O/T Loose Wheel Stud/Flat Tire

Fergienewbee · Nov 13, 2010

I have a flat right front tire on my F150 (1991.) One of the suds is loose in the wheel and turns when I put a wrench on the lug nut. There's not enough room behind the nut to grab the stud with vice grips. I don't have a torch. Any thoughts? Just goes to show how the smallest problems have major consequences.

Larry

IaGary · Nov 13, 2010

Is there enough room to get a welding rod in there. Tack weld the stud.

Have you tried an impact wrench? Sometimes they spin fast enough on start up to take if off before the stud gets to spinning. You may have to start and stop a couple of times to get it.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2010

Old time way is to get a small sharp chisel and split the nut.you need a good chisel though not a cheape.

MarkB_MI · Nov 13, 2010

What do you have to work with? If you have a compressor, you can probably cut the nut with a die grinder using a cutoff wheel. Another solution would be a "nut cracker" tool; I've never used one but this sounds like a perfect application. You might try putting a wrench or vise grip on the nut to hold it and drill out the stud, but I imagine the stud will be very tough to drill.

Is this a two wheel drive vehicle? Just take the hub off the spindle.

john in la · Nov 13, 2010

Removing the hub from the spindle without taking the wheel off will be near imposable because of the brake caliber.
Holding the bolt from the back side with a vise grip will also be hard because the backing plate is most likely in the way but you may want to look and see.
That leaves you with grinding or cutting the nut off unless you have access to a air compressor or some other specialty tools.
If you have a good bar and a maul you may try breaking the stud by hitting it sideways on the very end. You better have a friend with a good aim because hitting your hand instead of the bar hurts.

Uncle Ernie · Nov 13, 2010

You need a nut splitter or an air chisel to get the nut off the stud then you will have to pull the stud out and replace it. If the new stud doesnt lock in you will need to replace the hub or tack weld the new stud to it.

rhouston · Nov 13, 2010

If you don't have some of the tools mentioned but do have a dremel that would work too albeit not as fast. Or careful use of a sawzall. Hope you just have steel rims and not fancy aluminum ones where the lugs are in a recess!

Janicholson · Nov 13, 2010

I would cut a slot in the stud on the end facing out to allow a large screw driver to hold it. If the nut is thread jammed this will not work, but it might, and it is easy. Jim

Billks · Nov 13, 2010

Put a pair of vise grips on the nut to hold it then drill the stud out. good bits it will not take long and you will not damage the wheel. and all you need is and electric drill and bits. have drill alot of studs with the locking nuts when no key is available.

BCnT · Nov 13, 2010

if you got access to a good impact wrench just tighten till it breaks off...i know its turning but most of the time bolts will tighten up easier than they get loose...you got nothing to lose at this point.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2010

In the tire shop we used to see this all the time, but with an other vehicle brand. We had an air chisel to cut the nut off. I have seen people take the vehicle to the welding shop and have them taken off. Most of the time there is some wheel damage. Good luck

toadady · Nov 13, 2010

how about prying the wheel over to put more pressure on the stud, then wedging something between the wheel and rotor so you can spin it off with a impact?

rrlund · Nov 13, 2010

You might be down to the old fashioned way. Split the nut off with a chisel and a hammer.

RayP(MI) · Nov 13, 2010

I had one like that. finally resorted to drilling out the stud. Very carefully drilled it with a small diameter drill, trying to keep drill bit and hole centered. Then drilled it out with a drill almost the exact size as the threaded portion. Was able to break the lugnut loose after drilling, minimal damage to wheel.

johndeereman · Nov 13, 2010

how about a grinder? cut it off that way

O/T Loose Wheel Stud/Flat Tire

Fergienewbee

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IaGary

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Anonymous-0

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MarkB_MI

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john in la

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Uncle Ernie

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rhouston

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Janicholson

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Billks

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BCnT

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Anonymous-0

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toadady

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rrlund

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RayP(MI)

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johndeereman

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