Any ideas to loosen tight lugbolts?

wa128 · 03-24-2010, 12:52 AM

Here I'm trying to switch from my winter tire setup to my summer setup and I can't even loosen the first lugbolt. I tried spraying the bolts with PB Blaster lubricant then applied my impact wrench but still couldn't budge any of them. The impact wrench btw is a 1/2" drive electric rated at 240 ft/lbs of torque. Should be plenty, I thought. Ohh...and I know it seems obvious but it's counter-clockwise to loosen, right?

What has worked for you? Any bulletproof method to get the job done? Would appreciate any advice you can offer!

Mitch1er · 03-24-2010, 01:27 AM

first off, whoever put on your winter setup put them on way to tight. i would go back to them if i were you. i would spray plenty of PB plaster and let it sit overnight, if you have a 1/2" ratchet try that with a long pipe at the end. give it a good slow pull and it should break loose.

Dackelone · 03-24-2010, 04:47 AM

Get a big LONG pipe and place it over your 1/2" breaker-bar!

A four foot long pipe with he correct ID to slip over your "tool" is ideal!

JimD · 03-24-2010, 08:39 AM

Another reason to approach whoever put them on is there may be more to deal with than just the issue of removing the wheels. Too tight lug nuts can warp the wheel or the spindle and the lug nuts may break which makes removal a mess. If you break one, they are likely to argue you were going the wrong way.

I hate to go anywhere either. If you have an air supply or one of your neighbors does you may want to check around your friends for a good air impact. You can get them that go up considerably higher than 240 ft lbs. But the cheap ones, like I have, may not even go that high.

Harbor Freight is my favorite place for cheap tools. They sell about a 3 foot break over bar in 1/2 inch drive. If that is not enough, a local home center has mild steel water pipe as much as 10 feet long.

I would think pretty hard about replacing the lug nuts once they are off. And the sockets you use should be six point (not 12).

Jim

rsjean · 03-24-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimD

Another reason to approach whoever put them on is there may be more to deal with than just the issue of removing the wheels. Too tight lug nuts can warp the wheel or the spindle and the lug nuts may break which makes removal a mess. If you break one, they are likely to argue you were going the wrong way.

Jim

Here's a tip, and it's a shame when things get to this stage...

Whenever I run into a glitch like this I whip out a digital camcorder (PVD, Phone etc) and set it on something to video what I am doing. That way should the lug bolt snap - I have a record of the incident showing that I was not tightening what I thought I was losening.

Oh and should the car fall off the stands or something tragic - I might just have a $10,000 winner for Americas Funniest Videos to help pay for the damage.

But back to the issue - our lug bolts are an 88 ft lb spec I believe.

AchtungF80 · 03-24-2010, 11:31 AM

+1 long pipe on breaker bar, make sure the socket is placed properly over the lug bolt head then using gradual pressure stand on it.

Dackelone · 03-24-2010, 05:00 PM

I carry something like this...

http://www.ace-technik.de/dokumente/...oss/813152.jpg

...in my trunk, with a good strong 17mm socket. It never fails to remove stuborn wheel bolts. All the local grocery stores carry a tool like this. best ever eight euros I've spent! You can even install other 1/2 drive sockets for other high torque jobs.

bye

rsjean · 03-24-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I carry something like this...

http://www.ace-technik.de/dokumente/...oss/813152.jpg

...in my trunk, with a good strong 17mm socket. It never fails to remove stuborn wheel bolts. All the local grocery stores carry a tool like this. best ever eight euros I've spent! You can even install other 1/2 drive sockets for other high torque jobs.

bye

How much does it cost from a local store there? The price here seems a bit of a rip off at $45.00US.

wa128 · 03-25-2010, 01:11 AM

Thanks for all of your tips, guys! I did consider the pipe-over-the-wrench method as was suggested but decided against it due to a bad lower back. If I had to do all 20 lug bolts by pulling upwards the strain would put me in pretty bad shape. Standing on the wrench doesn't give a good feel if the bolt head is going break off or not. That's why I started out with the impact wrench first.

Dackelone, I have a similar extendable wrench like yours but that did not work, unfortunately.

Looks like the only alternative, as JimD stated, is to bring the car back to the shop that installed my winter set and have them remove it then install the summer set. I'll be certain to mention that the wheels be torqued at 88 ft/lbs. I mistakenly assumed they would follow the manufacturer's recommended setting, especially since they are ASE certified. My fault for assuming.

Dackelone · 03-25-2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsjean

How much does it cost from a local store there? The price here seems a bit of a rip off at $45.00US.

Well... Hazet stuff is always $$$! Hazet is like the German verson of SnapOn! lol

I have the knock off version from the local grocery/hardware stores. No name. It's cheap, under ten euros. Even comes with a 17/19mm reversable 1/2 drive socket.

bye,
David

Dackelone · 03-25-2010, 06:44 PM

When you back to the shop... you can check to see IF they use something like these...

http://www.hexatool.com.tw/images/up...20socket-b.jpg

Its a extension socket that goes onto an impact gun. When the gun starts to torque down the wheel bolt... this hour-glass shapped ext will start to wind up - like a spring. These extensions only allow a certain amount of torque onto the wheel bolt. This way there is no way they can over tighten a wheel bolt. No matter how strong their impact gun is!

