Wheel nuts are used to fasten the wheels to the vehicle and they need to be loosened so they can be removed whenever you need to change tires, access brakes and perform various repairs on your vehicle. Learning to loosen and install wheel nuts is a very important skill for anyone who drives a car. You may have to change a flat tire at an unexpected time. Fortunately, this skill is not difficult to learn and there are a few tricks that can help you remove a stuck wheel nut.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Loosen the Wheel Nut
Step 1. Park the car on a level surface and apply the handbrake
Step 2. Remove the hubcap (if applicable) and locate the wheel nut
Depending on your vehicle, the hubcap may need to be removed before you can access the lug nuts and loosen them. The hubcap is usually attached with a metal clip, held in place by a wheel nut or using a plastic nut.
- If your hubcap is clipped, remove the hubcap by using the flat end of a wheel wrench or a flat screwdriver against the thick or solid part of the hubcap.
- If your hubcap is being held in place by the lug nuts, you can only remove them after you have completely removed the lug nuts. If you try to remove the hubcap before removing the whole wheel nut, you will damage the hubcap.
- If your hubcap is installed using a plastic nut, you will need to remove the plastic nut using a wheel wrench (and avoid using excessive force when reinstalling the plastic nut to avoid damage).
Step 3. Check the wheel nuts
The wheels of cars, trucks and other vehicles will be mounted on axles between the four and eight wheel nuts that are used to center the wheels and secure them to the vehicle. Some European-made vehicles have wheel bolts instead of nuts although the removal process will be exactly the same.
- On some vehicles, locking wheel nuts are used to prevent the vehicle from being stolen. Usually only one lock nut is needed per wheel and it should look different from the others. This locking wheel nut requires a special lock to remove and loosen the lock on the end of the lock wheel nut.
- On some locking wheel nuts, you can hit the 12 point sockets and remove the locking wheel bolts instead of using a special wrench. The hardest part is that you need an assistant to position the socket so you can remove the locking wheel nut with a punch.
Step 4. Use a wheel wrench to remove the lug nuts
A wheel lock, sometimes called a wheel bar lock, should be included in the kit for your vehicle's tires along with the jack and spare tire. The wheel wrench should fit snugly against the wheel nut used in your wheel assembly and in some cases you won't need any other tools to remove it.
- The wheel lock can be one straight bar or two crossed bars. The crossed bars provide added strength because you can grip one side of it with your hand and twist it with full force.
- If your lug nuts are stuck due to rust, over-tightening, or other factors, read the next section for tips on loosening an over-tight wheel nut.
Step 5. Start loosening the lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground
Do not jack up the vehicle until you have tried to loosen the lug nuts. Use the resistance created by the friction of the tire against the surface to help you loosen the lug nuts. The tire won't spin if it's still on the surface so you can still remove it more easily.
Step 6. Place the wheel lock on the wheel nut and turn the wheel lock counterclockwise
Turn the wheel wrench once you have placed it on one of the lug nuts and pull hard until you feel the lug nuts begin to loosen. You don't need to completely remove the lug nuts, use a wheel wrench to loosen them until they are loose enough to be removed with your fingers.
Step 7. Continue loosening the bolts
It doesn't matter which nut you choose to loosen the first time. Pick one and move on to the next bolt in a star pattern that goes through the nearest wheel nut you just loosened. This pattern helps the wheel stay centered and is important when you install the wheel. This pattern is also a good habit when you loosen the bolts.
When all the bolts are loose, it's time to jack up the vehicle, completely remove the lug nuts, turn the lug nuts by hand, and remove the wheels to complete whatever project you have planned. If your project requires more than just replacing the wheel with a spare tire or a new tire, you will need to place the frame mount under the vehicle until the project is complete
Method 2 of 2: Loosening a Jammed Wheel Nut
Step 1. Double check that the handbrake is installed
If your wheel nut is stuck, you will need to apply extra force to remove it. Before you do that, you need to make sure that your vehicle isn't going anywhere. Make sure that you are on a flat surface and that the handbrake is in place before attempting to remove a stuck wheel nut.
