Spencer_P

1996 Jeep Cherokee 2wd

Some of my lug nuts came off fine but a couple on both front wheels feel like their rounding or like the lug wrench (that came with the Jeep from factory) isn’t the right size and doesn’t fit snug. On the open ended lug nuts it fits good but I still can’t break them loose even with the handle of my floor jack for leverage and I’ve already broken a socket on the breaker bar. I also picked up a bolt extractor set from hf but it’s a 3/8 drive and I don’t have a 3/8 breaker bar so I can only get so much leverage. Even with the 3/4 extractor socket it doesn’t seem to fit good. Anyways that was long, any help is much appreciated.

Chick-N-Picker

You could try heating them up with a torch bjt being that close to the tire would not be something I would want to do.....so....

I'd get a massively long (tough) metal pipe 5 to 10 foot, doesn't really matter. Put your socket or extractor on the lug. Make sure it is snug. Put your rachet or breaker bar on. Slide long pipe on the ratchet or bar. And then break them. I had to break my lugs loose that way one time. Make sure the pipe is tough or will just bend it or break it. Don't forgot the further away you are from the lug the more force and better chance of breaking.

If you have a 5 to 10 foot strong metal pipe and that doesn't break them then nothing will.

00t444e

Impact wrench.

lawsoncl

Looks like they're stainless steel jacketed lugs, which that extractor socket or a 12-pt socket will likely ruin. Usually when the the jacket rips off, you can get a smaller socket on there. Ideally you want an impact wrench, but a long breaker bar with should work. That short lug wrench is going to tend to pry itelf off the lug.

Chick-N-Picker

Yep, been there done that with the outside jacket getting jacked up. Just happened last week, actually. The jackets were mushroomed and screwed up. Had to beat the socket on. Then of course either the lug or jacket got stuck in the socket. Had to beat them out anyway I could. What should have been a quick tire change took way too long. I got new lugs. Been needing them for a while.....haha.

Edit: By the way I just assumed the guy has no access to a good impact, hence, the long bar method. I didn't have an impact and it was a solution that worked for me.

Ralph77

So they are the cheap Jeep lug nuts. With the cap that wants to come off. As you can see. You have 4 with the cap still on. The fifth one is what is under the cap. Unless of course somebody replaced it with a regular lug nut at some point. I am betting you are not rounding them. Just spinning the cap that is over the lug nut. So if I remember correctly the lugs are 19 mm and when you lose the cap you will use an 18 mm. Try to break the caps free so you can get at the lug nut under the cap. Then go buy these. Gonna cost you but what I did to get rid of those crappy lugs.

http://www.mcgard.com/product/chrome...le_category=24

Pretty sure these are the ones I used on my '00. Did find these and think they are correct. About half of what the McGards cost.

Spencer_P

How exactly do I get the caps off? Problem is the “cap” I suppose hits the socket so it can’t seat well on the nut so I’m gonna buy some deep sockets tomorrow, and no I don’t have an impact wrench strong enough.

Ralph77

My experience has been that if you look at the lug nut funny the cap pops off exposing the lug nut underneath. So thinking it can't be that hard.
Like I said I am thinking you are not rounding them and you have just separated the cap from the lug nut underneath. The spinning freely is giving you the impression you have rounded them.
If that is the case sounds like you are half way there.

Ralph77

Take a picture of the back of one of the lug nuts you got off with the cap still on it. Lets make sure you are dealing with the crappy lug nuts.

Dave51

Was that an HFT socket?

HFT is a plot by the oil companies to drive back and forth replacing broken tools thereby needing to buy more gas.

Try using an impact socket (using metrics).

How big a breaker bar? 36" at least?

To take a cap off one the lug nuts use a vise and chisel. It don't need to be pretty you're just using it as a shim.

missedbass

get an 18mm socket 6 point 1/2 drive and a breaker bar and the lug nut will come off.

cruiser54

Again, 18mm socket for the odd one missing the cap.

Spencer_P

No, actually I’m not sure what brand, some old set I’ve got.

I’ll try to get a picture today of the back.

But its not actually spinning freely, it’s not (the socket) seating all the way around the nut so then it’s actually spinning of the lug nut, idk, thanks for all the input.

BillyBoy

It may sound silly but it sure doesn't look like there's not been any PB blaster applied to the lug nuts in the picture... Do it every 6 hours.

dave1123

I bought "Gorilla Nuts" for both my jeeps. I also put a tiny bit of anti-sieze on the studs. Just enough to do the job. Put some on, then wipe it off leaving it just in the threads, not gobbed all over everything. I never had one loosen up and they come off with an electric impact wrench easily. My Millers Falls 120v electric impact wrench ratchets at 100 lb/ft. I've checked it with a manual torque wrench many times. That thing is probably 30 years old!