Swollen Lug Nuts

[Matthew Jenkins]

2012 Limited. I went to remove my Driver Front wheel (Change wheel Bearing) and some of the lug nuts are stripped. A little research tells me this is common. I have an extractor, but these things are tight. It seems they swell? Maybe from under the chrome plating?

Most sources say 100 ft lbs of torque, but the Expedition EL says 150!!!! Anyone have experience with this? Will heating them first help?

I have 18" aluminum wheels and I think 22mm or 7/8 lug nuts. I'm reading they should be 21mm.

Anyone have experience and advice on how to proceed?

 

[Hamfisted]

How many of them can you get off ? Do you have a air impact gun? Probably have to hammer the lug nut on there and then use a punch to hammer it out of the socket once you get it off. Then, like everyone else, go get some Gorilla lug nut replacements for everyone of your lug nuts ( 14mm x 2.00 ). Yes, they're torqued to 150 ft lbs . Not fun on the side of the road either. If you don't have an air impact gun, maybe call around to some local tire shops and see how much they charge to remove the old lug nuts and replace 'em with Gorilla nuts.


Gorilla 14mm x 2.00 Chrome Lug Nuts on Amazon







.

 

[JasonH]

They're 21mm, but swell to 22. I took mine off and replaced all of them. It would suck to have a flat and not have the right socket for removal. It's another reason I went with Load E tires...less puncture risk.

 

[Matthew Jenkins]

I do have an impact gun. I only tried one wheel but inspection shows multiple problems. There is no way a 21mm is fitting on any of them. The stock tire iron will NEVER get them off. I don't understand that high torque spec.

 

[Hamfisted]

I do have an impact gun. I only tried one wheel but inspection shows multiple problems. There is no way a 21mm is fitting on any of them. The stock tire iron will NEVER get them off. I don't understand that high torque spec.

Just be glad you discovered it in your driveway and not stuck on the side of the highway one night ...




.

 

[Trainmaster]

It's not the 150 ft/lbs that's keeping you from getting these nuts off. They get over tightened or swell up and jam on. Get normal lug nuts and the 150 is never any problem.

I bought tires at a chain store and after they put the wheels on with an impact gun no amount of force could get the nuts off. Their corporate office arranged for a real truck tire company to come and remove them. They had a special tool that used a mallet to apply torque.

The stainless-sheathed OEM nuts swell up when used with impact tools. Get these off - some way - and buy solid ones and you'll never have a problem again.

 

[Matthew Jenkins]

The outer coating that is swollen seems to be very soft. I will probably heat the really bad ones first. It should free them up a bit.

 

[Trainmaster]

If you put everything into removing them and just keep chewing up and breaking the stainless covers, consider bringing the thing to a real truck tire place. They'll have all of them off in five minutes.

 

[JimmyC]

I had the same same problem, went to rotate the tires and the lugs were stripped from the tire store.
I ended up using a 5lb hammer and beat the socket back on. Then used a 3’ breaker bar to easily get them lose. I replaced them all with a solid type lug.
Don’t use an impact on them if you have the original it just tears up the cheap steel coating.

 

[haviland]

These problems sound awful and I wasn't aware of them 'til now.

I've got a 2017 Ltd bought new in 2018, 42k on the clock. I've only removed the wheels once and never had a problem. Do I have the lug nuts that will swell up?

I obviously don't want to find out the hard way I got the bad ones!

 

[Texasroadlawyer]

simple solution...toss the chrome plated factory POS lug nuts in the trash (or better yet store them in a bag to swap back on when you sell your Expy) and invest 120+ bucks in some Gorilla nuts...when you are on the side of the road trying to change a flat you'll truly appreciate them

 

[rslynes]

Pretty common. Local friend with Ford Truck collection fetish has a 21.5 mm impact socket for just such a situation, unless somebody else has gobbed up the nuts too much trying to get them off.

Then it might be time for cobalt drill bits and tired arms.

 

[Motorcity muscle]

If you are still trying to do this yourself, you can use a cut off wheel and cut an x in the end of the stainless cap. Then you can get a socket on there tight and even use some heat if needed.

 

[Johnathan M]

I agree with the suggestion to get Gorilla nuts, except that you don’t have to use that brand. I bought splined lug nuts for my 13 Expedition after having the same issue with swollen lug nuts and I purchased these last year.

Wheel Accessories Parts Set of 24 1.90" Long Truck Small Diameter Lug Nut Closed End Bulge Acorn 7 Spline with Key (M14 x 2.0, Chrome)

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07TZLCQ55/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9KD3237T2P2GDV40G1DN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

So much nicer than the stock nuts and I think they look better too! Just make sure you always keep the key in your glove box so that if you need to remove the wheels, you have it with you.

 

[Trainmaster]

Lots of Chinese junk out there that here on the east coast will rust in a month. Some are even very soft metal. Look for quality stuff if you don't like looking at rust.

 

[Drae]

This was the result of one of my wheels getting stuck on. It was the very last wheel and lug to get off when swapping wheels. I had a problem with a few lugs on a couple wheels but managed to get them off. I ended up taking it to a tire shop and they threw the kitchen sink at it too. Ended up cutting it off because the lug basically welded itself on. So I lost a wheel stud in the process but that was it. I no longer wanted the wheels anyways.

 

[Matthew Jenkins]

Succes. I used a 22m extractor socket and a 24" breaker bar when necessary and my impact the rest of the time. Once I had the right tools it was not that hard. Haviland I'm sorry I don't know if Ford stopped using them. I little bit of a search tells me yes. Some have even taken Ford to court.

 

[Frank Wilson]

I agree with the suggestion to get Gorilla nuts, except that you don’t have to use that brand. I bought splined lug nuts for my 13 Expedition after having the same issue with swollen lug nuts and I purchased these last year.

Wheel Accessories Parts Set of 24 1.90" Long Truck Small Diameter Lug Nut Closed End Bulge Acorn 7 Spline with Key (M14 x 2.0, Chrome)

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07TZLCQ55/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9KD3237T2P2GDV40G1DN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

So much nicer than the stock nuts and I think they look better too! Just make sure you always keep the key in your glove box so that if you need to remove the wheels, you have it with you.

I got these same one from Bezos today. Unfortunately, I have SVT take-offs and these nuts are too small for the bevel. 1/3 too small. Now I'm back to square one. I I had a feeling my nuts are bigger, but, I didn't know how much bigger than others.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Couple of other suggestions to avoid this happening again.

#1 Purchase a container of anti-seize and brush a generous amount on the lugs before installing your new lug nuts. Anti-Seize

#2 When you purchase replacement lug nuts, buy the 1 piece units. The stock Ford (and most other OEMS) are 2 piece. The chrome or plated outer shell is not very strong and distorts easily when the monkeys at the tire shop or dealership hammer them with an impact for 10 seconds.

#3 When returning from the tire shop or dealership where wheels / tires have been removed, check the lugs for proper torque and see if any of the lugs were damaged. You can ask them to properly torque each wheel when reinstalling and not hammer the crap out of them with an impact, but it is doubtful that will happen, all these guys work on flat rate.

#4 Buy a lug nut breaker bar kit with the correct size socket and keep in each of your vehicles. Lug Nut Breaker Bar

#5 It is off topic for this thread but I also keep a tire repair kit and 12V air compressor in each of our vehicles.

 

[Trainmaster]

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