wheel lug stud spinning and spinning

[4gin007]

So I created a problem for myself today and need some suggestions on how to fix it. The problem is that one of my lug nuts wont come off, the stud spins with the lug nut while trying to remove the lug and even when tightening the lug. I removed the other five lugs and tried to apply pressure while using an impact to remove the problem lug nut. That didnt work and I really dont want to continue down that route because I dont want to risk destroying the lug nut seat on the wheel. Its the drivers front wheel. Level 8 mk6 wheels, thats the reason I dont want to damage the lug seat, really dont want to buy another wheel if I do. I think my only option is to start removing every thing from the back side and take the spindle and axle off the truck with the wheel still attached and then hopefully lay it on a work bench or the floor and somehow get to it from the backside.

Any ideas or suggestions??????

 

[gm350reratliff]

Did you replace a wheel stud at some point? Sounds as if the stud never fully seated or was cross-threaded.

I would try getting some pry bars/screwdrivers between the wheel and brake rotor. Hit the lug nut with short bursts from a good impact wrench. Spray some grease or anti-seize in the wheel seat first.

I'm not sure you can take the whole bearing/wheel assembly off without removing the wheel, then brake caliper first. I guess it could be worth a try.

 

[preacher35]

I know that the procedure for this issue, at one time, was to freeze the stud with liquid nitrogen and then break it off. Probably still is.

 

[4gin007]

Did you replace a wheel stud at some point? Sounds as if the stud never fully seated I guess it could be worth a try.

I did replace the hub assembly, because the wheel bearing went bad. It came with all new studs.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Any way you can get a pair of vice grips at the back of the hub to hold the wheel stud in place? You're going to have to break the stud to get the wheel off.

 

[4gin007]

Ill have to take a look behind the wheel and see if theres anyway to get past the dust shield.

 

[Antman]

Toyota wheel studs are pretty soft. I would take the other 5 lug nuts off and try to break the other stud. People use this method to steal wheels that have a lock on 1 stud all the time.

You may be able to accomplish this by jacking that side up and letting the jack down hard on that side, or carefully getting a prybar back in there (protecting the wheel).

That's what I would do- good luck!

 

[t-man]

I'd tack weld the back side of it then grind it off when done.

 

[4gin007]

I can do that for sure if im able to access the stud from the backside. Ill try holding it with vise grips, welding it, grinding it then finally breaking it. I hope the wheel can hold up to the abuse of trying to break it though.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

A friend had this happen to one of his cars several years ago. He took it to a shop that had some kind of devise to crack the lug nut and was able to get the wheel off. I do not know what tool it was and did not see it happen myself.

Another suggestion is to try an impact wrench. The instant torque may break it loose.

I also read about drilling into the end of the lug nut into the stud and keep increasing the drill size till the nut cracks or looses enough grip to unscrew or drill big enough to the base of the lug nut that the big part of the nut falls off so you can pull the wheel off. just do not drill to deep or big to damage the wheel. Another idea is to dremmel the nut off if there is room for it.

 

[cmoore50]

I have a couple of these.

2 PC Nut Splitter Set 12 22mm Rusted Damaged Frozen Seized Bolt Out Remover Tool | eBay

They have worked well for me. I haven't tried them on a lug nut, but they're not ridiculously expensive. It maybe worth a try.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Are these factory lug nuts by the way? The factory ones have a small metal cap stuck onto the lug nut. What you may want to try doing is taking a chisel and trying to break the small metal cap off so you can see the lug nut itself, then trying to crack it open by chiseling on the side. This will only work is the lug nut is long enough or off the stud enough that when you chisel on it you're not chiseling the stud.

I'm not sure if that makes sense?

 

[preacher35]

I have a couple of these.

2 PC Nut Splitter Set 12 22mm Rusted Damaged Frozen Seized Bolt Out Remover Tool | eBay

They have worked well for me. I haven't tried them on a lug nut, but they're not ridiculously expensive. It maybe worth a try.

That's so weird. My wife has a set of those!

 

[SSt4r]

That's so weird. My wife has a set of those!

:jaw::jaw::jaw:

 

[4gin007]

Are these factory lug nuts by the way?

What you said makes sense to me but unfortunately they are the lug nuts thay came with the mk6 wheels. They seem to be really generic.

 

[jdigitty]

You could try getting one of those t lug-nut wrench and use it to try and snap the stud.

Another thing you could is get a cheap socket hammer it on the lug. And use the hole as a guide and drill if it spins put some vise grips on the socket.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Are these factory lug nuts by the way?

What you said makes sense to me but unfortunately they are the lug nuts thay came with the mk6 wheels. They seem to be really generic.

Well you may still be able to crack it with a chisel if you're careful?

 

[swapmeet]

I have those wheels, so I imagine you're dealing with a fairly deep lug pocket that leaves you little opportunity to work the sides of the lug.

I'm not sure this has been suggested, but you could put a lug wrench on it (think long handled 4way) then put a breaker bar on the oppisite end from the lug/ stud, and try bending/ breaking the entire assembly off, but twisting the wheel so you don't hurt it too much in the process. If you have enough play to get the wheel off the other studs then this might be fairly easy.

GL... thats a hairy problem for sure.

 

[4gin007]

This is my plan as of now as 03_4x4runner suggested. I looked at a lug nut on my truck and figured i have the gorilla lug nuts, so i ordered a few more and got a new lug key with them. So im going to cut the old key in half, long enough to hold it with vise grips but short enough for a drill bit to go through it and drill out the lug stud. Thats the best i can come up with and will let you guys know how it goes. If that doesnt work then im going to break out the air hammer

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions

 

[preacher35]

This is my plan as of now as 03_4x4runner suggested. I looked at a lug nut on my truck and figured i have the gorilla lug nuts, so i ordered a few more and got a new lug key with them. So im going to cut the old key in half, long enough to hold it with vise grips but short enough for a drill bit to go through it and drill out the lug stud. Thats the best i can come up with and will let you guys know how it goes. If that doesnt work then im going to break out the air hammer

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions

Good luck and let us know how it goes!