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Help......damaged lug nut & stud

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Old 11-08-18, 12:59 PM
  #16  
Longmire
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That video helps. You have a lot more access to that lug nut than I thought. Why don't you protect the crap out of that rim, grab onto the lug nut with some visegrips or something, and use a cut-off wheel on a Dremel type tool to start cutting that lug nut off? Just cut into it as logically as possible, until you reach the stud, spray some WD40 (or similar) on it, and try and split the nut. As you cut into it, this should remove the hold it has on the stud. My $.02

Let me add, I said to protect the rim, because if you use a cut-off tool, it is very likely that you will end up hitting the rim with the cut-off wheel.

I'm not sure if you have enough sticking out, but you might be able to use something like this:
https://www.sears.com/craftsman-nut-cracker/p-00904772000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Last edited by Longmire; 11-08-18 at 01:08 PM.
Old 11-08-18, 01:11 PM
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Just brain-storming here...what if you put a socket on that thing, and kind of use the hole (that the ratchet drive goes into) to guide a drill bit. Once you get a smaller hole started, you can just take the socket off and use an increasingly larger drill bit (carefully), and you will eventually get it drilled out. Patience is key!
Old 11-08-18, 03:17 PM
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Jack up the car and take the other lugs off.
Pull (or have someone else ideally pull) the wheel away from the car, pulling on the tire from right where the stuck lug is so that the wheel puts tension on the lug and it doesn't spin, and opening up a gap behind the wheel. Also could just put a socket on it so it doesn't spin, but you still need the gap behind the wheel.
Then take a thin hacksaw or sawzall and slip it in the gap between the wheel and the lug, and saw the lug off (might require you to lie down and do it at a weird angle to reach it properly).
Old 11-08-18, 04:52 PM
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RushNatU
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Originally Posted by Ellesse
Jack up the car and take the other lugs off.
Pull (or have someone else ideally pull) the wheel away from the car, pulling on the tire from right where the stuck lug is so that the wheel puts tension on the lug and it doesn't spin, and opening up a gap behind the wheel. Also could just put a socket on it so it doesn't spin, but you still need the gap behind the wheel.
Then take a thin hacksaw or sawzall and slip it in the gap between the wheel and the lug, and saw the lug off (might require you to lie down and do it at a weird angle to reach it properly).
+1. Best idea so far.

Hey at least nobody is stealing your rim lol. Hope you get it worked out. A lift would make this cake.
Old 11-08-18, 07:06 PM
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I'd rather put the tension on it and hit it with a heavy impact. If it's drive-able, why not see what your local Discount Tire says? I think sawing it off would be very difficult and time consuming. I think drilling it out might work but you're going to need a strong drill and some carbide bits...
Old 11-10-18, 06:30 AM
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After looking at your video, if you can cut the lug from behind the wheel, I think that would be an easier solution, but I am not sure how much space you have from the back of the wheel. See if you can get someone to pull the wheel as far as possible to create space in the back. Maybe use a dremel with cutting wheel? Another option is to use a long pry bar, pry the wheel from behind to break the lug, but this may ruin your wheel and hub.

I would secure the lug nuts so it does not wobble around, then would try (carefully) center punch the lug nuts. I think the top of lug nuts should be thin metal. One of my lug nuts has a good size dent on it, so I can not imagine it is that strong/thick. Then drill it. Start with small drill bit. This will be long and tedious process but probably least amount of risk ruining the wheel and hub.

Let us know how to you fix it. Probably does not happen often, but would be useful for someone else in the future. Sorry to hear this...

Last edited by BCT; 11-10-18 at 06:38 AM.
Old 11-10-18, 07:27 AM
  #22  
Johnhav430
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Originally Posted by Romanova
I'd rather put the tension on it and hit it with a heavy impact. If it's drive-able, why not see what your local Discount Tire says? I think sawing it off would be very difficult and time consuming. I think drilling it out might work but you're going to need a strong drill and some carbide bits...
It would seem as if the lug nut is the weakest link.....I totally cannot remember the last thing I drilled out, but it is surprising how a nut deteriorates when it's drilled, like it's got no way to stay on when it's split...(maybe what I did was not on a car, can't remember what it was, I used a Milwaukee hammer drill....)
Old 11-11-18, 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Ellesse
Jack up the car and take the other lugs off.
Pull (or have someone else ideally pull) the wheel away from the car, pulling on the tire from right where the stuck lug is so that the wheel puts tension on the lug and it doesn't spin, and opening up a gap behind the wheel. Also could just put a socket on it so it doesn't spin, but you still need the gap behind the wheel.
Then take a thin hacksaw or sawzall and slip it in the gap between the wheel and the lug, and saw the lug off (might require you to lie down and do it at a weird angle to reach it properly).
I had the same exact situation with the GS and this is how I got the lug nut off. I did it by myself and it was tiring but I got it off. It took a while and i was ready to give up several times.
Old 11-17-18, 07:21 PM
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Any update to this? Interested in how you finally solved it!
Old 11-18-18, 06:26 PM
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unfortunately, it is not solved. i installed all the other wheels and i'm just driving the car with 4 lug nuts on the one rear wheel. i think i'm going to just get that lug ripper tool. i really don't want to damage the wheel or even potentially damage it.

after that i've been reading that i will need to replace the hub since the stud got stripped out. i started thinking i might try to find a stud with the same thread pitch and just a larger knurl and see if i could install that as a temp fix. but i'm not sure if it is even possible to install the stud without removing everything.
Old 11-18-18, 08:42 PM
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I replaced one of my broken studs last year only to have another one on the same wheel break off less than a week later. I've been driving it like that since. You wont have any problem driving with four studs on one wheel either...
Old 11-19-18, 03:02 PM
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yeah, i kind of was hoping that was the case. but that's why i was thinking of just getting this lug ripper tool in case i run into the problem again. at least i will have the tool in order to get it taken care of.
Old 11-19-18, 05:01 PM
  #28  
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What if you get a flat tire though??
I say take it to a good wheel shop and have them remove it, and put a new one on before that happens!
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Old 11-19-18, 07:00 PM
  #29  
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The good auto shop will fix it in 20 minutes. You need to bring the car to the specialist. I would look at cutting the bolt in between the rim and the hub by inserting the wide disc through the rim hole. I know it’s crazy but worth to check out.

Good luck!
Old 11-20-18, 05:46 AM
  #30  
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well, there is a long story on why i'm dragging my feet.

a while ago, i was going to replace the rear pads & rotors, but couldn't get the caliper bolt off. brought it to a shop, and they said that it's probably going to break. got new bolts from lexus, but after talking to the guy at the shop, he said that if i ever have to remove the caliper again, i will probably not be able to get everything back together and that i would need a new spindle. so this bad stud will end up costing a lot more than just a replacement stud or even what a replacement hub would run me.


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