Help & Advice Needed - Spline Lug Nut Broken & Rounded Off

[MojaveLawyer]

I’m looking for some advice to help out a friend. They recently went to a local tire shop, and unfortunately, the shop put on a spline lug nut that’s now rounded off. We’re stuck trying to figure out how to remove it without causing more damage to the wheel or surrounding area.

Do any of you have tips, tricks, or recommendations on how to bust this thing off? I’ve heard of a few methods, like using special extractor sockets, but I’d love to hear what’s worked for you in the past. Tools, techniques, or even services that could help would be awesome!

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[Medical_Bartender]

I’d be livid pissed if a shop did something like that to me. That’s one reason I do all my own rotations after the initial mount and balance.

Looks like yall tried drilling and using a hammer and punch to try and loosen it already?


I’ve seen extractor sockets that may work, have never used them though. I have used the extractor bits that you hammer into the broken off stud. Don’t think that’ll work for you if what I’m seeing is the lug sticking out with the rounded nut pushed back into the recess.

If it were mine I’d try driving back to the shop and have them figure out along with (attempting) to have them comp a new wheel since that one is marred to hell now.

if that’s not an option maybe drill out the lug which will take some time.

cutting torch would work. But bye bye wheel I’d imagine.

Best of luck. I know that sucks :/

On the plus side, you are a great friend to help him out.

 

[Charles 236]

Last one I had to take off that was impossible to turn, I just drilled straight into the lug. The lug nut was too damaged by a tire store trying to get it off to be turned with any kind of socket. I drilled all the down for the depth of the lug nut with a small bit to make a pilot hole, then used a bit that was large enough to take all of the lug and cut the threads off the inside of the lug nut. I took my time, used plenty of lubricant to cool the bits, and removed the other lug nuts after drilling out the lug. I was able to save the wheel with no damage.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Not sure if you meant to post different pics, but...frankly I can't tell what I'm looking at. Is that not the exposed stud? Did you "round off" half of it down to the stud itself?

 

[Greg_L]

Not sure if you meant to post different pics, but...frankly I can't tell what I'm looking at. Is that not the exposed stud? Did you "round off" half of it down to the stud itself?

Agreed, hard to tell what we're seeing there.

 

[DiehardTory]

Type of Spine Lug? Aluminum or Steel? Shop buys new Wheel for sure... NEED A Side View to see if enough remains to weld a large steel nut to the remains then remove. Check youtube video from bleepin jeep .. has one on how to remove similar situation.

 

[MojaveLawyer]

Not sure if you meant to post different pics, but...frankly I can't tell what I'm looking at. Is that not the exposed stud? Did you "round off" half of it down to the stud itself?

I'll post some better pics today.

Pretty much from what my homie was telling me, the heehaw at the tire shop snapped the spline lug half off, where it was just the base left on. They tried to grip it with a 3/4 socket and an extractor, and couldn't do it. It's just the base of the spline lug nut with no grips for the spline key.

I had to go down there to check it out for him, and sure enough, it's just the base of the lug nut, no teeth to grip it or nothing. I took my drill to see if I could try to drill that and bust it for him there, and no luck. The tire shop kid was gonna try again, and I told him, just leave it before you screw it up, and you owe my homie a new rim, big dog.

 

[MojaveLawyer]

Type of Spine Lug? Aluminum or Steel? Shop buys new Wheel for sure... NEED A Side View to see if enough remains to weld a large steel nut to the remains then remove. Check youtube video from bleepin jeep .. has one on how to remove similar situation.

It's one of the method spline key's, pretty sure aluminum by the looks of it. I will post better pics when the sun comes up. It's pretty much just the base of that spline lug.

Thank you for that rec on the bleeping jeep YT video! I'll check it out and send it to my brotha.

 

[MojaveLawyer]

Last one I had to take off that was impossible to turn, I just drilled straight into the lug. The lug nut was too damaged by a tire store trying to get it off to be turned with any kind of socket. I drilled all the down for the depth of the lug nut with a small bit to make a pilot hole, then used a bit that was large enough to take all of the lug and cut the threads off the inside of the lug nut. I took my time, used plenty of lubricant to cool the bits, and removed the other lug nuts after drilling out the lug. I was able to save the wheel with no damage.

This is honestly great!!! This is what I was telling my buddy. Maybe we could tackle this, this weekend. I'd like to save that wheel for him, so they can pay for his spare's rim.

Just might have to go this route, honestly. Thank you!

 

[MojaveLawyer]

I’d be livid pissed if a shop did something like that to me. That’s one reason I do all my own rotations after the initial mount and balance.

Looks like yall tried drilling and using a hammer and punch to try and loosen it already?


I’ve seen extractor sockets that may work, have never used them though. I have used the extractor bits that you hammer into the broken off stud. Don’t think that’ll work for you if what I’m seeing is the lug sticking out with the rounded nut pushed back into the recess.

If it were mine I’d try driving back to the shop and have them figure out along with (attempting) to have them comp a new wheel since that one is marred to hell now.

if that’s not an option maybe drill out the lug which will take some time.

cutting torch would work. But bye bye wheel I’d imagine.

Best of luck. I know that sucks :/

On the plus side, you are a great friend to help him out.

Thanks for the reply, man. I’m right there with you—I’m beyond livid about it for my buddy Joe.

You’re spot on about what we’ve tried so far—drilling and using a hammer and punch didn’t do the trick. I did try the extractor sockets, but they weren't even gripping it, because it's just the rounded off base.

If that doesn’t pan out, I’ll probably try drilling it out, even though it’s a pain.

Appreciate the advice and encouragement. It’s been a frustrating process, but I’m doing what I can to help my buddy out. In the words of Tracy Lawerence, you find out who your friends are.

 

[MojaveLawyer]

Sent from my buddy Joe this morning;

 

[Jchap1987]

same thing happened to mine. Jeep drilled it out and replaced the stud.

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