![]() ![]() How To Remove a Stripped Lug Nut (5-Step Guide)īefore you go hammering on a socket or trying any other methods in this article, make sure your vehicle is sitting on as level ground as possible, your vehicle is in park, and set your parking brake prior to putting any force on your lug nuts. Bolt Extractor socket for your lug nut size (Or a lug nut extractor set).Socket for your size lug nut (Or a socket set).A new lug nut to replace the stripped lug nut.Don’t be taken back by the long list, as some of the tools are optional, and some you may not need if a previous method worked for you. There are a few different ways you can go about removing that stripped lug nut. Supplies You’ll Need For Removing A Stripped Lug Nut This process can be done with minimal tools in any driveway or even on the side of the road if you’re prepared for the worst.Īlways be sure to take special care not to damage your wheel, wheel stud (unless you’re drilling it out), or any other components on your vehicle during this whole process, or you may end up with a bigger bill on your hands than just the price of a new lug nut. Learning how to DIY a stripped lug nut can help you, and anyone else you know, save time and money before taking it to a mechanic or tire shop. But that can be a hard thing to come across in a regular home garage, and especially on the side of the road. Most of the time, rather than fighting a stripped lug nut with sweat and tears, I just use my oxy-acetylene blow torch to melt the lug nut off. At a shop, I’ve always had multiple special tools and devices to aid in stripped lug nut removal. There are quite a few ways to get that stripped lug nut off, but I’m going to cover the easiest ways to do it at home, or on the side of the road, with minimal tools. ![]() Try to take care of it as soon as possible before this guide is needed. This is an indicator of a bad lug nut that might leave you cursing it on the side of the road. You’ll see rusting on the outside chrome cover, and sometimes even cracks in the cover as well. You will usually be able to spot a bad lug nut fairly easily. If your vehicle has this style of lug nuts, always take a look at their condition when you do your monthly tire pressure checks. This causes corrosion to build between the two pieces, making it very difficult to fit a socket or lug wrench onto the lug nut. The swelling is caused by water intrusion in between the chrome cover portion and the metal on the inside. A major issue is swelling up over time without proper maintenance. These two-piece lug nut covers can warp, bend and flatten the hex pattern over time. These are called two-piece lug nuts, and they have caused headaches for owners and mechanics alike since they were introduced. Many lug nuts that come on various vehicles over the last ten years have chrome covers molded onto them, which are a very soft metal alloy that is wrapped completely over the solid metal portion of the lug nut. A lot of this issue can also be attributed to the manufacturer as well. The most common issue I’ve seen has been inexperienced mechanics using their air impact wrench and over-tightening the lug nuts to the point where, when you try to remove it with a standard tire iron or socket, you end up with a rounded off hex bolt and a damaged lug nut.īut don’t be quick to blame the mechanic. In my line of work, stripped lug nuts have always been a common occurrence, and there are multiple ways it can happen to you. ![]() I’ve been in this situation countless times and I’ve always managed to get that rounded off lug nut loose one way or another. ![]() I’m here to say, don’t get discouraged, you can get it off. Or maybe it hasn’t happened yet, and you’re just trying to get a head start before it eventually does. You went to change a flat tire, or maybe to rotate your own tires, and your socket or lug wrench just kept spinning on that one lug nut, with no grip in sight. What You Need To Know About Removing a Stripped Lug Nut ![]()
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