Greetings TR Gurus,
I’m looking for some advice on a low-tech problem. I had the 2 front tires replaced on my 87T that has the alloy wheels. Now it’s time to rotate them and the shop torqued the lugs so much that they won’t move with the lug wrench. My impact wrench just shreds up the metal caps without loosening the nuts. I couldn’t find anything on this in the archives, has anybody had this problem before? I don’t want to go back to the tire place, because I’m afraid that then I’ll have 4 wheels that I can’t take off if I ever get a flat.
I’ve come up with 2 things to try. First is adding a piece of pipe to the lug wrench to get more leverage. I’m not sure if this will just round off the nut or break the stud. Second is to apply heat to either the nuts or the studs. I haven’t done this before so I not sure if it can be done without damaging the wheel. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Mike Rastelli
87T
Hi Mike
Don't use heat!! Get a 6 point socket (not a twelve) that will fit the nut tight without the chrome cap. You may need a metric one. If you find one thats close but just a little too small drive it on with hammer. Use impact gun and either remove nut or break stud. You will probably need new studs anyway because of pulled threads. They are easy to change and cheap.
Phil
One way to avoid this problem in the future have the tire co. hand tighten the lug nuts. If they
don't want to do this find another shop.Phil's
suggestion is on the money. You can also use a
long breaker bar and stand on it. It's a good
idea to keep spare studs and lug nuts.
I would make the tire shop do it, and when re-installing the wheels, use a torque wrench to tighten the wheels to spec (70-75 ft-lbs,i think), not use an impact gun, espescially on aluminum wheels! what were these idiots thinking? The liability becomes thiers if they break anything from improper installation.
well, simply out of experience with my Skylark, id say do it yourself...if its simple, may as well, you know that the same wont happen again, and nothing like a job well done ^_^