95_993

I was in the process of switching over to my winter wheels & tires on my Audi yesterday and encountered a frozen lug. Steel and luminum just love to bond themselves together.

Anyway, he lug bolt first rounded over with a socket and breaker bar.

I then tried the lug removal sockets I had (Craftsman). I have now round the lug down 3 sizes and it's not breaking free.

Other suggestions? Drilling out is going to be very tedious and I don't want to damage threads in the hub.

Emo993

I had this happen on two Jetta TDI's, wheel intaller over torqued the bolts. I drill out the head, going from small bit to medium to thread size and head popped off. Took wheel off and unscrewed the stud with my fingers. Tightness is between bolt and rim not hub....Drilling was not that bad.
Hope that helps, mark

Garth S

^^
Good advice, since the head is already rounded: were it not, I would use an impact gun first - reversing between tighten/loosen to shock the stud loose.

If drilling, slip a socket over the stud to serve as a guide once a pilot hole is drilled. This will keep the larger diameter drill from jumping out sideways and kissing the wheel.

clib

Be sure to replace and torque down all the other lug nuts. Right now you have maximal tension on the stuck one. Might help relieve some and avoid drilling.

Cactus

I have to replace all of the lugs on my R32 because they are corroded so bad.

Magdaddy

when it's all said and done, and going back together...some kind of anti seeze compound is your friend on those wheel studs.

nile13

Guys, use anti-seize on the lugs. It helps quite a lot and costs next to nothing.

I see Joe said it as well.

User 122821

I've removed a few lugs corroded on by pounding a SAE socket on the rounded Metric lug with a 5 lb hammer. The pounding and bite of the smaller socket usually does the trick. Of course the socket is doomed since it's permanently stuck to the lug after its removed.

95_993

I always use a little anti-seixe on the threads, but I think the seat is what is corroded together/ I Even smear a little on the hub as I had my seize to the hub once. Wasn't fun in a foot of snow at 1 o'clock in the morning with a flat tire.

I'm going to try and have a friend "tack" weld on a nut this week and try again.

BTW - The new wheel bolt I picked up at Audi is Stainless....guess they knew they had an issue.

ilko

We missed you today Rob! Hope that pesky lug nut comes off in no time!

95_993

Thanks Ilko. I also got hit with a nasty bug on Friday that I haven't shaken yet.