help please, two of the lug nuts on my tires won't comes off or tighten now

[holden j caufield]

so i decided to rotate the tires today and on the back right tire two to the lug nuts loosened and I keep on turning it but the lug nuts just seem to turn and not come off. Did I strip it somehow? has this happened to anyone else. Now it won't tighten or loosen and the car is undrivable. thanks

 

[Capn]

you stripped it. unless you want to cut off the bolt head and possibly drill out the bolt and retap the hole (if you can even safely do that with your car, i'm not sure) you should seek the assistance of a trained mechanic.

 

[Soybomb]

Sure sounds stripped to me. You're gonna have to split the nut, grind off the head of the stud or something to get it out and replace both the stud and the nut. I'd also get a real mechanic to help at this point.

 

[XMan]

What kind of car do you have?

You're going to have to replace two lug studs and possibly the lug nuts. Shouldn't set you back more than five bucks if you can handle it yourself.

you stripped it. unless you want to cut off the bolt head and possibly drill out the bolt and retap the hole (if you can even safely do that with your car, i'm not sure) you should seek the assistance of a trained mechanic.

He shouldn't have to do that if he has a newer car. Most of the newer ones I've worked on unthreaded holes for the lug studs. It's just a matter of hammering the old one out once you get the bolt off and popping a new one in - build up a cylinder with washers over the stud, put the lug nut on top, and crank down until the lug stud pops into the hole.

EDIT - how many nut holes in your wheels? If you've got five, you shouldn't have a big problem driving with three for a short period of time (ie, drive it to the mechanic.)

 

[snakesnfrogs]

It wouldn't happen to be a Mitsubishi Eclipse would it? My mom's Eclipse has had at least 2 lugs from each wheel break off(two of the wheels had 4 break off)

 

[holden j caufield]

thanks I'm hoping I only stripped the nut and maybe if I used a vise grip I might be able to pull it off. Or I think from the back some of the stud another nut or something else go loose and I'll try to keep it still with a vise grip while someone else tries to take off the nut? Do you think I'll be able to drive the couple of miles to pick up the new parts. Or is it too dangerous to drive like this . thanks Four nuts, two won't tighten. am I taking too much a risk?

 

[XMan]

Don't drive it with two out of four.

 

[holden j caufield]

no it's a honda prelude (and no it's bone stock, so it's not a ricer, hehe ). thanks for your help.

 

[Soybomb]

If you've stripped the nut I'd personally want to replace the stud too just to be sure it was healthy.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Let me guess, the last time your wheels were worked on it was by a mechanic with a pneumatic impact wrench? I was helping my bro rotate his tires not too long after he had one fixed (for a flat tire) by a local station. The stud snapped off when we tried to take one of the lug nuts off. The mechanic had forced it on stripped with an impact wrench...needless to say he drove it back on 3 lugs and had them replace it

If using an impact wrench, thread the nut on with your fingers first :disgust:

 

[holden j caufield]

ThisIsMatt, yep you are right. Now comes the biggest dillema of getting the nuts off. F!@#$% how the hell did two of them get like that? I can understand one but two? Again what are my options on this. I took the head off the nut and was wondering what else can be done. thanks

 

[holden j caufield]

well managed to break one off but the looking from the back I can that the other stud is spinning from the back so it won't break off.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

<< well managed to break one off but the looking from the back I can that the other stud is spinning from the back so it won't break off. >>

ewww, that doesn't sound good at all:frown: Definitely go back to the place you last had it worked on and tell them about it! I guess if you're determined to do it yourself, get a pair of vice grips and pull that mofo out!

 

[holden j caufield]

yep it doesn't look good. we'll see tommorrow. no worries I guess and cross my fingers

 

[mstudd]

Well guys, I am a trained mechanic, and here's the fix, if the stud is spinning in the hub: The best option is to get an angle grinder and grind through both sides of the nut.
Definately replace both studs and kick the last guy who fitted your wheels up the backside.

 

[BooneRebel]

If your last rotation was at any reputable shop (need receipts!), you should be able to call them up &amp; have them arrange a tow back to their shop to replace the studs. While they're at it have them pull the other tires as well and -make sure- that they hand-torque the nuts back on (don't let them use an impact wrench).

Went to WallyWorld a while back to have the tires rotated &amp; a few weeks later I ripped a stud in half trying to get the lug nut off. I took it back to them and they replaced it - no charge.

 

[ISAslot]

<< ...While they're at it have them pull the other tires as well and -make sure- that they hand-torque the nuts back on (don't let them use an impact wrench). >>



For sure! I went to rotate my tires once and the nuts were on so damn tight that I had to use a sledge, plus a + shaped tire wench, and a large piece of wood to get them loose. I bent the wench in the process, and my dad mentions it every time we use it. :| Anyway, it was a good thing the studs and nuts held up; good old 1960's beefiness.