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I recently inherited a car from my grandfather, a '97 Honda. I was goofing around with the car the other day cause I was bored. I lifted the car up on the jack, and began working on removing the lug nuts. Since it's a front-wheel drive, the wheel I started on was locked in place so it didn't rotate on me when I tried to get the nuts off. However, considering that my grandfather rarely drove the car, and the tires, although in good shape, had been on there for years, I found that the lug nuts were practically cemented in place from being on too long. I tried everything. I pulled out a rubber mallet and I was hitting the wrench, and yes I'm pretty sure I was turning it the right way. My dad tried to break them loose, but he couldn't get it either.
My dad said we might be able to get them broken loose if we buy a cross tee and use that, but considering that they were really stuck, I'm not sure if it'll be effective. I don't own any sort of power tools that could be used for this.
I'd really like to be able to get the nuts off so I can take the hubcaps off. Also, I'm worried that if I get a flat on the road, I won't be able to get the nuts off to change my own tire. What would you guys recommend I use to get the nuts loose?
First thing you should do is go buy some liquid wrench at the auto parts store.
Spray it on the lug nuts, wait about ten minutes, then spray again.
Now, if you have one of those 4 way lug nut wrenches, find yourself a 2 foot piece of metal pipe (about 1 1/2" inches wide) so it will slip over the wrench, and that will give you enough leverage to break the nuts loose.
Without the piece of pipe to give you leverage, you will be there all day trying to free them.
Bob.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CALGUY
First thing you should do is go buy some liquid wrench at the auto parts store.
Spray it on the lug nuts, wait about ten minutes, then spray again.
Now, if you have one of those 4 way lug nut wrenches, find yourself a 2 foot piece of metal pipe (about 1 1/2" inches wide) so it will slip over the wrench, and that will give you enough leverage to break the nuts loose.
Without the piece of pipe to give you leverage, you will be there all day trying to free them.
Bob.
Yes, liquid wrench and wait, just the pipe and they may break off.
Yep, you need some mechanical advantage. Geometry and physics ftw.
I have a 3 ton jack with a thick pipe that fits over lug wrenches, etc. Ive had to have someone hold while I stand on it. Im 6'6" and 230lbs. I think harbor freight is selling their clicker type torque wrench for like $9.99 for christmas. Buy one. That way you wont overtighten when putting them back on. Some yahoo at the tire store probably just zapped them back on good and overtight with an impact last time they were off.
Are you sure you cant get the hubcaps off first? The only ones Ive ever had come off first.
I work on antique tractors so I know stuck lug nuts. Some of mine are 1 1/16" size.
I either use an air impact wrench or I do as CalGuy suggest, slip a length of pipe on the end of your lug wrench to give your more leverage. I've also found that PB Blaster seems to work better for me than Wd-40 for penetrating oil.
And if that doesn't work, add heat from a propane torch. Carefully. Gradually. Don't over heat the whole thing such that it warps...try to heat just the lug nut so it expands enough to break free with the 'pipe on the wrench' apparatus.
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