Rounded wheel nut

[DavidL]

So started the process of checking which pads need changing.
Almost all of the wheel nuts were ridiculously tight, far more so than usual - I suspect when it was serviced last at a now not so specialist place it seems (if you want to know where in the west country pm me) probably put them on with an air gun.

Anyway all but one yielded to a single hex 19mm socket but one has given up the ghost.
So I'm off to somewhere cheap for an undersized socket tomorrow and a big hammer but anyone any other suggestions as to how to get it off?
Wheels aren't special so I don't mind the odd mark but nothing that wouldn't refurb out.

Also need a full set of wheel nuts - seems I'm looking at the thick end of £50 unless anyone knows better. Would rather have silver than black. Is this an option for genuine parts?

Cheers
David

 

[sawood12]

The undersize socket trick worked for me when I first got my car. After having trouble with the wheel nuts I decided that the alloy nuts after 20yrs had earned their retirement (some things are not intended to last forever) so I replaced with a full set of replacement nuts. I got them from a breakers who selects them for condition and re-sprays them. Apparently these alloy nuts are very sensitive to damage and corrosion and you should only use them with a 6-point socket and not a 12 point one as these over-stress the corners and ultimately fatigue them leading to the nuts rounding. I seem to think I spend about £20 for a full set of nuts and they were in near-new condition visually - though I've no idea how old they were.

 

[944 man]

The original nuts with which you car was originally supplied, are made from aluminium.

 

[Frenchy]

They weigh 18 grammes each ! sad i know, Eurocarparts sell them OPC prices have trebled, buy a soft socket (nylon lining) saves them getting chewed up, and strike ant garage/ tyre fitters with something soilid if they go near them with a windy gun. []

 

[RSGulp]

If the smaller socket doesn't work, you can buy a specially designed 'nut remover' socket from most auto stores...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=nut+remover&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a

 

[Frenchy]

Kwik fit lent me their locking wheel nut removal tool which is left hand threaded, it will work as the nuts are only aluminium and they do bite into them and get them off, but be careful with OEM locking nuts as they have a shear point built into them to stop them being removed and guess what, the shear point works, ask me i know ! [X(]

 

[Hilux]

If your ally nuts are now grey - change them.

 

[T911UK]

More nuts than KP;

http://type911shop.co.uk/shop/category_149/Wheel-Nuts.html?shop_param=cid%3D%26

 

[Highwayman]

I've just bought a set from Type 911, as they were the cheapest around. If you only need a couple, PM me your details and I'll select a couple of the best ones that I have just taken off my car and post them to you []. They might not be perfect, but would match your existing ones and save you a few quid [].

Phil

 

[DavidL]

Cheers chap, appreciate the offer. I shall however buy a whole set and some new locking ones too.
Did you go for the OEM or copies?
There a couple of places on ebay who claim OEM for around the £50 posted.

 

[Frenchy]

David,
PM me if interested a friend has a set of OEM he will sell at reasonable cost.

 

[Frenchy]

David,
Post would not let me edit to say i am talking about a set of OEM lock nuts with adaptor

 

[Highwayman]

I bought the aftermarket versions []. Can't say that I can tell the difference from the ones that I took off my car (except the new ones aren't knackered []!)

Phil

 

[DavidL]

James,
You have pm (email actually)

David

 

[T911UK]

The ones on Ebay for £47.99 are not OEM, but.................dont worry as they are the aftermarket ones and are actually better than the OEM ones.!!

We have the aftermarket ones at £40 a set + vat and they are much nicer, better finished and cheaper than OEM

 

[DavidL]

Interesting.
So forum discount then Matthew?

 

[DavidL]

Great just great.
Spent 2 hours with a little semi-professional help and we now have very little wheel nut left but just enough to hold the wheel on. There was no way the nut was actually going to undo.
So more laborious chipping away at the rest to go hopefully without damaging the wheel although some is inevitable.
How do the studs attach? are they just pushed in from the back of the hub, screw in or what? I think at the very least I will need a new stud by the time it is out.

 

[T911UK]

£40 a set is the best I can do!

The studs are pressed in from the rear, easy enough to knock out and replace

 

[DavidL]

Thanks Matt,
Useful info regarding the stud, might help get it out. Hope I can save the wheel.

 

[Hilux]

If its an ally nut and wont undo then the threads are toast. I`d be amazed if it was electrolytic action.

Its a steel stud so the ally should simply strip the threads when undone.