Wheel nuts on very tight

[Pedestrian]

Hey,

Bought a leon last friday, used from a dealer.

Today I attempted to take the alloys off so I could clean my callipers (in prep to painting them). However, when it came to loosening the wheel nuts, they would not budge. I got 2 strong people, with an extension pole and some WD40 (probably did nothing) to try and loosen them, however not a single one would come off, let alone move.

Now obviously this is the dealer screwing them on with a machine, far too tight. If I was to break down with a flat tyre, the spare wheel would be useless as I wouldnt be able to get it off.

Do you think if I went back to the dealer tomorrow and asked them to loosen each nut they'd do it there and then? Its pretty stupid how tight they are.

 

[yellonvi-R]

Id say yes, failing that any tyre fitting places will crack them off and back on for you.

 

[wedgie27]

Can't see why they wouldn't if you only picked it up last week....it's a 2 min job to drive it into the workshop....but get them to check all 4 wheels to save u having to go back!!

 

[cheungy]

No Breaker bar? Im guessing copper grease wasn't used on the bolts...

 

[Pedestrian]

Well the pole they supply in the car is just crap, and the metal pole on the end of it I have doesn't help either.

I don't have a breaker bar, and tbh (sounds rude) I don't see why I should need one. If they supply a tiny pole with the car, you should be able to get them off with that pole.

Also, my brother mentioned this, no idea if its true. But if you take all 4 wheels off, you don't need them aligning properly when you put them back on do you?

 

[cheungy]

Well the pole they supply in the car is just crap, and the metal pole on the end of it I have doesn't help either.

I don't have a breaker bar, and tbh (sounds rude) I don't see why I should need one. If they supply a tiny pole with the car, you should be able to get them off with that pole.

Also, my brother mentioned this, no idea if its true. But if you take all 4 wheels off, you don't need them aligning properly when you put them back on do you?

16quid? Not too expensive...

It's good to have it, I rather have my wheels tight than loose.

And also your meant to check em after a Service or new tyres fitted...

Then again before I had the breaker bar I was jumping on the tiny pole tool which came with my car to ge the bolts off.

Copper grease is also good for the bolts too.

 

[cheungy]

Some garages don't care...they just air gun all the wheels super tight most of the time!

 

[Slimy]

If they supply a tiny pole with the car, you should be able to get them off with that pole.

While I agree with the sentiment, I have never had a toolkit wrench that could remove properly torqued wheel bolts!!

I don't let garages fit or remove wheels anymore, even tyre changes are done with loose wheels and I remove and fit them myself. Far too many air gun fitters.

I reckon we should have a petition raised in parliament that all air guns should only be able to operate anticlockwise...

 

[blackcupra180]

I second the breaker bar I've been stuck with a puncture with the bolts to tight.

I've got a telescopic bar that fits nicely along side the spare wheel and for under £20 quid it's well worth it.


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[cheungy]

I second the breaker bar I've been stuck with a puncture with the bolts to tight.

I've got a telescopic bar that fits nicely along side the spare wheel and for under £20 quid it's well worth it.


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Breaker Bar = Win

Proper tool for the proper job! you get much more leverage!

 

[slepy]

I always use extending bar. Bought it from halfords years ago and never used standard one.

 

[Pedestrian]

If I go down to Halfords or somewhere, what size fits? Its 17" alloys, but what size?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_171932_langId_-1_categoryId_165469#tab1

Something like that?

 

[lajohnz]

wheel nuts should be tightened to no more than 100lbft torque,

the light weight aluminium ones should not exceed 80lbft torque,

i doubted 80lbft was enough but after having tried and tested them on several track day's on a variety of tracks and with speeds upto 160mph they have never come loose,

by the sounds of it they'll need a really good going over with a windy gun to try and break the seal on the thread,when they or you refit them a little copper grease will help with future removal

 

[cheungy]

If I go down to Halfords or somewhere, what size fits? Its 17" alloys, but what size?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_171932_langId_-1_categoryId_165469#tab1

Something like that?

Yup that will do the job

Doesn't matter about the wheel size etc...

However you will need the correct size socket for the wheel bolts, a rough guess i think it is 17mm? (correct me if i am wrong please).

If your buying the 1/2" breaker bar then you will need a 1/2" socket aswell

 

[steroidchris]

Yup that will do the job

Doesn't matter about the wheel size etc...

However you will need the correct size socket for the wheel bolts, a rough guess i think it is 17mm? (correct me if i am wrong please).

If your buying the 1/2" breaker bar then you will need a 1/2" socket aswell

Yep, 17mm. Get the slimline socket with protector. A must to protect your alloys from damage.

 

[Slimy]

Yep, 17mm. Get the slimline socket with protector. A must to protect your alloys from damage.

This is what I have;

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_194853_langId_-1_categoryId_255216

 

[DerbyForget]

Well the pole they supply in the car is just crap, and the metal pole on the end of it I have doesn't help either.

I don't have a breaker bar, and tbh (sounds rude) I don't see why I should need one. If they supply a tiny pole with the car, you should be able to get them off with that pole.

Also, my brother mentioned this, no idea if its true. But if you take all 4 wheels off, you don't need them aligning properly when you put them back on do you?

no you definitely do not need your wheel alignment checked or adjusted just for taking the wheels off mate.

as far as the wheel nuts are concerned they can get corroded on if they haven't been removed in a while, and be very difficult to loosen. as you've stated it would be a problem if you broke down and needed to change a wheel.

the bar you are provided with should do the job as long as the wheels are torqued up to the specified setting and a little bit of copper grease is applied to the rear face of the wheel.

a breaker bar would be a great investment as it is lets be honest the 'correct tool' and would alleviate any issues in the future. i know it sounds daft but some times you just have to get rough with them, ice had to stand on wheel braces in the past but they will go

HTH

 

[blackcupra180]

Another little trick is to try tightening first before slackening. For some reason this works don't no why tho.


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[vincent5525]

When you do eventaully get the bolts out, clean them up with a wire brush and put a little engine oil on the threads and copper grease the face of the hub. Then tighten them to 120NM, re-check after a week and youll never have anymore problems.

 

[greyfloppyhat]

Depending on what alloys you have, sometimes they oxidise around the bolt, binding together slightly. Should always have a tab of copper grease on the nut face, most good garages(like ours ) always copper grease these bolts. Like you say the last thing you want when stranded is to be trying to get binded bolts off with that tiny thing they supply.
I've removed bolts and the crack they give off is scary, they really do bind to each other after a while. Breaker bar or a long section of box steel over the end of the bar