[Winch]

I want to do a brake job on my 2002 S10 2 wheel drive pickup but I cannot get the front lug nuts loose. I've got a big 2 stage compressor and impact and I've tried a breaker bar. Neither budges them. I could try a pipe on the breaker bar for leverage but I'm afraid I'll snap off lugs. Am I missing something?

 

[akxtreme]

Spray a bunch of WD-40 / lubricating oil and let it sit for a few hours / overnight if possible. Then try it again. Is that a 1/2 inch breaker bar or 3/8 ? Use a 1/2 if you have one. Also try tightening it just a bit, then loosening. If that doesn't work heat up the nuts with a propane torch. Good luck!!

 

[schnide]

Smack the lug nuts with hammer if possible to help brake loose any rust. Once you get a few loose retighten them to take pressure off the remaining ones to get those loose.

 

[Winch]

Is penetrating oil (P B Blaster) OK instead of WD-40? That is a 1/2 inch breaker. Smack the end of the nut?

I wanted to make sure they aren't left hand tightening nuts (backwards). I wouldn't think so.

 

[ss27]

Is penetrating oil (P B Blaster) OK instead of WD-40? That is a 1/2 inch breaker. Smack the end of the nut?

I wanted to make sure they aren't left hand tightening nuts (backwards). I wouldn't think so.

All American cars I have seen loosen CCW and Tighten CW. What you need is a big half inch thick Heavy Duty breaker bar and a hunk of Persuader pipe to extend the leverage they will come off or break off . If you heat it you will ruin the wheel paint etc etc . WD-40 is useless there and if they are that tight PB Blaster will be of no help. Hope this helps .When you bolt it back up put some white lithium grease on the threads of the lug nuts with an acid brush. Alex

 

[patman2]

I had that problem on my Camaro when I first got it, the breaker bar and extensions did no good. I finally used an electric impact wrench on it, and that worked. I’d say keep hitting it with your impact. If you get some of the nuts off, put antisieze on the studs and tighten them up again until you get all the nuts loose. Having only one nut on, and all the clamping force on that one last nut only makes it that much harder to remove.

 

[ZZ_430]

Is it just one side?

I would get new studs and lug nuts ready and start breaking if needed. Damage has been done.

 

[3forme]

All American cars I have seen loosen CCW and Tighten CW. What you need is a big half inch thick Heavy Duty breaker bar and a hunk of Persuader pipe to extend the leverage they will come off or break off . If you heat it you will ruin the wheel paint etc etc . WD-40 is useless there and if they are that tight PB Blaster will be of no help. Hope this helps .When you bolt it back up put some white lithium grease on the threads of the lug nuts with an acid brush. Alex

I have several old Pontiacs that have left handed threads on drivers side, stupid idea back then. They thought it would prevent loosening.

 

[3forme]

Breaker bar with pipe, they will loosen or snap-one or the other

 

[Worn Out Welder]

Probably sounds silly but use a quality 6 point impact socket ( I prefer Snapon flank drive) grabs the flats not the points of the nut.
Impact always wins over shear force, as long as you can create it.
I have had the occasion to override the pressure switch on my compressor and use a direct port so I’m sending 150 psi to my impact….I’m not safe to be around sometimes…..

 

[Vega$69]

Impact over breaker bar will get it done.

 

[Winch]

I have good news and bad news. I forgot about PSI. I had it at 90 so I turned it up to 160 and they broke free. 9 of them anyway. One broke the socket then rounded off using a second socket. Now what do I do to get that one off? I think there is some kind of socket for that. I need to research it.

 

[Winch]

I was talking about researching those extraction socket things.

Screw it. I just put it in the shop. The guy said they deal with rounded lug nuts all the time. I'm getting too old for the hassle.

 

[Motohead]

There is a socket that you can get from your local auto parts store for rounded nuts/lugs. It's worth having in your toolbox.

 

[jcor12]

yup I learned that lesson that hard way on my Dads 1950 Oldsmobile 88; driver side left hand thread

I have several old Pontiacs that have left handed threads on drivers side, stupid idea back then. They thought it would prevent loosening.

 

[Vega$69]

I was talking about researching those extraction socket things.

Screw it. I just put it in the shop. The guy said they deal with rounded lug nuts all the time. I'm getting too old for the hassle.

And you were so close.

The socket is the same one the shops, and crooks, use to remove wheel locks when the owners can't find the keyed socket.

 

[Worn Out Welder]

I have good news and bad news. I forgot about PSI. I had it at 90 so I turned it up to 160 and they broke free. 9 of them anyway. One broke the socket then rounded off using a second socket. Now what do I do to get that one off? I think there is some kind of socket for that. I need to research it.

That’s the advantage of snap on flank drive…pricey but I buy used and extremely rare too buy new ….I’m not chasing a truck and paying extra. I’ve only broke a couple of snap on tools….and it was very extreme and intended.

 

[Motohead]

Had the same problem on my F150 with a flat tire. I eventually got it to a shop. They used everything and I mean everything to no avail. In the end we used a heavy truck breaker bar, impact socket, and literally 5 foot pipe for leverage. Shop gave me disclaimer that it would come off or break off. At that point it had to be done. It came off. Something about Ford using steel lugs with aluminum lug nuts.

 

[iroc343]

The steel conical lugs bite into the aluminum wheels really hard. I might invest in a better impact wrench. Some of them are only rated at 250 ft/lbs. the better ones are 600ft/lbs+.

 

[3forme]

My Milwaukee 1/2" drive electric gets things off air won't.

Home depot $199