Wheel nuts check

[Flook]

I have just been checking out the wheel nuts on the off chance I may have a puncture at some near future. As far as I am aware these nuts have not been touched since I got the van in 2015. Not even on a service record has shown any swop around of wheels either.

So using the kit that came with the van I could not in any way start to remove the wheel nuts, so I had to resort to using and extension type bar for extra leverage. I released one then tightened up using the proper kit and no levering bar to tighten. I proceeded to each wheel nut with the same procedure making sure each was secure before starting on the next one.

Phew all sorted okay, but this has left me wondering how many of you guy’s check your wheel nut’s can be removed should you have been unfortunate enough to have a puncture in any type of road or terrain.

Flook

 

[Spriddler]

My spare is way underneath and pretty close to the ground. I have the garage check the spare wheel and grease its retaining mechanism at each service but I don't intend to crawl under to get at it. My solution is to tell the breakdown company to send a strong guy.
I once sheared off a stud on one of my car hubs by using an extension tube for extra leverage.

 

[Guigsy]

The wheel brace that comes with the standard van kit is waaaay too short to undo wheel nuts. When I was travelling, I carried a 700mm breaker bar with the right sized socket on the end (22mm?). And also a bottle jack as I didn't trust the scissor jack.

 

[icantremember]

I have just been checking out the wheel nuts on the off chance I may have a puncture at some near future. As far as I am aware these nuts have not been touched since I got the van in 2015. Not even on a service record has shown any swop around of wheels either.

So using the kit that came with the van I could not in any way start to remove the wheel nuts, so I had to resort to using and extension type bar for extra leverage. I released one then tightened up using the proper kit and no levering bar to tighten. I proceeded to each wheel nut with the same procedure making sure each was secure before starting on the next one.

Phew all sorted okay, but this has left me wondering how many of you guy’s check your wheel nut’s can be removed should you have been unfortunate enough to have a puncture in any type of road or terrain.

Flook

Excuse me, but I check my nuts regularly.

 

[Spriddler]

These telescopic ones are handy and need little storage room.

Laser Telescopic Wheel Brace - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Space saving wheel brace with 17/19mm flip socket and a soft-grip, telescopic handle for extra leverage. Extends up to 500mm. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

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[Cheshirecat57]

Mine daily.

 

[Guigsy]

These telescopic ones are handy and need little storage room.

Laser Telescopic Wheel Brace - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Space saving wheel brace with 17/19mm flip socket and a soft-grip, telescopic handle for extra leverage. Extends up to 500mm. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Just checked. I think the wheel nuts on a Ducato are 21mm. So would that fit?

 

[gus-lopez]

released one then tightened up using the proper kit and no levering bar to tighten.

ivery much doubt that they will be tight enough.Mine are torqued up to the correct figure. It is not possible to undo them with the supplied equipment.

 

[gus-lopez]

Just checked. I think the wheel nuts on a Ducato are 21mm. So would that fit?

just use your own socket.it is a standard square 1/2"

 

[Clivefog]

One of my pet hates is wheel nuts done up with a windy gun that need the strength of Hercules to undo. I have the wheels off to check brakes and hubs, at least twice a year, and always use a torque wrench to do them up.

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[davidbaldam]

I have a man to change my wheels, why have breakdown and do it youself.

 

[Flook]

Excuse me, but I check my nuts regularly.

Oh I expect you do

 

[Sandancers]

My spare is way underneath and pretty close to the ground. I have the garage check the spare wheel and grease its retaining mechanism at each service but I don't intend to crawl under to get at it. My solution is to tell the breakdown company to send a strong guy.
I once sheared off a stud on one of my car hubs by using an extension tube for extra leverage.

In today's health and safety observant society, I wonder if the AA or whatever might refuse to get your wheel as they haven't been trained / don't have a risk assessment for it ?

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Copper grease on the wheels helps. Especially if alloy as the stick on the hubs . Had mine done at local tyre place they had to use a lump hammer to remove them. Would never had removed them myself.

 

[Coolcats]

I have just been checking out the wheel nuts on the off chance I may have a puncture at some near future. As far as I am aware these nuts have not been touched since I got the van in 2015. Not even on a service record has shown any swop around of wheels either.

So using the kit that came with the van I could not in any way start to remove the wheel nuts, so I had to resort to using and extension type bar for extra leverage. I released one then tightened up using the proper kit and no levering bar to tighten. I proceeded to each wheel nut with the same procedure making sure each was secure before starting on the next one.

Phew all sorted okay, but this has left me wondering how many of you guy’s check your wheel nut’s can be removed should you have been unfortunate enough to have a puncture in any type of road or terrain.

Flook

Hopefully you used a Torque wrench to tighten them up too many people over tighten them thinking they have to be done FTight

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[tonyidle]

Copper grease on the wheels helps. Especially if alloy as the stick on the hubs . Had mine done at local tyre place they had to use a lump hammer to remove them. Would never had removed them myself.

