Frozen Lugs and Hubcaps

[etherbunny]

No not frozen as in wow it's colder than [you insert the rest) but as in I've broken several tools and a knuckle.

In trying to maintain my Extreme trailer, which only carries my 2008 23 XTI to service appointments ,I decided it would be a good idea in addition to airing the tires to make sure I could remove the said tires and spare. Well the spare was first and I broke an allen wrench trying to remove the 1/4 " bolt which holds the aluminum hub over the lugs.

I finally got shiggy with it and broke the bolt only then to find the lugs were even harder to loosen. Now this was also using lots of "liquid wrench" and a long rod for leverage.

Next step was to have my boat mechanic break a few more bolts and his patience using his pneumatics.

This trailer has been in salt/brackish water and despite rinsing it has formed some master weld between stainless and aluminum

Does anyone know of anything commercial or home-brew which might loosen these guys up?

I am worried about any trips with this trailer till I can loosen and lube these bolts

[tvano]

pb blaster

[jayjoans]

Google has some ideas. I thought of a torch too...

http://www.blurtit.com/q784850.html

[Pistol Pete]

I doubt any liquid is going to free-up those lug nuts. If I were you, I'd order a complete set of new lug studs and nuts, take the trailer to your mechanic, and go ahead and break all of them off. Then replace and install with lots of anti-sieze this time.

[Michigan boarder]

I doubt any liquid is going to free-up those lug nuts. If I were you, I'd order a complete set of new lug studs and nuts, take the trailer to your mechanic, and go ahead and break all of them off. Then replace and install with lots of anti-sieze this time.

Because by the time it's all done you shouldn't trust those studs anymore anyway.

I've seen that before with jeeps and aluminum wheels up here in salty Michigan, intergranular corrosion they called it.

[Baddog]

PB Blaster.

Try to turn the bolt CLOCKWISE a small bit then CCW.

Wack it with a hammer, hard, but not to deform it.

More PB Blaster.

Wait for a while.

Drink a beer or a nice Cabernet.

Bunch of PB Blasteron both sides of the bolts.

Now they will come of easily.

Edited October 6, 2009 by Baddog

[Pistol Pete]

I'm willing to bet that on E.B.'s trailer, the lug nuts are "capped" on the ends that face out. Mine are.

What this means is, you'd have a really hard time getting any lube "into" the lug nut. The only access would be on the "backside" of the lug nut which is jambed really tight up against the rim.

[MalibuTime]

PB Blaster.

Try to turn the bolt CLOCKWISE a small bit then CCW.

Wack it with a hammer, hard, but not to deform it.

More PB Blaster.

Wait for a while.

Drink a beer or a nice Cabernet.

Bunch of PB Blasteron both sides of the bolts.

Now they will come of easily.

I have not tried that exact procedure, but for PB Blaster

[tigercity]

after you let it soak with your favorite penetrating liquid for a while. Give it an hour if not over night. Then give it a shot. If that does not help apply some heat to it. That and a big impact. Unfortunatly, you are probably going to have to replace the studs and nuts.

[MalibuTime]

after you let it soak with your favorite penetrating liquid for a while. Give it an hour if not over night. Then give it a shot. If that does not help apply some heat to it. That and a big impact. Unfortunatly, you are probably going to have to replace the studs and nuts.

PB blaster really does work like no other.

[footnlongline]

Pour some Coca Cola on them, let it sit overnight. this will desolve the rust. heat, then remove. simple

[liljohn]

I doubt any liquid is going to free-up those lug nuts. If I were you, I'd order a complete set of new lug studs and nuts, take the trailer to your mechanic, and go ahead and break all of them off. Then replace and install with lots of anti-sieze this time.

Have to agree with the above they sound seized. If it were me I would be breaking them and installing bew ones. with lots and lots of ant-seize. when you rinse your rig after salt use shoot the luggs with some WD-40 (water displacment #40) should keep them working great.

[Lance B. Johnson]

Either just break them off and replace them or use heat and replace them. Come to think of it just break them off if your not good with a torch. As someone else mentioned anti seize is a must on the new studs.

[WakingMeHappy]

Pour some Coca Cola on them, let it sit overnight. this will desolve the rust. heat, then remove. simple

Now there's a new one. I would be afraid of the sugar attracting ants and getting the boat infested.

I wonder if Pepsi would work?

[MalibuWantToBe]

Pour some Coca Cola on them, let it sit overnight. this will desolve the rust. heat, then remove. simple

Don't laugh it works. I struck out with Liquid Wrench before and poured a can of coke over the lugs, a few hours later spun them off (okay, still took some work, but came off).

[srock]

I got rid of the capped type nuts and put on the less decortative open nut. Three flats and numerous broken lugs. I hit them with penetrating fluid every so often to avoid the nightmare.