Awesome lug nuts!

[black rust]

Apparently the previous owner cheaped out when buying lug nuts for my k5, because the ones on there are really soft metal. Almost everyone I've taken off has deformed in some way to te point that it can't be used anymore, all from a 18" breaker bar. One, however, I managed to destroy while it's still on the wheel stud. I tried hammering a smaller socket onto it, that just deformed it more. Next I tried using a air hammer to spin it off, that just knocked the face off of it. The only option I have left is using a torch, but I'm afraid to damage the wheel, which I still want to use. Are there any other ways of getting this off that I haven't tried or should I just torch it very carefully?

 

[NEK5]

Try a smaller socket.

 

[obijuan]

bolt/nut removers. theyre a badass little tool. hammer it on and breaker bar it off.

 

[black rust]

I did try a smaller socket, all it did was twist up the lug nut even worse. I doubt I can get a bolt remover in there either, because of the was the lug nut is recessed into the wheel.

 

[dyeager535]

What I've seen done at tire places is to rock the lug nut back and forth until it shears the lug.

There's a reason to use a torque wrench when installing wheels, although cheap lug nuts don't help things.

 

[black rust]

I actually considered taking a small scissor jack or something and pushing against the wheel and the leaf spring. With how soft this metal is, I wouldn't be surprised if the lug nut can off with little damage to the lug.

 

[MNorby]

I've torched lug nuts off semis before, Make a cut down but not all the way to thread then chisel it to split the nut. Studs are cheaper to replace than the wheel too if you do gouge one

 

[shaun89]

adding onto what he said, they sell nut splitters, i dont no how deep ur wheel is or how big but the sell them at napa, its like a log splitter for nuts

EDIT: heres a link to one http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/150244_lg.jpg

 

[throttleissues]

Since you're down to one lug nut, you could try rocking the wheel to see if the stud will break. Aluminum wheel? You could try to just heat or burn the stud out pointing the torch straight into the end of the stud, since the nut is recessed into the wheel. You shouldn't have to cut much before the stud or nut could be broken apart with the leverage of the wheel. Good luck however you choose.

 

[lectric80]

I had one that Big-O stripped the splines on the stud, so I had to grind the nut off. Not a lot of fun, but it finally worked and I was able to get the wheel off.

 

[black rust]

Between all my air hammering and other hijinx, the only part left of the nut almost flush with the wheel. I doubt I'll get any kind of nut splitter in there. I did try rocking it a little and even smacking the wheel a little with a hammer, but it didn't budge. I'm pretty sure the wheels are aluminium, I believe they are the stock wheels, so no worries about melting them with the torch. I'll probably go that route and just replace the stud after it melts.

 

[Mudstud]

If they are aluminum then you need to be concerned about them melting. If you only have a little of the lug left could you maybe position that lug in the 6:00 or 12:00 position and lower the truck. Put a few blocks under the axle leaving about an 1" gap between the axle and blocks. Now push the truck sideways or maybe turn the wheels left and right and see if that'll break the stud off. That side of the truck will fall onto the blocks. In the past I have simply put a cross bar on the lug and pushed it to the side to break off the stud. Doesn't sound like that will help you here though. Good luck.

 

[four_by_ken]

Take a little drive down the street. I am sure the wheel will come off.



(sorry, thought you could use a little humor)

I didnt have any more suggestions over what has already been offered.

 

[smalltruckbigcid]

Weld a nut to the part sticking out and then unscrew it

 

[cybrfire]

Weld a nut to the part sticking out and then unscrew it

x2!

 

[black rust]

If they are aluminum then you need to be concerned about them melting

Really? I've tried to cut aluminum with this torch before and couldn't even get close to heating it enough.

I'm going to work on it tomorrow and try some or all of these suggestions, I'll report back with what worked. Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[toomany]

What about heating it up with the torch and then hitting it with the air chisel. I've done this a couple of time on aluminum wheels where the owner lost the key for the locking lugnut.

 

[black rust]

Well I tried prying, and got the side away from the lugnut to move a little, but I couldn't get enough leverage to break it. I tried torching it, but I think something blew back into my torch because it's acting like the tip is partially clogged. I can't really get an air chisel into there to do any kind of good other than further mashing up the lug nut. I don't have the welding skill or precision to weld a nut on there, I'd probably weld the nut to the wheel. I even tried jacking the wheel up as high as my floor jack would go and dropping it, which not surprisingly didn't work. I'll go mess with it again later after I'm less angry with the damn thing.

 

[BGKYK5]

You could drill a bunch of holes in the lug nut and then repeat your abuse. You may have to cut off the stud to get close enough, but chances are you'll end up replacing that stud anyway.

 

[moneypit_K5]

I had that issue once not too long ago. I took my die grinder and squared off the sides on the lugnut and then beat an easy off onto it. worked pretty good, and i didnt damage the alloy wheel.