GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Could someone please help me out. One of the lugnuts on my rim stripped and now it wont turn with the key (these are after market lugs where the lugkey goes inside rather than around the lug like stock). Does anyone know how to get the damn thing off??? im so madthanks for any help

I'd say, if it can be driven, take it to a local tire shop... I'm sure they are used to having folks in there with wheel locks and no keys for 'em, so let's hope they can get that thing off for you.It's probably gonna need some brute force to be removed... maybe even need a new stud after the fact, hard to say.Good luck to you! Wish I had an answer for you... Keep us posted though.

Get a socket that's barely too small to fit over the lug. Hammer it on over the lug tightly then turn it with a wrench.

I did this with my old car, I took a hammer and chisel and after an hour or so, broke the lug, and the stud.

im with mase on this one. just dont plan on ever using that socket again!

well, the problem is, is that its not a locking lugnut which needs a key to open, its just a lug nut and then the hex goes into it Rather than around it like the stock bolts did, here a pic of my car with my rims so you get an idea of what im up against. And if i were to break the stud is it really THAT expensive???thanks again

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Is this a custom lug nut, with a hex socket?There are special tools to remove stripped hex socket bolts, can you post a closeup pic of the nut itself?If the tire and wheel guys can't help (they should be able to), then maybe a machine shop or try a forklift service mechanic.They might be able to help in the worst case scenario.

Man, those lug nuts are set into the wheel...not much room to work with. I think it's best to let a tire shop give it a shot. If they break it, at least they can fix it.BTW, what kind of rims are those? They look good! I like your color choice on your Vibe too.

How about a very large easy-out. It's a tool for removing stripped bolts. Usually drill a hole in the bolt and put the easy-out and turn. But since it was a hex head you may not have to drill it out.

hmm...this is a long shot, but what if you tried one of those broken raiser pipe removers? The kind you use to remove cracked sprinkler pipes from the fitting? I can't find a pic of it now, but they're at most large hardware stores.If that doesn't work, you may have to dremel the head off the nut until the stud is exposed. Then chisel it until it spins off.

in theory i guess something like that would work, but with my lug nuts, there is no space on the outside of it, it is snuggly fit into the rim (i have Tenzo-R rims just in case you did not know), but this greatly reduces the number of solutions for my problem, because if i were to break the bolt, it would still be stuck on there, just in many peices, and i cant squeeze anything around the bolt...................i hate stuff like this.....................a lot

if you have access to a dremel you can slot the top of the lug then use you tire iron chisel side and a big wrench to turn it loose

welp i got that bad lugnut out, or shoud i say my old man did, he found a little kit made specifically for this, i was amazed when he told me he got it out, because i was just about to head over to sears and get a hex that was a little oversized and hammer it into the lugnut and get it out that way, BUT all is well and im happy O yea does anyone else with 18's have holes in their inner fenders?????

Congrats on removing the lug.I don't have 18's, I have 16's with wear holes on the inner fender.And no it's not even lowered.

What did you use I am in the same horrible position could you email atalbrightc@dtrs317.org

Quote, originally posted by calbright »What did you use I am in the same horrible position could you email atalbrightc@dtrs317.orghey man, i lost my key about a month ago. we were able use use a hammer and chistle to get the lugnut out. just use one small enough that it doesn't scrape your wheel. keep hitting it, and it will eventually loosten up and you can use the notch you created to unscrew it.

glad you got that sucker off! i just had to replace a stud and from toyota they were about 3 bucks each.