I mentioned above that there are a few tools you can use to tighten lug nuts if you don't have a torque wrench. If Toyota turns you down, then, as a backup measure, I'd buy a breaker bar and a bunch of sockets. 00 away from a free Toolbox Liner! You should be able to use your hands. It should be 21mm assuming they are the original. Use your foot or a mallet to press down on the wrench or loosen nuts with oil. However, auto parts stores sell generic "acorn" lug nuts that will fit the wheel for just a few bucks a set, and that way you don't waste your money. Let's assume the nuts are on very tight. My lug nut wrench won't fit my lug nuts, I am pretty sure it came with the car, what gives? I should note that your tire iron doesn't need to be a crossbar—4-way—type. 5 pounds, it's one of the lightest lug wrenches on our list despite having more torque and longevity.
I contacted H a c k Mavens and gave him everything he needed to help in recovering my 4. Depending on your vehicle, the hubcap may need to be removed before you're able to access the lug nuts and loosen them. The lug wrench fits, I don't see someone changing all 20 nuts and. GTE Tools Universal Lug Wrench Set. You may have heard someone say their car had swollen lug nuts. If the question "what size of sockets for lug nuts should I use" comes to your mind; the most common socket sizes for lug nuts are 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, and 23mm. Overtightened lug nuts can cause your rotors to warp.
It works great for Ford swollen lug nuts. 2Remove the hubcap (if present) and locate the lug nuts. Unless you're parking in a salt marsh, this sort of nut-swelling shouldn't happen on a car of this age. If you don't tighten them enough, they can fall off... which means your wheel could fall off too. This has been my go-to for a while, and it always gets the job done. Lug wrenches should fit the lug nuts used on your wheel assembly perfectly, and in most cases you shouldn't need other tools to remove them. The best case scenario is that you can either hammer on the correct socket size for your lug nuts (it may be a little too tight to just slip on), and remove them with an impact wrench or breaker bar.
7 pounds), it is also a little more portable. If the lug nut is still stubborn, try one more spritz of a light, directed spray to the surface of the threaded stud exactly where the threads start to disappear inside the lug nut. These lug nuts are indeed made of two different metals. Can you over-tighten your lug nuts by hand? A good lug wrench should be optimal in size so that you feel comfortable keeping it in your vehicle. The lug wrench from Red Hound Auto is a fantastic two-in-one tool. Then someone has installed US nuts! We believe that you are shopping from Canada. "It was very frustrating because I drove 3 miles on a flat tire off a major highway to get home to get the tire off. And that it's still a good idea to get a pro or someone with a torque wrench to look at them later.
Lug nuts that swell are what are commonly referred to as "two-piece" or "chrome-plated" lug nuts (the shiny looking lug nuts, ) when corrosion causes the lug nuts to swell between the two layers of dissimilar metals. Why do the lug nuts swell? If the breaker bar alone is insufficient, find a length of pipe that you can fit over the handle of the wrench or breaker bar so that you are able to turn from farther away from the nut. Note I said can, not will. So I would complain to Toyota, Tim. Needless to say, I was curious and just a bit concerned.
Steel can corrode and push against the nut's chrome cover, causing it to enlarge. I don't know anyone who carries a torque wrench around in the trunk, but I do know several who carry tire irons. Dodge's have a lot of swollen lug nuts Magnums, Rams, Darts, Chargers etc. Despite being very small and convenient to store, it is only 14″ long, which means you need to use a little more force to remove tight lug nuts.
On a "C scale, " it is 58 really hard. But it does not have sizes marked on it... Breaker bars are capable of producing enough torque to deal with even the most stubborn lug nuts. Below, I will detail how to use that and another tool.
If you are on the side of the road, use a socket and a hammer to remove swollen lug nuts and make sure to replace them immediately. Jeep, Chrysler, Toyotas, Chevy's even maybe some Honda's have had this problem. To learn more from our Master Mechanic co-author, like how to use a wheel lock remover or torque wrench, keep reading the article! Use both hands and only tighten each a little at a time.
Park the car on a level surface with the parking brake on and remove the hubcap. The lawsuit, filed by Hagens Berman Thursday in the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, seeks class-action status. One more reviewer said, "This is a great tool for removing tough lug nuts. Hubcaps are usually either attached by metal clips, held on by the lug nuts themselves, or using plastic lugs. Swollen lug nuts can become difficult to remove using standard tools. Dear Car Talk: I own a 2014 Toyota Sequoia and took the car in to the dealer for its 35, 000-mile oil change and maintenance -- including a tire rotation. Learning to loosen and install lug nuts is an essential skill for anyone who drives a car; you never know when you might need to fix a flat.
With a 20″ length, you get more than enough torque for the majority of lugs without being too big to store. Keep your foot in contact with the wrench at all times and let your weight do the work. For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to Click here for more consumer reports.