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Author Topic:   Rusted Trailer Lug Nuts

PeteB88 posted 05-27-2012 10:36 PM ET (US)
I am jockeying trailers and one has extremely rusted on lug nuts. It is a backup trailer but I need to put some new tires on it and some other maintenance.
I was wondering if any of you guys have any tricks on how to get these nuts loosened up. I have air, plenty of penetrating oil and a basic Bernzomatic torch (light duty- hardware store) but no acetylene torch to burn them off.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

gusgus posted 05-28-2012 12:30 AM ET (US)
It sounds like you have all the required stuff. Impact wrenchs?
soak the nuts/studs for a couple days and then tighten them a little and then back them off. Only tighten a little, it helps get a run at the rusted part of the threads.
You shouldn't need heat, but if they twist off the studs it is a little different fix. Replacing studs is actually pretty easy, drive the old out and the new in to the hub.
Chuck Tribolet posted 05-28-2012 10:20 AM ET (US)
When you put it back together, put some marine grease
(Evinrude Triple-Guard comes to mind) on the studs. And
ChampionTrailer.com has SS lug nuts.
Chuck
Destin Dauntless posted 05-28-2012 10:32 AM ET (US)
Yes, just did this a month ago when the impact wrench wouldn't take them off.
Find a 4x4x12" block (which I have as a wheel chock).
Get a crossed lug wrench. Put the wrench on the lug, balance the other end on the block, hold the hold the gunwale, and straddle the the cross pushing your weight to the counter clockwise side. That, plus my 200++ pounds and WD-40 freed the plug. Got it?
L H G posted 05-28-2012 12:34 PM ET (US)
I use McGard mag wheel style SS lug nuts ALWAYS. They look nice and completely cover the thread preventing any rust at all on the threads. When combined with a dab of grease, you will never have another problem getting them off. Most trailers use the 1/2" size, and they are about an inch long overall. McGard is the only quality brand, the others all will rust. About $6 per wheel at Pep Boys.
PeteB88 posted 05-28-2012 02:21 PM ET (US)
Thanks - I am about to attack the issue - this is a trailer I have not maintained myself thus frozen nuts. I use anti-sieze on bolts generally.
Best to you guys, just want to be prepared if I can't bust them loose.
contender posted 05-28-2012 03:03 PM ET (US)
Pete: sounds like to me its not worth the effort if all the lugs are that and screwed up rusted, You probably will break some of the lugs or ruin the threads anyway, I would just unbolt the entire hub and put a new galvanize one, new bearing new seal, the complete kits are not that expensive, then spray the new hubs down with LPS 3 before use. Sure would give you piece of mine and a lot easier...
PeteB88 posted 05-28-2012 06:46 PM ET (US)
That's the backup plan Contender and I totally agree best option but I gotta give it a try. This trailer is local use only - a few blocks to the ramp for smaller Whaler. Outrage and 13 are on dialed in trailers. I have a small Karavan for the 11.5 I will use later on.
whale posted 05-28-2012 07:08 PM ET (US)
why not just cut the nut/stud off. you will probably have to replace them anyways.
Jefecinco posted 05-28-2012 07:47 PM ET (US)
Whale,
With the proper wrench, say a 3/4 drive six point socket and a breaker bar, it is far easier to simply twist the stud off or break the lug nut loose while stripping the threads.
If you have and know how to use a gas wrench all bets are off. Go for it.
Butch
PeteB88 posted 05-28-2012 09:57 PM ET (US)
Not sure I know what a gas wrench is unless you mean compressor and impact - what's a gas wrench? I got the compressor and an impact wrench.
Tom W Clark posted 05-28-2012 10:19 PM ET (US)
Good Lord! Do you want to remove the lug nuts or merely shear off the studs?
The lug nuts will come off if you apply some penetrating oil to them first. WD40 will work but there are much better penetrating oils out there. I like Aero-Kroil for situations like this. Apply some let it sit over night and try to remove the lug nuts. If they don't come loose, apply some more and give it another 24 hours.
A good wrench will help and I highly recommend the X shaped ones that Destin Dauntless is talking about. That is what I use. It is not about brute strength though.
Once you get the lug nuts off, install new lug nuts. The McGard lug nuts Larry uses are not stainless steel, they are merely chrome plates but they may well be good lug nuts.
Though you can buy stainless steel lug nuts, they are rarely used because of the danger of galling. If you do use stainless steel lug nuts, do NOT use a pneumatic impact wrench to install them, that will virtually guarantee galling. Always use grease on the studs first and install each by hand with a good jug nut wrench; see above.
Binkster posted 05-29-2012 06:45 AM ET (US)
New hubs are fairly cheap, If your replacing the wheels, just pull everything off get new hubs too and have piece of mind. If the lugs are rusted probably the bearings are shot.
rich
Ridge Runner posted 05-29-2012 07:07 AM ET (US)
As Tom mentioned galling could be a problem if you use stainless steel lugs.
http://www.estainlesssteel.com/gallingofstainless.html
conch posted 05-29-2012 10:33 AM ET (US)
Gas wrench = Torch
blacksmithdog posted 05-29-2012 12:35 PM ET (US)
"Gas wrench = Torch" -- We call that a "blue nose wrench".
conch posted 05-29-2012 01:43 PM ET (US)
I like HOT wrench, with one size fits all.
Chuck
contender posted 05-29-2012 01:57 PM ET (US)
One of my favorite tools the torch or plasma cutter...The sledge is next in line...
L H G posted 05-29-2012 03:03 PM ET (US)
Tom - the McGard lug nuts I am using must be chrome plated, since galling has never been an issue, but they are very high quality. I have used them on my 25 Outrage trailer wheels for 20 years, in salt water all winter, and no rust at all. Highly recommended.

