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Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 22 Dec 2010, 17:12
by jackytwoshoes
Nightmare.
I took my van to get some new tires and the tire fitting place couldn't get one of the nuts off. They rounded the nut a little bit and then I tried and rounded it a little bit more. I'm still getting some grip on it, but what are my options???

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 22 Dec 2010, 17:20
by R0B
If all else fails.I would bang a size smaller socket onto it.

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 22 Dec 2010, 17:39
by CycloneMike
You took your van to a "professional" tyre fitter and they couldn't remove the nuts?
Instead of informing you they continued to try until they rounded them, then they handed it back to you......
Personally, I would go back and ask them how they intend to sort it out.

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 22 Dec 2010, 17:52
by jackytwoshoes
Agreed. "Professional" tire fitters these days amount to spotty 16 year olds with blow torches.
I wasn't about to leave my pride and joy with them until I'd sought further advice!
I'm don't what to think what methods they'd try if I left it in their hands....

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 22 Dec 2010, 20:16
by dansimpson

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 22 Dec 2010, 21:12
by kevtherev
jackytwoshoes wrote:Agreed. "Professional" tire fitters these days amount to spotty 16 year olds with blow torches.
I wasn't about to leave my pride and joy with them until I'd sought further advice!
I'm don't what to think what methods they'd try if I left it in their hands....

Good on you for asking a 2nd opinion

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010, 10:29
by StuM
+1 on the Irwins - have known those to get folks out of many a scrape.

Good luck
Stu

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010, 21:00
by lamb125
Interestly, or not, I had two new back tyres fitted today. I asked the fitter to try and ease off the bolts to the front o/s wheel as I just could not shift them with my brace. He offered up the air gun, but it just whirred away not making an impression. All the other wheel nuts/bolts freed up with little effort. The guy tried using a socket and extension bar, but it started to bend so he was relunctant to continue. He reckoned the previous fitter had over tightened them well beyond the recommended torque setting. Unsure what to do now other than maybe call out the AA and see if they have any road-side solutions for this. Any one had seized front bolts before? And if so how did you overcome it?

Merry christmas by the way

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010, 21:19
by kevtherev
I had this with a busted key socket for a locking nut.
I took it to a garage after various attempts.
he got a breaker bar and some sort of universal socket that tightened on what ever was there.

The nut came away eventually, I asked what would have happened if this tool didn't do the job.
there was a nut splitter, but that would not have worked as the nut was in a recess on the alloy.

finally it would have been the torch and try red hot removal.
or burn it off with the oxy cutter,

new stud would have been needed after that... and some refurb to the wheels.

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010, 21:34
by dwayne
These Irwin bolt removers are great one of the best tool accessories I have I used once for a rounded bolt, once on a phillips screw with a knackered head was surprised it worked on this but it did and a couple of days ago i put new resistors in the heater blower unit , was the top tool to remove those damn shear bolts on the column

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010, 22:23
by BOXY
The first (and last) time I got a flat I couldn't get the wheel off. The AA duly turned up and after a good soaking in Plus-Gas even the "shift anything breaker" didn't work. After accepting if anything broke it would be on my head we put his tow-bar over the breaker giving it a 5-6ft extension and leaned on it. Luckily the nut gave up its grip before the stud sheared. Next time the tyres are due a change I think I'll start spraying Plus-Gas a week before.

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010, 22:56
by lamb125
I once sheared a wheel stud on an old mini I had and it was easy to replace. Not so sure removing a sheared bolt from a hub is so easy if that should happen. Have soaked the area in WD40 in a vain attempt to promote some movement, but I suspect a long bar as your AA saviour used might be the plan. Have heard that a sharp tap using a lump hammer on the head of the bolt sometimes cracks the thread enough to get some movement.

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 24 Dec 2010, 07:00
by kevtherev
are we talking........ front or back?

as it's a press in stud on the rear and screw in fronts

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 24 Dec 2010, 13:44
by lamb125
Definitely the front, all 5 bolts are as tight as you like.

Re: Rounded and seized wheel nut options.

Posted: 26 Dec 2010, 20:44
by ELVIS
Halfrauds locking wheel nut remover?

Socket with a reverse thread cut into it so as you undo the bolt the thread bites into it more.

about a tenner IIRC.