Ford Swollen Lug Nut Removal - How To Video

[@gettinintonature3350]

A new friend asked me if I knew how to change his brake pads and rotors on his Mazda 6. Of course I said ya no prob. Couldn't even get one tire off his car. My socket stuck so bad on the first lug that I could no longer continue because I no longer had an open socket because a lug was forever stuck (did get it out at home after a long battle ). I only have one of each socket with me at all times. This was the first time in my two years of doing mechanic house calls. How embarrassing that was to tell him have no idea why no socket will fit. couldn't go a little bigger cause it was way too big and would strip the nut. Had no idea metal can swell. thanks for posting your vid. I now have some reason I can tell him why I had such a problem. His car has been sitting for a couple years now, so this really does make sense. If only I could get that dam cover off the nut I'd be back in business. I personally wish he would just junk the car and get another used one that has been being used and not sitting idle rusting out. Can only imagine what his brake calipers look like.

[@petergomez7490]

I did it my way today, hammer to screwdriver on the face of the 19mm bolt. Then splayed with screwdriver and needle nose pliers the chrome casing to eventually reaching the base of the chrome plate and metal bolt. The chrome cover will separate to pull off leaving just the metal bolt. I then used a 18mm socket which fit perfect and a breaker bar to remove the bolt.

[@attechoutdoors5893]

Been there this past week on a 2004 f150 4x4…had to use hammer and chisel to break loose… now I need 10 lug nuts. Think I will buy new steel if I can find them….sick

[@casper9256]

Yeah i caught a chunk of steel wire wrapped around the back of the tire i patched the hole only to find more holes. Leaks to much to drive it and the lugs are stripped all to hell from the previous owner or a shop? Im definitely replacing them once i cut em off. Thanks for the tip.

[@Viper1392000]

My brother has a 2017 ford and same thing happened to his lug nuts I ended up buying a Nut Removal Extractor Socket set to get them off, just hammered on the 21mm socket and they came off quite easily, I also bought an emergency lug nut remover that screwed on and that completely sucked, it got the cap off but I still haven't gotten the cap out of the socket.

[@GametimeSlime]

Yo once I stripped one of these so bad while my wheel was on I literally had to carve as much of the cap down I could until I could expose the true metal base and it was a size down. I’ll never forget after that I ordered a complete set of full metal lugs. Never again man that shit was hell

[@Veteran95B]

Very informative. Thank you for sharing

[@jbrummitt]

Would this be why I could not change the tire on my neighbor's 2017 Ford Mustang Ecoboost premium? It was the wrench that came with the car and nothing I tried worked. I've changed 100 tires in my life and really thought I was stupid!!

[@GearTubeTV]

I would say that is probably the cause! After watching some other videos it appears I may have gone to a bit of an extreme using the dremel to remove the cap. I guess you can smash a smaller size socket on there with a hammer and use an impact gun, but I would think the lug nut would get stuck in the socket. I guess my method works well if you're at home and have the space and time to cut the cap off. I sure hope Ford isn't still using this style on their new vehicles...

[@mrnavy2]

Great Video. Thanks for sharing

[@GearTubeTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@mrnavy2]

@@GearTubeTV glad I watched it. The very last one was swollen. It took more time to remove that last one than all the others. Now u have Black Gorilla on them all.

[@tjfgermany58123]

my ford lug nuts do not have a scratch on them and the 19 inch socket does not fit correctly

[@123livewire]

Those caps do not swell. A careless person removes them with SAE sized sockets and they're slightly larger than the metric size. This turns that shell just enough to distort it and prevent the proper metric size from fitting. In all these videos about this problem, that thin cap is removed and the nut beneath is completely free of corrosion. And the other annoying thing is, if you simply peel the cap off, the nut, being smaller, will prevent the original sized tools from fitting and removing them. Ford does not always have a better idea!

[@pasad335]

Agreed. I just replaced all mine. They were not corroded, just damaged from shops using the wrong sockets and impact guns. Have replaced them all with single piece nuts.

