How to Loosen a Lugnut

Lug nuts are the nuts holding the wheels of your car onto the lug bolts. They keep tension on the wheels themselves and evenly distribute the loads and gravitational force put on the wheels during cornering, acceleration, and everyday driving. Sometimes loosening lug nuts is difficult, but there are a few tips that can help break the lug nuts free in no time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• WD-40
• Lug nut wrench
• Three-foot long steel pipe
• Small sledge hammer

1. Spray WD-40 on each of the lug nuts on each tire and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the lubricant to work itself into the threads.

2. Attach the lug nut wrench to one of the lug nuts and, with the car's parking brake on, attempt to turn the wrench counterclockwise.

3. Slide the steel pipe over the handle of the lug nut wrench and attempt to turn the lug nut counterclockwise again if you cannot get it without the extra leverage.

4. Use the small sledge hammer to hit the shaft of the wrench in a counterclockwise direction to try to get the lug nut to break free.

Tips & Warnings

• You can stand on the lug nut wrench as well to use your weight as an advantage as you try to break the lug nuts free.

Resources

• Lug nuts source

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