Do make sure the wheel is not damaged. Loose lug nuts can cause damage to
the wheel thus preventing proper wheel torque in the future.
"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:ao-dncsyHMDbYFTYnZ2dnUVZ_oWdnZ2d@speakeasy.net...
> comcastss news groups wrote:
>> My daughters boss changed a flat for her the other day.
>> She got home with the spare but said it felt like it was wobbleing when
>> she
>> went slow but seemed ok on the highway. She drove about 30 miles on it.
>> mostly highway.
>>
>> I jacked up that tire and 4 of the 5 lugnuts were very loose. Only one
>> was
>> tight.
>>
>> Now I cannot get that lugnut off..
>>
>> Can I use a long breaker bar and snap the lugnut off?
>
> yes.
>
>>
>> Years ago I had a van that had a lugnut snap off and I was able to knock
>> what was left out with a punch and replaced the lugnut. It pulled into
>> place
>> when I tightened it.
>>
>> My concern is that if these are a tighter fit would you need a press to
>> remove or install the new lugnut.
>>
>> Or do you have any other ideas?
>>
>> I cant go back to her boss about it!
>
> would you say that if she'd had an accident and been hurt?
>
>>
>> Also I wonder if the wobbling tire could have caused any steering or
>> suspension damage????
>
> no.
>
> just crank the nut off. if it breaks, replace it just like you say -
> you've done it before.
>
> what you may encounter is damage to the other lug nuts if the wheel has
> been too loose. examine the threads. if they're damaged, the safe thing
> is to replace the hub [since replacing all 5 lugs is pointless and just as
> expensive]. if they're not, just keep driving.
>
> if the remaining nut comes off ok, suggest you go to a junk yard and get a
> couple of appropriate lug nuts as replacements. discard the original,
> screw one of the replacements on and off a few times to clean up the
> thread, clean everything off with a wire brush, then refit the wheel using
> the second "clean" replacement in that position. you should be fine after
> that. use antiseize on the nut face, but not the threads unless it's
> still /really/ stiff.