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Author	Topic: Rusted Trailer Lug Nuts
PeteB88	posted 05-27-2012 10:36 PM ET (US) I am jockeying trailers and one has extremely rusted on lug nuts. It is a backup trailer but I need to put some new tires on it and some other maintenance. I was wondering if any of you guys have any tricks on how to get these nuts loosened up. I have air, plenty of penetrating oil and a basic Bernzomatic torch (light duty- hardware store) but no acetylene torch to burn them off. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
gusgus	posted 05-28-2012 12:30 AM ET (US) It sounds like you have all the required stuff. Impact wrenchs? soak the nuts/studs for a couple days and then tighten them a little and then back them off. Only tighten a little, it helps get a run at the rusted part of the threads. You shouldn't need heat, but if they twist off the studs it is a little different fix. Replacing studs is actually pretty easy, drive the old out and the new in to the hub.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 05-28-2012 10:20 AM ET (US) When you put it back together, put some marine grease (Evinrude Triple-Guard comes to mind) on the studs. And ChampionTrailer.com has SS lug nuts. Chuck
Destin Dauntless	posted 05-28-2012 10:32 AM ET (US) Yes, just did this a month ago when the impact wrench wouldn't take them off. Find a 4x4x12" block (which I have as a wheel chock). Get a crossed lug wrench. Put the wrench on the lug, balance the other end on the block, hold the hold the gunwale, and straddle the the cross pushing your weight to the counter clockwise side. That, plus my 200++ pounds and WD-40 freed the plug. Got it?
L H G	posted 05-28-2012 12:34 PM ET (US) I use McGard mag wheel style SS lug nuts ALWAYS. They look nice and completely cover the thread preventing any rust at all on the threads. When combined with a dab of grease, you will never have another problem getting them off. Most trailers use the 1/2" size, and they are about an inch long overall. McGard is the only quality brand, the others all will rust. About $6 per wheel at Pep Boys.
PeteB88	posted 05-28-2012 02:21 PM ET (US) Thanks - I am about to attack the issue - this is a trailer I have not maintained myself thus frozen nuts. I use anti-sieze on bolts generally. Best to you guys, just want to be prepared if I can't bust them loose.
contender	posted 05-28-2012 03:03 PM ET (US) Pete: sounds like to me its not worth the effort if all the lugs are that and screwed up rusted, You probably will break some of the lugs or ruin the threads anyway, I would just unbolt the entire hub and put a new galvanize one, new bearing new seal, the complete kits are not that expensive, then spray the new hubs down with LPS 3 before use. Sure would give you piece of mine and a lot easier...
PeteB88	posted 05-28-2012 06:46 PM ET (US) That's the backup plan Contender and I totally agree best option but I gotta give it a try. This trailer is local use only - a few blocks to the ramp for smaller Whaler. Outrage and 13 are on dialed in trailers. I have a small Karavan for the 11.5 I will use later on.
whale	posted 05-28-2012 07:08 PM ET (US) why not just cut the nut/stud off. you will probably have to replace them anyways.
Jefecinco	posted 05-28-2012 07:47 PM ET (US) Whale, With the proper wrench, say a 3/4 drive six point socket and a breaker bar, it is far easier to simply twist the stud off or break the lug nut loose while stripping the threads. If you have and know how to use a gas wrench all bets are off. Go for it. Butch
PeteB88	posted 05-28-2012 09:57 PM ET (US) Not sure I know what a gas wrench is unless you mean compressor and impact - what's a gas wrench? I got the compressor and an impact wrench.
Tom W Clark	posted 05-28-2012 10:19 PM ET (US) Good Lord! Do you want to remove the lug nuts or merely shear off the studs? The lug nuts will come off if you apply some penetrating oil to them first. WD40 will work but there are much better penetrating oils out there. I like Aero-Kroil for situations like this. Apply some let it sit over night and try to remove the lug nuts. If they don't come loose, apply some more and give it another 24 hours. A good wrench will help and I highly recommend the X shaped ones that Destin Dauntless is talking about. That is what I use. It is not about brute strength though. Once you get the lug nuts off, install new lug nuts. The McGard lug nuts Larry uses are not stainless steel, they are merely chrome plates but they may well be good lug nuts. Though you can buy stainless steel lug nuts, they are rarely used because of the danger of galling. If you do use stainless steel lug nuts, do NOT use a pneumatic impact wrench to install them, that will virtually guarantee galling. Always use grease on the studs first and install each by hand with a good jug nut wrench; see above.
Binkster	posted 05-29-2012 06:45 AM ET (US) New hubs are fairly cheap, If your replacing the wheels, just pull everything off get new hubs too and have piece of mind. If the lugs are rusted probably the bearings are shot. rich
Ridge Runner	posted 05-29-2012 07:07 AM ET (US) As Tom mentioned galling could be a problem if you use stainless steel lugs. http://www.estainlesssteel.com/gallingofstainless.html
conch	posted 05-29-2012 10:33 AM ET (US) Gas wrench = Torch
blacksmithdog	posted 05-29-2012 12:35 PM ET (US) "Gas wrench = Torch" -- We call that a "blue nose wrench".
conch	posted 05-29-2012 01:43 PM ET (US) I like HOT wrench, with one size fits all. Chuck
contender	posted 05-29-2012 01:57 PM ET (US) One of my favorite tools the torch or plasma cutter...The sledge is next in line...
L H G	posted 05-29-2012 03:03 PM ET (US) Tom - the McGard lug nuts I am using must be chrome plated, since galling has never been an issue, but they are very high quality. I have used them on my 25 Outrage trailer wheels for 20 years, in salt water all winter, and no rust at all. Highly recommended.