Step 2. Get additional leverage
Manufacturers' wheel locks usually have short handles so they don't provide enough leverage. The first and safest thing you should do is get the leverage on your side. If the handle of the wheel lock you are using is longer, loosening the lug nuts will be easier.
- Increase your leverage by using a socket wrench. These socket wrenches are usually longer and stronger than the wheel locks found on most vehicles.
- If the socket wrench alone isn't enough, find a long tube that you can thread into the wrench rod or the socket wrench so you can turn it a further distance from the nut. You should be able to use both your hands. When choosing a pipe, it is better to choose one whose size is closest to the size of the handle.
Step 3. Use your feet
If there's nothing else you can use and your arms aren't strong enough to loosen the lug nuts, you can use your stronger leg muscles to start the loosening process. However, be careful when doing so.
- Secure the wheel lock onto the wheel nut and adjust the handle at an angle that is almost parallel to the surface. Carefully use one foot to push the wheel lock down and turn the wheel lock counterclockwise. Use your feet and press hard. Get yourself into the vehicle and stand on the wheel lock, jumping carefully if needed. When the lug nuts are loose, stop and use the wheel wrench as usual.
- If you want to try to do this, please be very careful. Wheel locks are not trampolines. Don't put your feet on the wheel lock or jump up and down. Keep your feet in contact with the wheel lock at all times and let your body weight do the work.
Step 4. Use a wooden hammer or metal hammer
If you don't have a rod to extend the handle, use a simple method. Using a wooden hammer or metal hammer to hit the handle of a wheel lock is an effective way to loosen a stuck wheel nut in an emergency. If you are stuck on the shoulder of the highway, this may be your only option. If you don't have a metal hammer, a stone or other heavy object will work as well.
If you want to try to hit the handle of the wheel lock, please be very careful to avoid the bounce from the hit. Use controlled short strokes with a wooden hammer and pause afterward to see if you've loosened it enough to use another method
Step 5. Use penetrating oil if the wheel nuts are rusted on the protrusions
(Use this method only as a last resort). If you're having more trouble than over-tightening, spraying a small amount of a penetrating oil like PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench directly at the missing thread protrusion in the wheel nut will help. Use the thin, straw-like tube that comes with the penetrating oil to apply it accurately and try to avoid overspraying the brake drum or rotor. Allow the penetrating oil for ten minutes to spread all over the thread and loosen up a bit.
- If the wheel nut is still stuck, try another spray aimed at the surface of the threaded protrusion exactly where the thread has disappeared inside the wheel nut. Leave it for another ten minutes and check the results. Now the impact of a hit with sufficient force by a wooden hammer on the wheel lock would probably have an effect.
- Make sure your discs and brake drums are free of grease before driving again. Oil on these surfaces is a serious safety risk that can cause brake failure, increased braking distance, and accidents. Clean the metal brake surfaces on the rotor or drum with a clean cloth and an appropriate solution such as acetone. If you have worn brake pads with penetrating oil, it is best to replace them or consult a mechanic.
- If there is oil on the brake surfaces, test the brakes at low speed on an empty road to measure stopping force. Test at a higher speed until you are satisfied with the results. Remember to warn other car drivers that the car may not stop as quickly as before and ask them to test the new braking ability.
Step 6. Use the wheel lock release to remove the locked wheel nuts
If you removed the lock for a locked wheel nut, you may be able to remove it with a special socket head designed to remove the lock. Featuring a reverse thread feature, this special socket head is perfect for biting a lock and loosening it without the need for a key to remove it. This special socket head is also suitable for removing bent wheel nuts that are difficult to remove. Dedicated socket heads are available online and at most auto parts stores.
To use the wheel lock release, attach it to the end of your socket wrench and lock it in place. Use the socket wrench to turn the locked wheel nut counterclockwise as usual. It should loosen with a little effort
Step 7. Use a torque wrench when replacing the lug nuts
If you have had difficulty removing the lug nuts due to over-tightening during a previous tire change, be careful about tightening the lug nuts to their current specifications using a torque wrench. Check your manual for the recommended torque for your tires then set the torque wrench to the correct specifications on the side of the torque wrench and lock it in place with the lock collar. Then, tighten the wheel nuts in a star pattern. Do this twice to make sure the lug nuts are tight.