Of course... there is no mistaking the CLICK CLICK of a good quality torque wrench.

pit1 · 03-26-2010, 09:36 AM

Def bring it back to the last installer. I had an awful experience with a local generic tire shop, who's third attempt at road force balancing resulted in busting a hole in my winter tire, which put me on a "loaner" A/S tire for a snow storm. Long story, I got all my money back, but had to return a month later to have them loosen the bolts. They did it on the spot, I specified 88ft/lb...success, so apparent warping or damage.

03-24-2010, 12:52 AM	#1
wa128 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2012 AW 135i DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: wa state iTrader: (0)	Any ideas to loosen tight lugbolts? Here I'm trying to switch from my winter tire setup to my summer setup and I can't even loosen the first lugbolt. I tried spraying the bolts with PB Blaster lubricant then applied my impact wrench but still couldn't budge any of them. The impact wrench btw is a 1/2" drive electric rated at 240 ft/lbs of torque. Should be plenty, I thought. Ohh...and I know it seems obvious but it's counter-clockwise to loosen, right? What has worked for you? Any bulletproof method to get the job done? Would appreciate any advice you can offer! __________________ 2012 135i \| AW on Blk \| 7DCT \| M-Sport + Premium \| Nav \| Harmon Kardon \| BMW Performance Exhaust & Kidney Grilles
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03-24-2010, 01:27 AM	#2
Mitch1er Lieutenant 26 Rep 521 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: covina, CA iTrader: (21)	first off, whoever put on your winter setup put them on way to tight. i would go back to them if i were you. i would spray plenty of PB plaster and let it sit overnight, if you have a 1/2" ratchet try that with a long pipe at the end. give it a good slow pull and it should break loose.
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03-24-2010, 04:47 AM	#3
Dackelone European Editor 10622 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Get a big LONG pipe and place it over your 1/2" breaker-bar! A four foot long pipe with he correct ID to slip over your "tool" is ideal!
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03-24-2010, 08:39 AM	#4
JimD Brigadier General 369 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	Another reason to approach whoever put them on is there may be more to deal with than just the issue of removing the wheels. Too tight lug nuts can warp the wheel or the spindle and the lug nuts may break which makes removal a mess. If you break one, they are likely to argue you were going the wrong way. I hate to go anywhere either. If you have an air supply or one of your neighbors does you may want to check around your friends for a good air impact. You can get them that go up considerably higher than 240 ft lbs. But the cheap ones, like I have, may not even go that high. Harbor Freight is my favorite place for cheap tools. They sell about a 3 foot break over bar in 1/2 inch drive. If that is not enough, a local home center has mild steel water pipe as much as 10 feet long. I would think pretty hard about replacing the lug nuts once they are off. And the sockets you use should be six point (not 12). Jim __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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03-24-2010, 11:31 AM	#6
AchtungF80 Brigadier General 279 Rep 3,465 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3, '17 G30 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 135is [9.50] 2010 Cooper S [10.00] 1991 318is [10.00]	+1 long pipe on breaker bar, make sure the socket is placed properly over the lug bolt head then using gradual pressure stand on it. __________________ ig: 0verrev
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03-24-2010, 05:00 PM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10622 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	I carry something like this... http://www.ace-technik.de/dokumente/...oss/813152.jpg ...in my trunk, with a good strong 17mm socket. It never fails to remove stuborn wheel bolts. All the local grocery stores carry a tool like this. best ever eight euros I've spent! You can even install other 1/2 drive sockets for other high torque jobs. bye
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-25-2010, 01:11 AM	#9
wa128 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2012 AW 135i DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: wa state iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all of your tips, guys! I did consider the pipe-over-the-wrench method as was suggested but decided against it due to a bad lower back. If I had to do all 20 lug bolts by pulling upwards the strain would put me in pretty bad shape. Standing on the wrench doesn't give a good feel if the bolt head is going break off or not. That's why I started out with the impact wrench first. Dackelone, I have a similar extendable wrench like yours but that did not work, unfortunately. Looks like the only alternative, as JimD stated, is to bring the car back to the shop that installed my winter set and have them remove it then install the summer set. I'll be certain to mention that the wheels be torqued at 88 ft/lbs. I mistakenly assumed they would follow the manufacturer's recommended setting, especially since they are ASE certified. My fault for assuming. __________________ 2012 135i \| AW on Blk \| 7DCT \| M-Sport + Premium \| Nav \| Harmon Kardon \| BMW Performance Exhaust & Kidney Grilles
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-25-2010, 06:44 PM	#11
Dackelone European Editor 10622 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	When you back to the shop... you can check to see IF they use something like these... http://www.hexatool.com.tw/images/up...20socket-b.jpg Its a extension socket that goes onto an impact gun. When the gun starts to torque down the wheel bolt... this hour-glass shapped ext will start to wind up - like a spring. These extensions only allow a certain amount of torque onto the wheel bolt. This way there is no way they can over tighten a wheel bolt. No matter how strong their impact gun is! Of course... there is no mistaking the CLICK CLICK of a good quality torque wrench.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-26-2010, 09:36 AM	#12
pit1 Captain 239 Rep 790 Posts Drives: F87 M2 Join Date: May 2008 Location: It's always Sunny... iTrader: (1)	Def bring it back to the last installer. I had an awful experience with a local generic tire shop, who's third attempt at road force balancing resulted in busting a hole in my winter tire, which put me on a "loaner" A/S tire for a snow storm. Long story, I got all my money back, but had to return a month later to have them loosen the bolts. They did it on the spot, I specified 88ft/lb...success, so apparent warping or damage.
	Appreciate 0 Quote