If you have been driving for a long time, chances are you have come across several broken lug nuts. Broken lug nuts occur mostly in cars that are subjected to extreme adverse weather conditions for a long period. Lug nuts also break due to cross-threading, overtightening, and lack of maintenance.
While you can drive with a broken lug nut, it’s risky to do so. The wheel can misalign or, in a worse case, detach from the car. Invariably leading to a road accident that could cost lives. Therefore, whenever you have broken lug nuts, replace them before hitting the road.
This article will explain how to remove a broken lug nut and the replacement procedures. We will look at why the lug nuts break in the first place and also drop some simple tips on how to prevent the lug nuts from breaking.
What is a lug nut?
A lug nut, also known as a wheel nut, is the nut that screws into the large bolt protruding from the wheel hub. It usually has a hexagon shape, is smooth, and looks like other nuts with threads inside. The lug nuts keep the tires secured with the wheel hub.
Why do lug nuts get broken or stripped?
Why do lug nuts snap off? Much like other nuts in your vehicle, lug nuts strip or break due to corrosion and rust, cross-threading, using the wrong socket, and over-tightening. Also, the lug studs will break off if you drive with loose wheels. Let’s see how this happen.
Using the wrong socket
You must only use the right socket size when installing or removing the lug nuts. If you use the wrong size, the socket will slip as you try to loosen or tighten it. As that happens, it will cause damage to the lug nut hex. If you successfully torque or remove it, it will be more difficult to tighten or loosen next time.
If you used a poor-quality or worn socket, try using a new and quality socket next time. While this will not fix the damages you have already caused, it will prevent further damages in the future.
Corrosion and rust
While the wheel nuts are made of metals, when exposed to moisture and packed over a long period, corrosion and rust can occur. As corrosion eat up the edges of the lug nuts, they will strip off when losing or torquing them.
Incorrect torque
Another reason the lug nuts break off is incorrect torque. Car manufacturers have specified measurements to torque their wheel nuts. If you over-tighten them, the inside threads will wear off. If that occurs, the lug nuts will be hard to lose even when you have slacked it, or it will be running free when tightening or losing it.
Now we have seen why lug nuts stripe off, you may be asking how do you remove a destroyed lug nut. Find out how in the next section.
How to remove a broken lug nut?
There are several ways to remove broken lug nuts, but the most common method is using a hammer, breaker bar, and extractor socket. The next option is using a blowtorch. If these methods fail, use a handheld grinder.
Whichever method you choose, first slack and remove all other lug nuts and guide them back one after the other. This will help you identify the broken, stripped, or worn wheel nuts.
Breaker bar/Hammer/Extractor Socket
This is the most common method that will work 99% of the time and is usually the first to try. However, it is not easy stuff as it requires a lot of effort and may take longer than you expect. Luckily, most of the tools you need are in your home garage. You will need a nut extractor socket, breaker bar, hammer, and penetrating oil.
Firstly, park the vehicle on a flat surface and support it with wheel chocks to prevent it from rolling. You can also engage the hand break as further safety precautions.
Soak the broken or stripped wheel nuts with penetrating oil. Ensure the oil covers the nut and breaks loose any rust. Use low-viscosity oil for a better result.
Insert a long socket on the broken lug nut and hit it a few times with a heavy hammer. This will make it much easier to extract. Check if you can remove it with a regular socket. Get a new and high-quality socket of the same size as the wheel nut and try removing it. Fix the socket and hit it with a hammer. If the nut is completely stripped, removing it with a normal socket will be hard. But there’s no harm in trying.
If you are, however, unable to remove the broken wheel nut with a normal socket, remove the socket and use a nut extractor of the same size as the lug nut. Hit the nut extractor onto the nut until it’s dead-tight and has a good grip.
Connect your handle to the extractor socket and attach a breaker bar. In the same way, you lose other lug nuts, turn the handle counter-clockwise to remove the broken nuts. If it’s too hard to come off, attach a longer breaker bar handle to make it easier. Now you know how to get a stripped lug nut off a tire at home.
Wrench/Grinder
Like the first method, apply penetrating oil on the wheel nuts, let it soak evenly, and remove rust or corrosion on the nuts. After letting the oil sit for some minutes, make edges on the nut with your hand grinder. The edges should let you grab the nut with your wheel spanner. Put the sizeable wheel spanner in securely and break loose the lug nuts.
You should, however, keep in mind that this method is not suitable for all cars. For instance, it will be difficult to grab the nuts on aluminum wheels with a grinder. In such cases, you should try other methods.
Hammer/Chisel/screwdriver
You can also remove the stripped lug nut with a chisel and hammer. If every method fails, you can always fall back on this one. However, you have to try the first two methods before trying this. This is your last resort if you don’t want to try the blowtorch method.
Apply penetrating oil on the lug nuts and allow it to sit for some minutes to break loose all the rust and corrosion holding it.
Chisel out the broken lug nut by placing the chisel at any edge of the nut and continually hitting it with the hammer. You have to be cautious not to damage the lug stud. You will, however, damage the lug stud in most cases. So, get ready to replace it.
Blowtorch
The blowtorch method is much faster than the rest, but not everyone has one. If you have a blowtorch, you will need a lug nut spanner or a hammer and chisel to remove the nut when hot. To avoid creating fire with the heat involved, you don’t need any oil when using the blowtorch method.
Gently heat the lug nut with your blowtorch until it is red hot. You want to, however, do this cautiously to avoid creating any hazard. As the lug nut turns red hot, it will become easy to lose, and the size will expand, letting the wheel spanner grab it firmly and lose it easily.
While this method is much faster than the first, the blowtorch will damage the paintwork on your rim. For this reason, this method should be used as a last resort.
Remove a Broken Lug Nut — With No Drilling (YouTube)
How to prevent broken lug nuts
It’s better to prevent stripping your lug nuts than fixing it. Removing a broken lug nut is more costlier and labor-intensive than preventing it in the first place. With proper maintenance and prevention techniques, you won’t have to go through the hustle of removing a broken wheel nut.
Do not allow an apprentice in a tire shop to lose your tires. If the mechanic doesn’t know how to hold the spanner securely, he will strip the lug nuts. And that may not only cost you the nuts, it can cost you lives.
For instance, if the technician strips the lug nuts when tightening it, there is a chance he won’t be able to tighten the tires properly, leaving the wheels wobbling as you drive. And because the tires are not properly tightened, they can pull off on the highway.
To prevent this, always visit reputable shops with good reviews for your tire and suspension works. Once they finish their job, always ask them to crosscheck the lug nuts or do it yourself. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Another tip is to avoid overtightening the nuts. Overtightening the nuts can strip the edges or the threads. Instead, torque the nuts to the manufacturer’s torque specification. If you don’t have the right tool, get one or take your car to a specified shop to do the job.
It’s essential that, when tightening the lug nuts, thread them by hand first before torquing them with a wheel spanner. This will prevent you from cross-threading them. Occasionally, rub oil on the lug nuts before tightening them.
Final words
Removing a broken or stubborn to loose lug nut can be quite challenging, but it is far from impossible. While, there are several methods you can use, the most important thing is to do it safely without causing more damages.
From my experience, you should, however, try the extractor method before trying any of the other methods. It is the only method that will not dent your rim paintwork. But if it fails, you should then try other methods. Keep in mind, the blowtorch method should always be your last resort.