Loose Lug Bolt inside stuck Lug Nut

[Tom]

The front brake disk/hub is new. So why are the lugbolts now loose after two weeks in service? More importantly, how do I get the nut off of the bolt if – they both rotate – the bolt is inaccessible – I want to do this without annihilating the tire/wheel? Where I’m sitting, this is a brute force solution lacking a brute, and I’d rather apply smarts rather than destruction. I submit the problem to those who have done the work and resolved similar issues.

1992 Ford E150 Econoline van. Hub is on the vehicle, bolts are inaccessible.

Thanks,
Tom

Topic

[Kaz]

I’m sure others have a better solution, but as far as I know, you have two choices. Replace the hub assembly, or, drill out the bad stud. Lots of youtube videos on this. Search youtube for “How to remove a spinning wheel stud the easy way” and you’ll get some ideas on what you need to do.

[Douglas Haynes]

Just to get some clarification on this…

-The wheel stud is spinning in the hub, correct? Is it just one or several of them?

-You said it was a new hub and rotor? I think your van has a rotor where the hub and the rotor are one piece, correct?

-Did the new hub/rotor come with the studs pressed in?

[Tom]

Just to get some clarification on this…
-The wheel stud is spinning in the hub, correct? Is it just one or several of them?
** Yes, two.
-You said it was a new hub and rotor? I think your van has a rotor where the hub and the rotor are one piece, correct?
**One piece, press fit, new, yes.
-Did the new hub/rotor come with the studs pressed in?
**Sold as a unit, assembled at the factory.

Have I erred? Or is this a return?

[Douglas Haynes]

Did all the lug nuts loosen up or are you trying to take the wheel off for service or something?

[Andrew Phillips]

If the lug nut won’t come off the stud because it is rotating in the hub, you will need to get a nut splitter to break the nut off. Then you can remove the hub and press in a new stud. If the hole is wallowed out and too large to hold a new stud, you can either press in a larger stud (you’ll need a new nut anyway since you split the other one off) or replace the hub to use the OE size stud. Since this is a new rotor we’re discussing, I would return it under warranty as defective.

Attachments:

• nut_splitter.jpg

[Tom]

“Did all the lug nuts loosen up or are you trying to take the wheel off for service or something? ”

Well, I got the dang thing off after ‘modifying’ the splash shield and trapping the head. Evidently all five of ’em were loose. The reason I wanted to take just the tire off was that my front right side was making funny, grindy noises. Go figure. The brakes seem okay, and the disk is in good shape. I’m glad I succeeded, but this could have precipitated a dangerous failure. I don’t think it was something I did- I can’t even think of anything I could do outside of directly abusing the bolts, deliberately.

The inside surface where the bolt contacts the hub is stripped pretty bad. I think this is a return.

[Tom]

UPDATE
Returned disk rotor/hub, had receipt, no problem. Nice guys down there btw. My solution was to cut through the splash shield, trap the head, and rotate the nut off. The wheel looks to be OK. For future reference- the chrome capped nuts rust and deform horribly. Do not use, or grease heavily, often. This was a pain, but man made it, and man can unmake it. I just have to un ‘modify’ the splash shield.

Thanks to everyone who helped

[Author]

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