Broken Lug Nut

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Carveman - 16 May 2005 14:07 GMT

While taking off the front drivers side wheel (89 C4) to run down a problem
with the headlight I snapped off the head of the lug nut. All that remains
is the boss which is flush with the wheel, leaving nothing to grab on to.
Has anyone else run into a similar problem ? If so how was it rectified.

Thanks

Mike

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Ed Beroset - 17 May 2005 01:59 GMT

> While taking off the front drivers side wheel (89 C4) to run down a problem
> with the headlight I snapped off the head of the lug nut. All that remains
> is the boss which is flush with the wheel, leaving nothing to grab on to.

Ouch! Nasty problem. My inclination would be to drill out the wheel
stud and then collapse the nut around it since a wheel stud costs about
$6 and I'm sure your wheel cost much more than that, but without some
kind of jig to hold the drill, I don't know how realistic it would be do
do that. Maybe sacrifice another nut to use as a drill bit guide?

I'm sorry I don't have more constructive advice, so maybe I'll just
sympathize instead.

Ed

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Weekend Guru - 18 May 2005 19:54 GMT

I had this problem years ago on a 914-6...and they indeed did what Ed has
suggested: they drilled it out with a high speed air drill...with very
small bits and lots of patience. It worked, with only a couple of nicks on
the wheel.

Good luck!

>> While taking off the front drivers side wheel (89 C4) to run down a
>> problem with the headlight I snapped off the head of the lug nut. All
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Ed

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william_b_noble - 19 May 2005 07:32 GMT

if I understand your situtation, the dealer has a special hole saw for
exactly this purpose- it fits tightly over the stud and cuts the nut - used
when you lose the key to the wheel lock to cut the assembly off - photo in
my 944 shop manual.

> While taking off the front drivers side wheel (89 C4) to run down a
> problem with the headlight I snapped off the head of the lug nut. All
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Mike

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The Dead Senator - 20 May 2005 08:58 GMT

> While taking off the front drivers side wheel (89 C4) to run down a problem
> with the headlight I snapped off the head of the lug nut. All that remains
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Mike

This won't help now, but just in case this is what caused it, never
tighten the lugnuts down with air-tools. I think they only need
something like 90 ft-lbs of torque. Someone correct me if I'm wrong,
'cause I'm too lazy to look in my manual right now since it's one ai-em!

Hope you figger it out. Let us know.

DS

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Carveman - 02 Jun 2005 13:53 GMT

Thanks to all for their suggestions. I broke down and took it to my mechanic
and he slowly and carefully drilled holes in the lug nut until he could
collapse it. It cost me $60.00 but considering the wheel is ok it was a
deal.

Thanks

Mike

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