C’mon, you know the feeling. You need to get that wheel off your car and four of the lug nuts cooperated well enough. But the fifth one, hell, somebody must have welded that thing on. And you sweat, and you swear, and you strain, and it Just. Won’t. Move.
And there’s no alternative. You can’t just put the others back on and forget the whole thing. That seems the only rational thing to do, but it’s not an option. The wheel must come off.
And that’s when madness sets in.
Man hurt after blasting wheel with shotgun
A man has been severely injured after attempting to loosen a stiff wheel-nut on his car by blasting it with a shotgun.
And seriously, I can’t even mock or make cracks about Darwin Awards. After some point the abyss gazes back into you, and shotguns start to look like reasonable alternatives.
I feel for this guy because I have been in this situation myself. The big difference between this guy and me is that in my vehicle kit in the trunk I have a four foot length of steel pipe to use with the lug wrench should it be required not a 12 gauge. Why? because of the salt used on the road up here in the winter makes it a real bitch to get wheels off. This guy is an example of a 7P rule failure. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Now see?That’s why I always use remote-detonated explosives.
7Ps and Liquid Wrench and a propane torch and leaving it overnight and an impact wrench and well, by then, yes, the shotgun starts to seem reasonable. Only maybe with a deer slug.
Where are consumer-grade explosives when you really need them? I can own a shotgun, so why not an ounce or two of $emtex?
Ok I’m not the biggest man in the World 5’10” 210 lbs, but I’ve never failed to snap the stud when I put my mind (and back) to it. No need for explosives, a shotgun or foul language (oh how I love bad words) all it takes is strength. Try lifting something more than a spoon and soon you will see what I mean. Oh and the wheel studs are easy and cheap to replace.
Eric (the awful)
When I lived in upstate NY (the land of calcium chloride road salt), I learned to use antisieze compound on the lugs and torque the nuts properly. BTW, I had a vehicle (can’t remember which one) that required the removal of the axle to replace broken lug bolts, which required removing the cover on the differential, pulling a key and sliding the axle out, in order to press out the lug bolt and replace it. Hardly a task for a shade tree mechanic, especially in the dead of winter with snow on the ground.
When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
“I’ve never failed to snap the stud when I put my mind (and back) to it.”
Then I guess you have never had a lug nut round off on you. The longest breaker bar or even the most powerful air wrench does nothing if you can’t engage the damn nut. Fortunately, I’ve only had to drill one stud off of my car after some idiot tire guy with an overpowered air wrench, probably coupled with a worn socket, over torqued and then rounded off a lug nut.
He had successfully removed all but one wheel-nut on the right rear wheel
Yep, there’s the problem right there, most likely. Had he worked around the wheel in a star pattern, only just loosening each nut, he’d probably have been successful.
Okay, yeah, could’ve been some other problem. But … it could’ve been as simple as just putting a couple of the opposite nuts back on.
He probably had everything he needed to get that sumbitch off.
Tire iron – check.
Vehicle jack – check.
Heavy weight – check.
Lift the car with the jack.
Set the emergency brake / chock the foot brake on / stick the transmission in low gear (manual) or park (auto) – whatever it takes to stop the wheel turning.
Fit the lug wrench to the offending nut.
Put the spare tire under the end of the wrench so the nut will turn in the right direction.
Lower the car.
Fixed.
Ben, This may help you out if you ever get another rounded off lug nut. take a 1/2 inch 12 pointed socket roughly the same size as the nut, and drive it on with a hammer then remove as usual. Yes it destroys the socket but your problem is now solved. I’ve done this many times and it is far easier than (drilling it off) not sure how that is done. And before you ask yes I was a tire guy and then a tech in a shop for quite some time. Also still a gear head who can’t quit tinkering with stuff.
p.s. Harbor Freight or a discount store are good places to find Sacrificial sockets. Beats buying dedicated removal sets off the truck.
p.s.s I never jacked anyone’s shit up using an over powered air wrench or worn socket.