Wheelnuts for 12-inch alloys

[jacobyte]

I have a Mini 30 with the standard minilite-style alloys.

I have a real problem removing the wheels, as none of my sockets seem to fit properly.

The wheelnuts are very odd in that they have a very thin shiny metal hexagonal outer "cover" over a solid nut. Are you meant to remove the "cover" before un/tightening the nuts? They are a bugger to remove, so it appears that they should stay on, but then no sockets fit properly.

[guru_1071]

you need to use a 11/16 six sided socket to remove them

if you use a 12 sider, or a garage uses a impact gun it knackers the stainless trim cover and it just spins on the nut (which is a funny shape under the cover - hence why a socket will just spin

if this has happened all you can do is either hammer a six sider on and try and mash the cover back into a nut shape or prise it of and hammer another size of socket (god knows what though!) onto the funny shaped stump of the remaining steel nut.

either way the nut is knackered!

new ones are pretty cheap and can be got with (nam9075) or without (ajm1139) the stainless trim cover. the ajm is the budget one and is a proper wheel nut, so doesnt look as pretty, but never causes any problems

[jacobyte]

Cheers for that - much appreciated.

[Paul V]

Often nuts with chrome covers can rust under the cover causing them to expand. as said if it won't come off try knocking the cover off and using a 17mm.