I HAVE ALUMINUM WHEELS SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFULL TRYING TO RELEASE THE STRIPPED LUG NUTS. HOW DO I REMOVE THE WHEEL AND DRUM AS A UNIT. IS THERE A WAY TO WORK ON THE LUG NUTS TO REMOVE THEM MAYBE BY DRILLING THEM OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE LUG NUTS AND WHEEL HAVE BONDED TOGETHER MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS. FORD USED THE CHEAP TIN COVERED SOFT METAL LUG NUTS ON MY FOCUS. I'M EXASPERATED WITH THIS PROBLEM!!! RAY
Hi Ray,
I put in some time at an auto salvage yard. Aluminum wheels were big sellers and not something we wanted to damage.
When the lug nuts needed some persuading, we got out the high impact 12 pt deep sockets.
First try we used the correct size.
If they were stripped, one size smaller. We hammer them on to the lug and use a breaker bar with a pipe extension.
The only real problems we had were getting the lug nuts out of the sockets.
Good luck and best regards,
Mike
Testimonial: "Most helpful although i am still having problems, it seems that the lug nuts are so soft rather than loosening the nut the socket just spins on the nu"
Ray, I have some more info for you. I saw a friend of mine today who also worked at the same place. Your dilemma came up.
He had a set of sockets made specifically for pulling stripped lug nuts. They look the same from the outside, 3/4" drive heavy deep well sockets.
On the inside the classic 12 pt star pattern was not to be found, Each point went much further toward the center, starting low at the lip gradually getting deeper.
He said, "They function the same as deep sockets, these just work every time"
Auto parts store specialty. Ask about them. I didn't get who made them or an industry nick name, but they should know.
Good luck Ray.
Thanks for the rating and the testimonial.
Mike
Go to advance auto get a lug removel socket it has splines in side you turn the socket the way the lug comes of the teeth in the socket will take hold and it should come off
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Purchase a set of "twist" or "strip" sockets. Most likely available at any tool/parts store. You tap them on the stripped lug nut with a hammer and the grip on the lug nut gets tighter as you loosen the nut. As long as the lug nut studs are ok, you should be able to just replace the stripped lug nuts. You can take the entire drum off with the wheel attached by removing the center cap on the rim, removing the dust cap on the drum, then removing the spindle bolt under the cap, but I don't recommend it because you risk damaging the bearings and/or brake shoes in the process.
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