Agreed. The correct torque isn't excessive it's the stupid (IMO) requirement to not grease the bolts that causes problems. I've used chain spray grease on every vehicle I've owned. The wheels stayed on. The standard tool used with as much force as you can muster won't be far off the correct torque. Or a 15st person standing on the brace 6" from the nut.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I've got a long Snap-on bar with a socket on it. I bought it when I had more money than sense. Would make a good weapon to brain somebody with too

 

[missmollie]

Even though you can now loosen the bolts, if the wheels haven’t been off for a few years you will probably find them stuck on the hubs. You need to take them off probably by hitting the tyres from underneath the van if they are stuck, clean hubs and wheel centres and smear with copper grease. Make sure you have the van on axle stands when you are underneath, this is a lot easier to do at home rather than the side of the road.

 

[pelican]

Can anyone post the correct torque setting. Most tyre sales ops torque the wheel nuts when removing wheels as do service centres.

 

[pappajohn]

I sheared off a wheel stud on my garden trailer..... But the last time they were touched was around 25 years ago when I fitted new tyres.

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[gus-lopez]

For what vehicle base? Transit 16" are 200Nm=147lbs/ft

Ducatos vary.180Nm =135lbs/ft for one size.

Can anyone post the correct torque setting. Most tyre sales ops torque the wheel nuts when removing wheels as do service centres.

 

[deleted79651]

Mine daily.

Especially this month; 'Here we go gathering nuts in May, with men still attached to them ...'

Steve

 

[pappajohn]

Most tyre sales ops torque the wheel nuts when removing wheels as do service centres

And not always correctly.
I had new tyres fitted to my car.
After refitting the wheels I asked what he was going to torque them too.
Can't remember figures but whatever he said was wrong and I showed him the cars service data book.
He insisted he was correct and the official Chrysler handbook was wrong.
Get on with it matey, once it's out of the workshop I'll get my torque wrench out the boot and do them properly.

 

[deleted79651]

And not always correctly.
I had new tyres fitted to my car.
After refitting the wheels I asked what he was going to torque them too.
Can't remember figures but whatever he said was wrong and I showed him the cars service data book.
He insisted he was correct and the official Chrysler handbook was wrong.
Get on with it matey, once it's out of the workshop I'll get my torque wrench out the boot and do them properly.

Did you tell the fitter he was all torque and no action? . Penultimate towing trip Newhaven to Scotland, had 'slow' puncture on rear n/side car tyre on M25. Turns out that there had been an accident a couple of days earlier and hard shoulder barrier needed replaced. The puncture was caused by the industrial nail gun dropping a fixing that ruined the tyre. Limped to J9 and into Leatherhead for a 3 hr wait for tyre depot to open and paid £400 for 2 rear tyres.Tyrefitter laughed when I asked about re-torquing wheelnuts after 30or so miles ... 'These buggers will never shift!'; and, 2 years+ later, he's still right ... No problems reported at 2 subsequent annual services ...

Steve

 

[Stealaway]

Phew all sorted okay, but this has left me wondering how many of you guy’s check your wheel nut’s can be removed should you have been unfortunate enough to have a puncture in any type of road or terrain.

Never have or needed to. I have breakdown insurance for that.

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[deleted79651]

Never have or needed to. I have breakdown insurance for that.

Arranged Green Flag UK Premium Plus Breakdown Cover today and asked about the exclusion/chargeable extra if no suitable spare wheel. Was told by Karen that the 'no spare tyre' Burstner would not be a problem, because so many vehicles are afflicted with this manufacturers penny pinching approach. Apparently, Green Flag will also supply the Tyre Goo and Compressor [no charge mentioned and I was complaining about a misleading Premium Quote at the time!], as long as you mention the need when you call the breakdown in [I mentioned this because the Dealer overlooked provision of Goo + Compressor has still not been delivered, and we might venture out tomorrow, so I'll rely on the assurance if we have a puncture!]

Steve

 

[donkey]

These telescopic ones are handy and need little storage room.

Laser Telescopic Wheel Brace - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Space saving wheel brace with 17/19mm flip socket and a soft-grip, telescopic handle for extra leverage. Extends up to 500mm. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

The only criticism I have with these extending wrenches, is the angle of the cranked end. I appreciate that it may allow better access, but most of the time a 90degree bend would be much better. With the angled crank being more than 90degrees the socket always has a tendency to roll of the nut, especially if the nuts/bolts have a shallow head and are really tight.
I have a couple of these and I have re-engineered both by giving them a right angled crank.

Geoff

 

[Spriddler]

The only criticism I have with these extending wrenches, is the angle of the cranked end. I appreciate that it may allow better access, but most of the time a 90degree bend would be much better. With the angled crank being more than 90degrees the socket always has a tendency to roll of the nut, especially if the nuts/bolts have a shallow head and are really tight.
I have a couple of these and I have re-engineered both by giving them a right angled crank.

Geoff

Indeed. I have had that happen on overtightened nuts on my old MGB GT where I needed an angled shaft for clearance as the wheels are set back within the car's wing panels.

 

[Grummyb]

Ive recommended cracking the wheel nuts and then retorqueing them on various threads but it's always best to use a torque wrench not gne wheel brace in the tool kit

 

[poppycamper]

. As far as I am aware these nuts have not been touched since I got the van in 2015. Not even on a service record has shown any swop around of wheels either.

So your brakes have not been serviced or indeed properly checked in 6yrs????

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