Removing difficult bolts (arghhhhhhhh!!!!)

I am having trouble getting lug nuts off. I can only get the lugs off one wheel, and the ones on the other three wheels are on really tight. I put my tire iron on, stood on one side, pulled on the other side and they still didnt budge, and I weigh over 200 pounds.

Can I safely use a torch such as this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=35841 to heat up the lugs, in the hope they expand some and come off? Is this a stupid thing to do, or is that the right approach?

Once I get the lugs off, I still cant get the brake bleeder screws out. Are they 1/4" normally (none of the sockets or nut drivers seem to fit exactly, due to the rust)? I have heard about a product that will eat through rust, does anyone know what this is called? Once I get them off, is that a generic brake bleeder screw I can get at any autoparts store? I have 11" on the front, and 9" on the back.

I have soaked all of these bolts in liquid wrench or WD40 (tried both).

I have already removed the lid to my master cylinder to replace the brake fluid, so I don't really have any brakes till I get this taken careof, as I cant bleed them.

Anyway, this is getting kindof frustrating. I got my engine running so smoothly after months of work, and now I have this to deal with.

thanks for the help.

 

Might try a heavy duty impact wrench or a REAL long breaker bar on the lugs. A torch wouldn't hurt.

I wouldn't just replace the bleeder screws, I'd replace the entire wheel cylinders. They're only about $17 each and it is good insurance. You can rebuild them, but off hand, I don't know where to get the rebuild kits...

Keep yer chin up... you'll find a way.

 

I'm not sure what year you have, but remember some have reverse threads.

 

be warned I have come across LEFT HAND THREAD lugs on jeeps.. one side of the jeep was right the other was left and I was reefing on them with my impact forever before I figgered that out... Take a close look at the threads.. otherwise as mentioned above PB blaster or Kroil are your friends...

BUBBA

 

Darn, this time its Sparky that beat me to the punch...

 

Hmm, the idea of reverse threads never occured to me, that could explain my problem exactly. I was able to turn them about 1/8 of a turn and then they locked tight. Maybe I was turning the wrong way. I just bought a propane torch and a set of new lug nuts, so come hell or high water, those things are coming off tonight (I hope). Hopefully I wont need the torch. Of course, now I probably have them torqued on incredibly hard.

The idea of replacing the wheel cylinders sounds like the best bet. They are under $16 each from Vintage Jeep Parts, I didn't realize they were so cheap, kind of silly not to replace them.

thanks for the advice, hopefully I was just turning them the wrong way. I feel really stupid now. My mom tells me Im smart, so I must be. Anyway, back to work, really need to stop reading this board at work, my boss is going to catch me one of these days.

 

Does anyone now a good source for left handed lug nuts? A quick google didnt turn up much. The ones I have are reusable, but not in great shape. I would like to replace them if I could.

thanks for the help.

 

If you have a NAPA store in your area they should have the LH lugnuts I'm sure they are 1/2 inch. They will be able to look them up in the paper catalog behind the counter 8)

 

After having the same problem 12 years ago, I replaced all my studs with RH studs.

 

Motormite/Dorman catalog is online http://www.rbinc.com/ . That's the usual source. Your FLAPS can get all the Dorman stuff.