5 replies to this topic

[Hewlett_T]

Hey,

This may sound like a stupid question, but genuinely having trouble.

I today tried to remove the front two wheels off my Mini to take apart the wheel assembly and get the drive shafts out. When I tried to take the wheels off I noticed all but 2 wheels huts are rounded off, or over tightened, one even has the peg moving instead.

For the rounded off bolts can I remove the plastic/thin metal cover? Is there a bolt shape under this or something a socket can grip :?.

For the over tightened ones, does anyone have any ideas? I've used a breaker bar, a breaker bar with an exhaust to extend it xD. I've also used a drill to undo the nuts (can't remember the name). That won't even move it, so I assume some monkey has used an air gun, and too large a socket. All I've really achieved is stretching the Hand Brake cable by moving the car with the wrench.

As for the nut with the spinning pin, it's a standard nut not a wheel stud :/. So any ideas how to fix that as its just going around and around. Was considering heating and trying to break that nut.

Ironic however that this car was owned by a mechanic and everything is over torqued and **** tight.

Thanks for help with either of these issues :).

[Tamworthbay]

Irwin nut removers work well, halfords also set wheel nut removers but make sure you get the right size. I have also done it in the past by grinding a slot in the end then using an impact driver.

[Luke.c123]

when you get the nuts off, replace the studs!!! if they have been over torqued they can stretch slightly and have the potential to snap while driving... (happened to people on here i believe)

 

they should be torqued to around 45Nm, (Haynes manual) 

[Icey]

Hang about - there's a lot going on here.

 

Take any covers on the nuts off and try again with those.

 

If any (without the covers) are rounded off first try using a metric socket, often you'll find the difference is just enough. If worst-comes-to-worst you can hammer on a smaller socket and go again - you'll trash both the nut and socket.

 

For those that don't move - I'm amazed. It's usually pretty easy to snap a wheel stud, I've done it with just a ratchet and fists of ham. Try getting some heat or extreme cold (freeze spray) onto it. Changes in temperature often make all the difference.

 

For the one that's spinning in the hub - that's a little more tricky. You'll need to get creative. You either need to try and get it seated back in the hub or split the nut off of it. You could try welding a smaller bolt to stud if it's protruding from the nut any amount - you could then either somehow attach a slide-hammer or just see if it's enough to hold it in place while using a spanner on the wheel nut.

 

You're unlikely to have stretched the handbrake cable, you may move the car but that's just because the Mini handbrake can be pretty poor if it's not been adjusted recently. The cable acts on levers which aren't moved by wheel rotation.

 

And if all else fails you can cut the wheel off. It happens unfortunately.

 

 

Whatever happens, throw away all of the wheel studs and probably the nuts too. Get some new ones from a decent supplier (there are posts on here about poor quality studs) - don't just buy the cheapest.

 

 

And just an aside - just because the previous owner was a mechanic, it doesn't mean he was a very good one.

[carbon]

Another option for the wheelnut with spinning stud.

 

I had one of these about year back, thought about drilling it out or nut splitter (decided that drilling out would be long jod, and don't have a nut splitter). What I did was to use very close fitting spanner on the nut, but with spanner at right angles to the wheel. Then move back and forward so you bend stud very slightly side to side.

 

After about 5 minutes of this treatment the stud sheared flush with the wheel. Result!

[ibrooks]

Have you been using the correct sized socket to start with? The wrong size (metric or imperial) can often be just that fraction too big that it takes the corners off the nuts.

 

Are you using "12 sided" sockets? Drop it and switch to a proper 6 sided socket - on something as large as a wheel nut it's extremely unusual that the correct sized 6 sided socket can rotate.

 

If a stud is spinning then you WILL need a new drive flange and yes as a matter of course I'd be looking to change all the other studs after this problem.

 

The wheel with the spinning stud - once you've got the other three nuts off you should be able to get the wheel moving a little so that it bends that stud. Flex it back and forth a few times and it'll either stretch enough to take the tension off the nut which will then be loose enough to remove or it'll snap. You already know it needs to be replaced so no worries about damaging it.

 

Iain