Anti Theft Lug Nuts Breaking

Keith Tedford

Keith Tedford

Power User
C6 You're a Regular King of the Post You're Liked 2 You're 10
Messages
3,799
Reaction score
1,016
VetteCoins
9,960
Car
2005 C6 1SB
When we bought our '05 Corvette three years ago, it already had the anti theft lug nuts, one per wheel. I have the original painted wheels and tires that I use for winter storage and the chromed set for summer. Today, while installing the summer wheels, the side completely broke out of one nut. Figuring that I must have put side load on it, I was very careful on the next one. A little piece broke out of it but was able to get it off. The other two came off without incident. I guess I will have to put my 41 years worth of tool and die skills to work and go at it with a die grinder.....unless someone else has a better idea or tool. The nut, judging from the break, appears to be glass hard as in above 62 Rockwell.
 
Keith I had the same problem on the last F 150. A tire dealer had put them on so tight that even our impact gun with a 1000 foot pounds of torque in reverse would not budge them. Ended up hammering on a 22 mm socket onto the nut and with a couple of breaker bars got them off. I was not happy. The locking lugs literally snapped the sides off.

In my case I really don't think it was the fault of the manufacture (McGuard) but the installer.

Good luck.
 
I ALWAYS use a torque wrench torquing to 100 ft/lb and that really isn't all that much. I was taking the wheels off. They had been on since last October so it's not like they were be rusted solid or anything like that. Any shop that starts using an impact gun on anything isn't going to get my business. A torque wrench doesn't take a brain surgeon to use and you know exactly where you are at. Guessing doesn't do it for me, especially on critical stuff. Around tire shops and such, I don't know the last time that I have seen anyone using a torque wrench or those torque limiting extensions which are colour coded.
 
When the lock exceed the wheel, it's easy to make a notch whit the die grinder then make it turn whit the zip gun but when they are to deep, it's a different story. I use some extractor from Napa, part #ultrapro 62800. Its a kit whit 2 extractor that screw counterclook on the exterior of the lock. push it hard while you use the air gun. It save me lots of problem and doesn't damage the wheel. Can't remember how much it cost but works good. Removing the nut out of the extractor might be a little hard but very tight in a wise and using the air gun will make it. Good luck
 
I gave things a close look tonight and there is room for a small grinder to get in there but I am going to check out the Boss s idea with the Napa tools. The standard GM lug nuts that came on the car are about $12+ EACH. The local automotive store in Peterborough has similar nuts for about 85 cents a piece. The way they are recessed you do not really see much of the nut except the end. I will just buy 20 and switch them all out. Thanks for the suggestions guys.
 
XFIRE82 said:
....just take any old wheel nut, hold it center and mig weld in the hole, then impact it off. Use a shield of some sort naturally to protect the wheel from any spatter.
Click to expand...

i'd be cautious applying current with all the sensitive electronics on these cars. may need to find out what to disconnect. if you can get a small hole in the lug nut, fill it full of penetrating or fogging oil.
 
Keith Tedford said:
I gave things a close look tonight and there is room for a small grinder to get in there but I am going to check out the Boss s idea with the Napa tools. The standard GM lug nuts that came on the car are about $12+ EACH. The local automotive store in Peterborough has similar nuts for about 85 cents a piece. The way they are recessed you do not really see much of the nut except the end. I will just buy 20 and switch them all out. Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Click to expand...

keith, i have extractors here if you need em.
 
The manufacturer did get back to me this morning. If I put a deposit on the tools, they would send them to me to remove the broken nut. If I had the invoice or warranty card they would replace the broken nuts. They may anyway, but I do not know at this point. All I really was interested in was that they check the hardness of the nuts because these ones are obviously way too hard when they break into pieces like glass. For all I know, someone may have installed these nuts at some point with an impact gun because, on closer inspection, one of the broken faces is dark so that crack has been there for quite a while. Whatever, I will be trying the new extractor sockets later today.
McGard sounds like the type of company that I like to deal with. They do not run and hide when there is a problem.
 
Keith we tried an air chisel on ours and could not even mar the chrome. The pounded on socket was the only thing we could figure out to take them off. We used a black impact socket, it bit into the steel of the nut and it did back them off.

Then we had to pound them out of the socket and start on the next wheel. The truck rims kept the lug nuts somewhat buried.

Good luck my friend. What a PIA.
 

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top