Help! Broken Lug Nut.

[david w.]

Not a good way to start the weekend......

Has this happened to anyone? I know if I try to turn a wrench on the remaining part it will just round over.

I used the lug wrench from the tool kit.

Any suggestions would be great!

[Joeaksa]

First thought if you do not have access to a good socket set (snap on or the like) is to find a Discount Tire store. Find a tire store who is good at what they do and get them to loosen the nut before whats left on the wheel is rounded off. A good tire store works with taking wheels off all day long and may be able to get it off.

If you have access to a good socket, like a snap on deep socket, then I would very carefully try to loosen what little is left of the lug nut by having one person push on the socket to keep it level and on the nut and another person applying pressure trying to loosen the nut. Might use a small torch or heat source and warm up the lug nut to try to get it to expand a bit before trying to do this. Downside is that heating the aluminum is not going to make it any stronger so would be very careful with this.

If it just rounds off then my gut is that you will end up drilling one or two small holes in the lug nut to cut it in half and then taking the pieces out. It would have to be done very carefully to keep from damaging the wheel.

Never seen this happen to a lug nut... makes me wonder if someone has used a air wrench on the car before?

Joe

[Britwrench]

You can easily drill the old wheel nut off with a 3/4" hole saw.
Carefully drilling away the nut until it breaks away will ot damage the wheel. Do not try drilling small holes in the nut as usually the wheel nut face on the wheel will be damaged....

[david w.]

3/4" hole saw?

A hole saw has a pilot bit in the center., and 3/4" would be as big as the outer part of the nut. Right?

[expat]

Oh ****.... I cry for you!!!

I had four of these, and made a right mess of two lugs and one Fuch.

My only advice -

If you drill be real careful, its easy to slip and either damage your wheel or drill into the lug. Depending upon how fixed it is, you will probably need a small chisel or punch. I found by using a chisel I could eventually turn the nut off but this was after drilling for at least a half hour per nut, and removing most of the nut. It pretty much collapses around the lug as you chisel it around.

If you can find a hole saw that fits - good luck, I couldn't get one here. If someone can get one for you DO THIS as your first option, even if it means waiting for the saw to be delivered across country.

I also tried drilling two holes in the nut, placing two small steel rods inside and, using a third rod as a lever, tried wrenching it off - didn't work!!!

For all the headache getting four off, if I knew what a hassle it was going to be, the time taken to do it and the realisation that I was going to damage the wheel, I would have tried to find a tyre fitter of some reputation and accept they'll do a better job than me! Chances are they may still damage it too. I guess it depends on whether you feel you will take better care doing it yourself or letting someone else do it.

To be honest I can't believe more people haven't had this problem. Surely this can't be too uncommon - but I posted everywhere and few had any successful options/experience other than mine after I had done it.

I really hope you have more luck than me. I'm really pissed at the damage I inflicted in one wheel. Needs serious refinishing.

Cheers
Mark

[cstreit]

I would try a socket first. If it rounds off, use a cold chisel to start turning it. THe hole saw method can work but is really tough to do since you can't use the center pilot bit.

I wouldn't use heat because of the wheel...

[expat]

Yeah I gotta agree with the socket idea - I couldn't do this because I had no flats at all. It broke at the base where the cone meets the flat edges. Good luck.

Mark

[david w.]

These are brand new nuts! I can not believe they would crumble so easily.

I put them on with a socket set, not an impact wrench!

[Dug89]

What about hammering on a slightly smaller 12 point imperical socket (not metric). I don't know what the next size down US socket is from a 19MM but it might be worth a try.

Make sure the other 4 nuts are on at normal torque to relieve stress on existing lug nut.

These lug nuts are aluminum so they don't handle stress well from the stock lug wrench or impact tools. Best to use a 1/2 breaker bar and the plastic lined sockets.

[john walker's workshop]

as britwrench said, a 3/4" hole saw is the tool to use. obviously you would not use the pilot drill in the center, just the outer part. no wheel damage, which would occur if you use a drill or a chisel.

[Joeaksa]

David,

Did not know that they were new. If you just installed these lug nuts and they are brand new, then get a real socket wrench and breaker bar and take every one of them off and put the old ones back on your wheels before more break and you lose a wheel!

I have used Porsche lug nuts for over 20 years now and not had a single one do this. I personally would worry if these were all defective and would return them to where you purchased them.

Wonder if these are aftermarket and not up to normal strength or if they were heat treated correctly? Something is not right here... Did you buy them from a dealer or reputatable parts house?

Joe

[david w.]

I bought them from Tweeks.

[82SC]

my guess is after market...

that is why you should buy from a place that used only OEM or aftermarket if it passes high standards....hint: starts with a p
and it ends with elicanparts

I would take pictures of all the work you had to do to take them off....

then I would either send them to tweeks or post them here with a public complaint and send them a link...

either way I think they will refund your money...the link idea may scare them into being overnice like a gift certificate so that you can post something about tweeks taking care of you...

I am sure they do not want bad publicity...

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Dug89
What about hammering on a slightly smaller 12 point imperical socket (not metric). I don't know what the next size down US socket is from a 19MM but it might be worth a try.

Make sure the other 4 nuts are on at normal torque to relieve stress on existing lug nut.

These lug nuts are aluminum so they don't handle stress well from the stock lug wrench or impact tools. Best to use a 1/2 breaker bar and the plastic lined sockets.

Slightly smaller 12 point here would be 11/16" If you try this, perhaps soak the threads with penetrating oil first? Might work, and wouldn't harm any drill efforts later...

[Early_S_Man]

I'm sure those weren't OEM FORGED LUG NUTS!!! They are probably the cheap machined ones made from bar stock and just anodized. If there are any tool marks or sharp edges, then you have your answer as to why they failed. There are NO sharp edges anywhere on an OEM nut!

As to the hole saw, I'm not sure how it is supposed to work... unless you braze it to a socket so you can use a BIG 3/4" or 1/2" drive 'T-handle' on it and apply even force on both sides ... a breaker bar is NOT the answer!

I have a funny feeling that a die grinder with a 1/8" ball-end carbide cutter is the final solution ... followed by a 1/4" sharp chisel in very careful hands!

[Otto]

This would never happen if you put a little anti-seize on the lug nuts nad threads every year or so. OTTO

[john walker's workshop]

a 3/4 hole saw with drill motor attachment, less pilot drill. it leaves just a shell over the threads which can be easily picked off with a small, sharp punch.

[david w.]

Problem Solved!

Went and got a real nice 6 point 19mm socket and it rounded the nut like I thought it would....Argggg.....

Took the 3/4" hole saw, flipped the pilot bit over and started drilling.

It worked perfectly! Ijust had to clean off the threads with a sharp wood chisel.

Now I will attempt to remove them all, send them back to tweeks, and order new OEM nuts from PP.

Thanks for the help!

[Argo]

Nice work. Congrats .....

Argo
88 Targa

[expat]

Excellent!