Rusty Lug Nuts-How To Remove?
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Elder User
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From: Sandy Hook, CT
Rusty Lug Nuts-How To Remove?
I just picked up a rusty but running '94 350 plow truck. The lugs are rusted beyond belief. It looks as if the wheels were never even removed from this truck! Well, I'm the type that likes to be prepared so what can I do to loosen/break these lugs? I soaked them with PB Blaster but honestly I think they're too rusty for that. Would applying heat help? Plumbers torch? Any ideas would certainly be appreciated!
Roger
Roger
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From: Toledo, Ohio
Id try the heat and if worse comes to worse, torch em off. I can cut a nut off without damaging threads so its possible. Ive had to do it before for the same problem youre having. Thats all I got. Good luck.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: SWPA
I'd keep soaking them down with the PB, for a few days. Heat won't hurt and actually draws the PB in. Heat the lugs up, not cherry red, and spray them down. If that doesn't work get them good and hot, red, and they'll come off. I just went through this myself on an old plow truck. Be ready for a lot more, lines, brackets and brake parts if the lugs are that bad. Been there...
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Sandy Hook, CT
OK, I'll try the heat first/PB Blaster trick....I have time since I don't need to change rims or tires yet <fingers crossed> but come Springtime I'd like to put a decent set of tires on this truck. The current ones are terribly dry-rotted~
Roger
Roger
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pb, heat, and try alternating between hitting it with an impact wrench (let the wrench work it you're going to have to hold it on for a bit) and a breaker bar.
if they just wont go follow the rule- when in doubt cut it out
if they just wont go follow the rule- when in doubt cut it out
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Iowa
Heat, definately heat. Any oil based lube will need to be completely cleaned off of the studs before mounting... we have had lug nuts work loose on HMMWVs in theatre resulting in studs breaking and wheels falling off while on mission. There was an investigation each time this happened. Out of the five times that happened, four were due to lug nuts being over-tightened (stretching and weakening the studs), and one was due to the operator using WD40 when removing his lug nuts. He had been doing that all year, but that one time, there was just enough trace amount of WD40 on the studs to cause the lug nuts to work loose! I had never heard of that before but since seeing that paperwork with lab results I haven't used anything on studs except anti-seize (hopefully anti-seize won't cause the same thing, I use it for bud nuts on freightliner duals)
Sorry for rambling, but I would use the torch and heat them up, or possibly just cut them off and replace.
Sorry for rambling, but I would use the torch and heat them up, or possibly just cut them off and replace.
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