits slowly. Then I would just replace the lug and the nut. Unfortunately I can't find a drill bit that will even begin to drill through the stud. I know that it is probably some sort of hardened steel but it seems like there has to be some bits available that could get through it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Attachments: attachment icon Lug Nut 4.JPG (199 KB)


dmac0923
Enthusiast

Oct 22, 2008, 7:07 AM

Post #2 of 8 (6274 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

WOW......how the hell did that happen????????

i cant think of a way to get that off from the wheel side.

the only way i can think of is that your going to have to go to the back fo the wheel flange and see if you can cut off the head of the lug and push it out through the wheel opening and replace the lug

GOOD LUCK
__________________________________________________
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2002 Ford Ranger
2004 Toyota Corolla
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 22, 2008, 8:08 AM

Post #3 of 8 (6272 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

Egad! That's a douzy. Stud is hardened steel so you would need harder drill and tricky even with that. Cutting off back of stud behind hub plate still would need a good shot witht punch to get stud out backwards.

This is trouble as you can see. Torches will melt alloy before the steel of nut or stud. Heat needs to be fast and accurate as it's no good for bearing and other hardened metal you want to keep.

IMO - you and or shop will have to decide what to sacrifice - wheel might be the cost effective sacrificail lamb in this one.

Rock and a hard place from what I can see. Make sure you end up with a safe wheel and hub with whatever works to get that off,

T



Jeff Norfolk
Enthusiast
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Oct 22, 2008, 11:21 AM

Post #4 of 8 (6266 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

I have delt with this many times in the past when I managed a tire shop. Tire man help is usually just a highschool kid so this happens a lot. In my experiance the only opption is to detroy the wheel. Torching it does nothing except make it hot. You can't get to the back of the stud without removing the brakes which requires removing the wheel.......so good buy wheel hello new on. FYI if you do decide to try to torch it, let all the air out so it dose not blow up on ya after you apply a ton of heat.
Jeff


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 22, 2008, 12:20 PM

Post #5 of 8 (6264 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

Jeff - for myself and the topic archives, what method would you choose to destroy this alloy wheel for removal?

T



way2old
Veteran / Moderator
way2old profile image

Oct 22, 2008, 2:59 PM

Post #6 of 8 (6257 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

Guess the thing to do is to take it back to the tire shop and have them complete the repair. If it included them replacing the wheel and any other parts of the axle, that is their responsibility. Good luck, and sorry about your luck.



Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds


Jeff Norfolk
Enthusiast
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Oct 22, 2008, 3:18 PM

Post #7 of 8 (6256 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

I always used an air chisel with a long punch on the end to chip enough wheel and wasted lug not away so that the wheel can be wiggled and pryed off. Power or air tools are always my weapon of choice when it comes to the required detructionWink
Jeff


fordbg
New User

Oct 23, 2008, 3:12 PM

Post #8 of 8 (6242 views)
Re: Destroyed Lug Nut Removal Sign In

Thanks for ideas.
Currently I have got the car back to the shop. They claim to have some bits that will be capable of drilling out the stud and what’s left of the nut. I'm not convinced the bits they have will work but I guess I will find out soon enough. Thanks again, I'll update once I see how it goes!!






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