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Removing a broken Muteki lug nut?

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Old 03-16-2009, 10:03 AM
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jtabraham
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Default Removing a broken Muteki lug nut?

So after installing my new gf210s last weekend, I began putting the wheels back on my car and used a torque wrench to tighten down my lug nuts (80ft-lbs as per the factory-spec). All the nuts went in fine, except for the last one; it sheared in half before I even got my torque wrench to 80 ft-lbs (Defective maybe?).

I have Muteki close-end "tuner"-style lug nuts and when the nut snapped, it broke close to the tapered end of the nut, leaving me with very little to grab hold of. The nut seems pretty tight on the car, so it's not coming off easily, and trying to use the lug key is useless because it's just slipping off (not enough to grab hold of).

Any suggestions on how to remove this broken piece? In the past when I've had a locking lug nut that I've lost the key for, I would simply bang a slightly undersized socket on and remove it that way, but there is too little material to even do that in this instance.

Here is a picture of the nuts (the ones I have are closed-end versions).
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crapberry picture of broken off-piece
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Thanks
Old 03-17-2009, 05:48 AM
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jtabraham
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Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Old 03-17-2009, 09:40 AM
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GenPac
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I can't see the pics at work but your best bet is to torque down the remaining 4 lugs and drive it to a tire shop. They might have a tool or know a few tricks that can help. I personally would put it on a lift, remove all the other lugs then try to nudge it loose with an air chisel. Just have to be careful because if you're careless the chisel could get away from you.
If you don't have an air chisel, I don't recommend trying to do it by hand.
Old 03-17-2009, 09:57 AM
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jtabraham
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Thanks for the advice. One thought I had was to use a deep-well holesaw that is the same diameter as the broken nut at very low speed. The teeth of the holesaw might be able to cut-in slightly and grab on the the nut loosening it up. I would most likely only use this as a last resort though.

Old 03-17-2009, 10:08 AM
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Mr.Silvia
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One of my Kics R40's just snapped in half on me. Hammer and chissel and a lot of patience should do it, if not a wheel shop might do something with air tools, sometimes they have to torch..it all depends, I was lucky to get mine off in about 20 minutes.
Old 03-17-2009, 10:22 AM
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it might cost you a socket but this has worked for me on a similarly damaged McGard lug once. Get yourself an 8 or 16 point socket in the size that most closely fits on the damaged lug (should be a 16mm). Tap this onto the damage lug, and using a breaker bar, slowly turn it - should be able to get it loose enough to the point where you can turn it by hand

if that fails, then chissel it off, and visit Nissan to purchase a new stud
Old 03-17-2009, 11:20 AM
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jtabraham
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I've done the socket method in the past on locking lug nuts that had a missing key, but in this case, I don't think there is even enough material for the socket to grab on to. Maybe I could use this method along with an impact wrench? The sudden torque might be enough to loosen it before the socket "breaks-free"?
Old 03-17-2009, 11:24 AM
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worth a shot...can't mess it up much worse than it is
Old 03-17-2009, 05:09 PM
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Citrus
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FUUUUUuuuuuuuuu************

One of my Muteki's just ate a factory stud...
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Guess its about time to upgrade to longer studs anyways.
Old 10-05-2010, 11:15 AM
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FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU


Happened again today... This time a tire shop broke the first one they tried removing. Same issue as last year, but this time there is zero spline left on the nut.

Defective batch I guess.
Old 10-05-2010, 11:34 AM
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sry110
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Weird. I have a set of Muteki closed-end ($40-ish per set) lugnuts and haven't had any issues yet. Probably installed/removed them at least ten times. Hopefully it's just a case of a bad batch and not a sign of things to come for the rest of us Muteki owners!
Old 10-05-2010, 11:41 AM
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sometimes just the luck of the draw

I use the Muteki closed end on my car - they've been on for years. I can't recall how many times I've had at least the fronts off...probably 30 times now, and no issues
Old 10-05-2010, 11:45 AM
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I have the wheels off my car weekly at a minimum and have never had an issue. mine are open ended though. Definitely sounds like a defective batch....

Are you over-torquing the lugs?
Old 10-05-2010, 11:50 AM
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weird.. you don't have any anti seize or grease on the threads do you? that can cause you to over torque the lugnuts...
Old 10-05-2010, 12:08 PM
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No, always torqued them to 80 ft-lbs. Wheels have probably been on and off about a dozen times.

I did buy them from a member here 3 or 4 years ago, so maybe I was sold knock-offs??
Old 10-06-2010, 04:51 AM
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AHHH...have to have the stud drilled out now. I'm thinking now that the tire shop was using an impact gun in the wrong direction.
Old 07-09-2011, 06:06 PM
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neodude
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Originally Posted by jtabraham
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU


Happened again today... This time a tire shop broke the first one they tried removing. Same issue as last year, but this time there is zero spline left on the nut.

Defective batch I guess.
what did you end up doing the first time to get your nut off?? I am having the same problem...and I'm sure it was the dealership that ****ed it up....I have a bit to grab onto but very little...and the key is useless at this point!
Old 07-09-2011, 06:44 PM
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jtabraham
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Originally Posted by neodude
what did you end up doing the first time to get your nut off?? I am having the same problem...and I'm sure it was the dealership that ****ed it up....I have a bit to grab onto but very little...and the key is useless at this point!
The firSt time it happened, I actually took it to a firestone dealership, and they were able to remove it with a specialty socket. I believe it had some reverse spiral threads that were able to bite into the remaining lug.

The second time it happened, there was nothing but the lower flange left, so after trying to hammer a socket onto it, I finally took it to a tire shop nearby. They tried the specialty socket, an air chisel, but they finally had to drill the stud out and replace it.
Old 07-09-2011, 06:48 PM
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Waiz
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Originally Posted by jtabraham
The firSt time it happened, I actually took it to a firestone dealership, and they were able to remove it with a specialty socket. I believe it had some reverse spiral threads that were able to bite into the remaining lug.

The second time it happened, there was nothing but the lower flange left, so after trying to hammer a socket onto it, I finally took it to a tire shop nearby. They tried the specialty socket, an air chisel, but they finally had to drill the stud out and replace it.
Did you ever try one of these Gator Grips?

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAQ#ps-sellers
Old 07-09-2011, 10:17 PM
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depending on what shop, but the gun cant go over a certain torq spec.
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