Antitheft Lug Nut turned loose &%$§#+*

[suny07]

Hi folks,

anyone has a good tip?
I ripped over a cornerstone last night ....

While trying to change the tire the Antitheft Wheel Lug Nut turned loose and I can not move that screw.
Luckily its on my driveway, but I can not unhook as its not very level there.

Tried the next local tire shop but they won't come to my place.
He has the tools but he wants me to bring the unit to his shop.
It's 1.1 mls and I am thinking of major damage to the wheel and maybe the Monty possible even driving slow.

Mobile RV services I called won't touch it.

I am thinking if I get quickly AAA member if they come and change the tire?

Thanks for your Experiences and good advise.

 

[scottz]

That's ugly. A couple of ideas come to mind.

If you are not comfortable working on it or don't have the tools, your best bet is to find someone to come out. Talk to a truck stop that has a mobile service; they can probably get it off.

Do you have a welder or know someone? Grind off a little of the chrome and tack weld the adapter in place. It will be tough with so little clearance to the wheel.

Disk brakes or drums? would it be possible to pull the whole spindle off?

I assume it is striped out completely, if not, you could tighten it and break the stud off. That's a long shot.

Take a die grinder with a cut off wheel and cut a slot in the nut that a big chisel with a hex handle will fit in (like a screw driver). Use a wrench on the hex handle. Looks like there might be enough room, but I suspect the nut would break.

Last option, pull off the other seven nuts and use the wheel as leverage to brake it.

In all cases, I would put some heat on that nut before trying to turn it.

Most likely, you are going to damage that wheel, but not a lot of good options.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[Daryles]

There is a bunch of YouTube videos on this subject.
Most involve sacrificing a socket.

https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=Removong+a+lugnut+lock

 

[mlh]

No one is probably going to get that nut off, it’s ruined, completely stripped out. Someone is going to haft to weld a socket on it before you can get it off. It was too soft to begin with. I would find a welder to weld a socket on it as has been suggested before. Bee careful with heat. Aluminum gets soft if it’s heated to much.
After I got it off I would buy a set of nuts for all four wheels. McNuts nuts are great lug nuts. This will not happen with them. They are hardened steel and multi coated so they will never rust and warranted for life. They have theft proof nuts with a their own design lug nut wrench that this will never happen with.
Lynwood

 

[ahdmeyer]

it looks easy on film . worth a try

good luck let us know if when you are successful. it has to come off for sure.

 

[suny07]

Hi,

my neighbor had the idea with a socket as well.
We used a 24mm socket and hammered it over that antitheft lug nut.
To my surprise it went over it like through butter.
The socket had a perfect bite on the lug nut and I could finally unscrew it.

Problem solved

Consequently I went to O'reilly and bought 4 no antitheft lug nuts to get rid of all of them.
I always thought its a dumb idea running around with those antitheft things.

Thanks for all your tips here as well

Mike

 

[scottz]

Good job.

 

[mlh]

Wonderful
Problem solved
Lynwood

 

[ahdmeyer]

dont let the thieves know this works but i bet it made a bunch of noise. glad you got it off

 

[mlh]

The thieves are the ones that came up with the idea.
Lynwood

 

[Monte421]

This

https://www.amazon.com/XEWEA-Impact...+lock+removal+tool&qid=1638323073&sr=8-5&th=1

 

[suny07]

btw, this is most likely the only time a TPMS system has a negative impact.

I analyzed how all this happened.
First I thought I had enough distance on the curb entering my neighborhood.
It was dark at night and thanks to the tinted window on the passenger side I couldn't see 100% if the tires clear the curb or not. Also it was the last activity after a 7hrs drive day which took that long thanks to traffic.
So major fault not paying enough attention.

But hitting the curb slightly would have been still OK for the tires and their sidewall.
The TPMS sticking out of the wheels shape got hit by the curb and broke the valve stem.
The TMPS on the tire behind the affected one had also slight scratches on the valve cap.

I am still happy having a TPMS but always thought why it sticks out that much ... can't be good
Why does the industry not come up with the same hidden systems we have in our cars and trucks.

Mike

 

[AZ Traveler]

btw, this is most likely the only time a TPMS system has a negative impact.

I analyzed how all this happened.
First I thought I had enough distance on the curb entering my neighborhood.
It was dark at night and thanks to the tinted window on the passenger side I couldn't see 100% if the tires clear the curb or not. Also it was the last activity after a 7hrs drive day which took that long thanks to traffic.
So major fault not paying enough attention.

But hitting the curb slightly would have been still OK for the tires and their sidewall.
The TPMS sticking out of the wheels shape got hit by the curb and broke the valve stem.
The TMPS on the tire behind the affected one had also slight scratches on the valve cap.

I am still happy having a TPMS but always thought why it sticks out that much ... can't be good
Why does the industry not come up with the same hidden systems we have in our cars and trucks.

Mike

Mike,

Here is the internal sensor for the TST 507. https://www.etrailer.com/Accessorie...utm_term=4577610507259565&utm_content=General

Do you have the flow through sensor?

 

[mlh]

That sounds like when I broke the valve stem off of my tractor. I was raking hay and had made a very short turn when I noticed water flying everywhere and around in circles. They will spray as much water as a garden hose. For those who aren’t the farmer type tractor tires are filled with water. That ended the hay raking until I got another tractor.
Lynwood

 

[suny07]

cool - Thanks. I did not know sensors like this are existing.
Definitely considering an upgrade down the road.

YEs, I have the flow through sensors.

 

[suny07]

btw, I somehow ruined the thread on the stud. Now my brand new wheel nut is pinning loose and I need to get the stub on the hub taken out.
What I pain to get all this resolved.

Pretty interesting that all the RV shops around Atlanta have no f... interest to help you.
They say either we do not work on this or giving an appointment 3-4 month out.

Where the **** is the spirit of helping another fellow Camper gone????

Just needed to vent.

 

[scottz]

btw, I somehow ruined the thread on the stud. Now my brand new wheel nut is pinning loose and I need to get the stub on the hub taken out.
What I pain to get all this resolved.

Pretty interesting that all the RV shops around Atlanta have no f... interest to help you.
They say either we do not work on this or giving an appointment 3-4 month out.

Where the **** is the spirit of helping another fellow Camper gone????

Just needed to vent.

If you don't want to do it yourself, any automotive machine shop or just about any garage can replace that stud; you don't need an RV repair shop.

 

[suny07]

If you don't want to do it yourself, any automotive machine shop or just about any garage can replace that stud; you don't need an RV repair shop.

Most repair and tire shops I called and drove by did tell me they won't touch campers.

I found a shop now in Kennesaw, GA near Atlanta. They do Commercial Trailers mainly but do work on RV's as well.
http://www.bestdrivetire.com

As the wheels where off we also check the brakes and man... they needed replacement.
So they replaced 2 brakes which were metal on metal and they also greased the bearings.
It seems I did get the last 2 brakes in greater Atlanta. There is also a Supply issue.
Who would have thought.

But some couple of hundred bugs later we are rolling again and the Christmas Trip is waiting now for sure