Snapped Off Lug Nut Ideas

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-17-11, 13:39

I snapped a lug nut near the wheel the other day and can't get it off. It's one of the Gorilla lug nuts too, so there's nothing to grab on to. I've tried a chisel both to try and turn it or cut it off if possible. The damn thing is so tough though it won't cut all the way through. Does anyone have any ideas? I need to finish my control arm job. The lug stud is probably toast already, but I want to save the hub/bearing and the wheel too.

**chief tool** · 10-17-11, 13:55

There is probably no easy way depending on how much recess there is in the lug nut hole in the wheel.

sounds like you've tried most of the options, probably now its a matter of taking the whole hub assembly and the wheel off together, pressing the hub out of the bearing while still attached to the wheel, then drilling the back off the damaged lug and tapping it though with a drift pin.

There might be easier ways, but that will work.

TinoMX6 · 10-17-11, 19:05

I recently had gorilla spline drive lug nuts do the same. It took about an hour of air hammer, torch and a forcing a prybar inbetween the rotor and wheel directly across from the lug nut in question. I royally [fizzle]ed up one of my FD's doing so but what choice did I have? just take your time and have patience

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-17-11, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinoMX6

I recently had gorilla spline drive lug nuts do the same. It took about an hour of air hammer, torch and a forcing a prybar inbetween the rotor and wheel directly across from the lug nut in question. I royally [fizzle]ed up one of my FD's doing so but what choice did I have? just take your time and have patience

I've wasted so much time on trying to get this thing off. The weather has been awesome for the last few days, but instead of driving, I've been trying to get the SOB off. I looked at the thing again before I quit tonight and there's enough material left to try one of the special sockets they make for this problem. The problem with that is that the weather is supposed to go to hell and it may be the weekend before I can do anything with it again. I'm thoroughly pissed.

**baardoon** · 10-19-11, 2:39

a drill? drill it out, by a new wheel bearing and lugstud, and get it handled, probably cost the same as a specialty tool

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-19-11, 7:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by baardoon

a drill? drill it out, by a new wheel bearing and lugstud, and get it handled, probably cost the same as a specialty tool

I had that suggested by someone and I'm taking that under consideration. There's nothing left now that resembles a nut. All the remnants have been chiseled to back to the point where I can't see the opening in the wheel for the lug stud. If I drill there's the possibility of doing additional damage to the wheel. And since my Tenzos are no longer made, I'm screwed as far as getting a replacement. It seems likely at this point I'm probably going to take the thing apart with the wheel still on obviously. I think if I drill there's no guarantee that it will work, plus what I said about the wheels. I'm glad I kept a set of stock wheels now, I may be heading back to them.

**monoxidechild** · 10-19-11, 11:50

i would have busted out the drill right off the bat. drill out most of it in the center, then the rest will usually break when you hit it with a flat head and a hammer. ive fixed a few of this exact issue going this route.

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-19-11, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by monoxidechild

i would have busted out the drill right off the bat. drill out most of it in the center, then the rest will usually break when you hit it with a flat head and a hammer. ive fixed a few of this exact issue going this route.

What size bit? I'm not going to look when this gets done. I'm having someone else do it.

**monoxidechild** · 10-19-11, 15:31

start small. then step up little by little so you dont damage your wheel. 3/8ths should be the largest you need. but work you way up to that size.

**Mazda Carnage** · 10-21-11, 18:35

Monoxidechild is right, that's the easiest way. A step drill bit also works after making a pilot hole.

Is the only a couple threads holding whats left of the lug nut? You could try knocking out the stud using a punch (held with vice grips) and hammer on the end of the stud .

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-21-11, 19:08

Is the only a couple threads holding whats left of the lug nut? You could try knocking out the stud using a punch (held with vice grips) and hammer on the end of the stud .[/QUOTE]

There's no lug nut left persay. What's left of it has been pushed back into the wheel opening that the lug stud comes out of. Just to make sure, are you guys saying drill out the lug stud or around it where the metal build up is? I'm assuming you mean the area where the metal is built up now. I'm was planning on drilling at least three holes in that area and then using a screwdriver as stated. I would hope to not have to drill anymore holes than that.

**Mazda Carnage** · 10-22-11, 2:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugly mx6 guy

Is the only a couple threads holding whats left of the lug nut? You could try knocking out the stud using a punch (held with vice grips) and hammer on the end of the stud .

There's no lug nut left persay. What's left of it has been pushed back into the wheel opening that the lug stud comes out of. Just to make sure, are you guys saying drill out the lug stud or around it where the metal build up is? I'm assuming you mean the area where the metal is built up now. I'm was planning on drilling at least three holes in that area and then using a screwdriver as stated. I would hope to not have to drill anymore holes than that.[/QUOTE]

I think monoxide meant drilling out the stud, not drilling the edge of the lug (and so did I), you can swap studs easily, beat it out of the hub with a hammer and punch.
Drill one hole in the center of the wheel stud with the smallest bit in the drill bit set, increase sizes until you cut the treads of the lug nut, then pry on the rim or beat on the stud until whats left of the lug lets go.

The easiest job you face is installing a new wheel stud, the rest of the job isn't that hard either.

You might need a pointed tipped punch to make an indent to center the drill bit, remember to use lube on the bit and apply even steady pressure, as long as the bit is cutting it's not burning out, start slow and let the progress decide the drill speed.

If the lug hole in the rim is damaged you can probably just have the beveled edged cut in a little deeper and use that rim in the back or use a washer or spacer before you put the lug on.

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-22-11, 17:33

Well, I've had an awful [fizzle]ing day. Drilling through the lug stud is easier said than done. I managed to break two bits, and they were brand new too. I managed to cut my leg so bad that I thought about going to get stitches to make it stop. I never got all the stud drilled down and actually have a decent way to go. My wheel is [fizzle]ing broken at the opening for the stud. Even if I pull the wheel off at this point, I will have to cut the remaining stud and the part of the wheel that is trapped behind the stud. I can not believe that one [fizzle]ing stud caused this much problem. I also can't believe how much of my [fizzle]ing time I have wasted trying to get the [fizzle]ing wheel off too. I hate my car right now. The blood finally stopped by the way. My sock is covered in it and the area above my ankle too. I understand what bled like stuck [fizzle]ing pig means now. I guess tomorrow I either drill some more or go ahead and take a crow/pry bar and finish the wheel off the rest of the way. What a [fizzle]ing choice... I can't [fizzle]ing wait.

**Mazda Carnage** · 10-22-11, 21:14

That's a bad day. Sorry to hear.

if you made a pilot hole during all this suffering then get a step drill bit:

You can apply more pressure to them without snapping and I have found some cut what drill bits won't but they need a guide spot (pilot or punch) or they tend to role around but not drill.

**ugly mx6 guy** · 10-23-11, 16:43

Okay, I finally got the wheel off today. It came down to a combination of chiseling, brute force and the car gods feeling sorry for me I guess. The drilling method sux. If I have something like this happen again I will not consider it at all. My wheel may not be as damaged as I originally thought, but it's hard to tell because of the appearance of the stud opening on the wheel. I did find the two biggest pieces of lug nut that were left. I think I'm going to keep them in a glass box of some kind and label it epic failure. I guess it come down to live and learn on this experience for sure. I know I will do somethings differently if this happens again. Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate it.