Should it be difficult to get lug nuts off?

[IDontKnowCars]

I have tried taking my wheels off my car but I cannot move the wheel nuts. I am using one of the cross-shaped tools with different sockets on each end. I have used all my strength but they do not move at all. Is this normal or may F1 Autocentres have over-tightened them last year when they changed my tyres?

[IDontKnowCars]

Nickp82 said:

Lug Nuts, they are called Lug Nuts

:'(

[IDontKnowCars]

Nickp82 said:

Just kidding obvs, the advice about finding some long piping is a good start. Personally I also try standing on the wrench but this is not a recommendation!

Where can I buy suitable piping from?

[IDontKnowCars]

ThunderSpook said:

Well that didn’t take long for him to delete his post!

The thread became more about people discussing how I used the wrong term rather than discussing the topic.

[IDontKnowCars]

jamei303 said:

How long is your tool? You should be able to take them off with a tool at least as long as the one that came with the car.

The tool has a level about 30cm from the pivot. With it being a cross-shaped tool, another 30cm level protrudes in the other direction from the pivot giving the effective moment of a 60cm level about the pivot. The supplied wheel removal wrench is of similar size but is not cross-shaped and thus means I can provide only half the theoretical moment force with that tool.

[IDontKnowCars]

GreenV8S said:

Get an extending wheel nut spanner. They let you apply far more torque with less effort than a spider wrench.

Since you're struggling to undo them you should consider how you're going to torque them up afterwards. Use a torque wrench to make sure you get them tight enough without going too far. Avoid the temptation to use the torque wrench as a breaker bar to take them off.

I bought a torque wrench specifically for this job. I have avoided using that to remove it as I do not want to decalibrate the tool.

I am cautious about buying yet another tool simply for this one job. I wanted to do the brakes to save myself money and have had to buy a couple hundred pounds worth of equipment already.

[IDontKnowCars]

I bought a 600mm breaker bar. Will this be long enough to help?

I almost bought a 750mm one, but it was double the price.

[IDontKnowCars]

My breaker bar arrived earlier this week and I just tried it on one of the wheels I will be removing for the brake job.

It worked! I heard an audible click on each of the nuts (including the locking wheel nut). I did not expect the breaker bar to bend as I did it, it is quite a hefy bar!

I got to use my torque wrench to re-tighten them afterwards to 108 Nm. However, even after loosening with the breaker bar, the nuts were still above 108Nm as the wrench clicked immediately.