Four Ways to Remove Lug Nuts
In our last blog we talked about jacks. This time, we'll touch on the topic of four ways and lug nuts. Remember, the purpose of this series of blogs is to give tips on how to change your flat tire on the side of the road. That means no power tools - it's all you, baby, yeah! Also, preparation is key. We're letting you know what you'll need before you're stuck on the side of the road.
Don't forget the hub cap remover!
1.) Make Sure You Have a Four Way.
If you don't have anything to do (and since you're reading this, I'm assuming you have some downtime) go to your vehicle and take a look at the junk in your trunk. If you find a four way (AKA: lug wrench or cross wrench), go to your wheel and find the side that you can snugly fit on your lug nuts. Once you find it, why not get some brightly colored tape and mark it so in case you have a flat, you know exactly which side to use!
2.) What if my Four Way Doesn't Fit my Lug Nuts?
Simple, buy another vehicle. J/K, but you do need to fix that problem! Your standard or universal four way (SAE: 11/16", 3/4", 13/16" or 7/8 and metric: 17mm, 19mm, 21mm and 22mm) should fit most types of lug nuts. Contact your dealer or take a pic of your lug nuts and show them to a mechanic or auto parts employee - they may be able to shed some light. If you purchased aftermarket wheels, you may have locking lug nuts (one per wheel) which means you're going to need a ... drum roll ... wheel lock!
3.) Wheel Locks
If you have a wheel lock key, don't lose it! Put it in your glove box, center console, on the side of the door, in the trunk with your spare tire - somewhere safe! I can't tell you how many times I've seen people relieved that they made it to a tire shop and ready to get rolling again, only to hear the tire tech ask, "do you have your wheel lock key?" and I can see the look of confusion cross their faces. They hadn't thought of that and have no idea where it's at. Now, the tire shop might have tools to get it off. But if your wheel lock is doing what it's supposed to do - it's not gonna be so easy. Wheel locks are uniquely made so as to prevent theft, so just not any thin walled socket with a breaker bar will do. Plus, your vehicle can be damaged. So servicing your flat tire without a wheel lock key might not be a risk the tire shop is willing to take. So if you have it, keep it safe and maybe even consider ordering a replacement just in case. You can also order a wheel lock removal kit from Amazon - but keep in mind that in all likelihood, it will ruin your locking lug nut.
4.) Stuck Lug Nuts
Sometimes, lug nuts and the bolts they're attached to get rusty, making them difficult to remove. We suggest always having a breaker bar is this situation - it will provide more leverage for you. You'll want to use your foot to push down on the bar (but don't stomp on it! Just let your weight do the work.) You can add even more leverage by using a long pipe over the breaker bar! If this doesn't work, use a lubricant (but use as little you can - remember, a lubricant will make your lug nuts and bolts slippery which, for obvious reasons, isn't good once you place the lug nuts back on!
Lug nuts often pose a problem for folks, but if you take some time now and look at what you're working with now, you can save yourself time and heartache. Til next time, happy and safe driving!