[@RudyNortz]

I agree also. Impact wrenches set at max torque beat the ____ out of them. My pickup goes to the same garage and yesterday it had a flat tire. I could not back those bolts of with a breaker bar or a 4-way wrench. I had to strap/tie a 3 foot 2 X 2 onto the 4-way wrench then jump up and down on the 2 X 2. If you do the math it took over 500 foot lbs. to break the nuts loose. I took pictures and will show them to my garage man on Monday.

[@valeries1099]

I am still mad at Ford over this. My experience was with a 2013 Ford Fusion. It still was under warranty so they sent out a wrecker to change the tire. They did not have anything that would fit the nuts so they hauled into the service shop. I insisted on new nuts being put on but was my privilege to pay for them.

[@JuanVega-ns5ok]

Ford Explorer lug nuts supposed to be 19mm (3/4” fits also). Lug nuts on the back wheels came off easily. The front ones were swollen. I bought a 20 mm socket and was able to remove them. Bought 20 one piece lug nuts Dorman brand. Problem solved. Bummer that it cost $130.

[@GearTubeTV]

I really wish we didn't have to make lug nuts look "fancy." I'd rather see some kind of a center cap that covers the lug nuts and have plain one piece solid lug nuts. These capped lug nuts are used by many manufacturers - maybe it's an easy way for them to upcharge service appointments at their dealerships. "Sir/Ma'am it appears your lug nuts are swelling and need to be replaced. The estimate on that is $350" 😂

[@voice_crack_gamer6937]

what was the name of plug in dril that u used in to video

[@GearTubeTV]

Sorry for the later reply! The corded drill I used is a Dremel. Got it walmart for pretty cheap and it has proven its worth for little tasks here and there. If you're not talking about the Dremel, the other corded tool I used was a Kobalt Impact gun.

[@boatdesigner12]

Ordering new nuts and will replace all of them. Thanks

[@GearTubeTV]

Glad you found the video and were able to see how much of an issue it could be if you were roadside trying to change a flat. Replacing them is the best thing to do that's for sure!

[@jinglsha]

Very nice and helpful video, thanks! I believe it was the impact driver that damaged those nuts

[@jeffflowers729]

I still had the street wheel on and had no access to cut around it. I cut a slot right in the top of it and wedge a screwdriver in it to pry it open and had access to get a socket on it

[@hellyabrother27]

Pro tip spray oil on the lugnut before removing and it'll slide off easy

[@zumbawitharachelchel5078]

What oil did you use?

[@hellyabrother27]

@@zumbawitharachelchel5078 any lubricating oil

[@miranda1912]

Yeah I watched this video 5 minutes too late, now I’m stuck with mangled caps and no way to get the lug nuts off and change my flat tire. 😭 2013 Ford Escape

[@GearTubeTV]

OH NO Miranda!!!!! I'm sorry you had to deal with that and I hope you were able to get back on the road without too much issue from there. Again, these capped lug nuts are the worst design I've ever seen.

[@joeperry3884]

Had my tires rotated at Ford dealership three times . Now they tell me they can’t rotate because of swollen lugs nuts , but they can get them and replace then for around $ 350 . What a joke . I will not be returning to Ford for any work on my truck in the future.

[@DavidJones-qg2yp]

I checked with Ford dealership recently and they want $8 PER LUGNUT for the part alone.

[@josephrobinson5452]

Yeah but cutting the cap won't work if you have a Ford fusion because those nuts are deep in a hole.

[@RellyOhBoy]

My thoughts exactly. My Fusion Titanium has the black 19" Ford wheels and only the head of the lug nuts is really accessible so a Dremel wont do it. Half the lug nuts on my wheels are swollen so I already bought some black one piece replacements. Just gotta get to removing the swollen ones. I bought a 19.5mm/18.5mm flip socket so ima try that first. Just the thought of hammers and dremels and chisels near my rims is cringey.

[@josephrobinson5452]

There should have been a recall on all of these nuts by Ford

[@GearTubeTV]

I agree. If anything there should be some kind of campaign that when a vehicle is in for service the lug nuts are automatically changed out. And then put out a notice for people that don't use the dealership for service that they can stop by at their convenience to get them swapped out.

[@c.f3633]

I have a 2016 Fusion SE.... To think that a judge...or moron should I say in in Oregon. Decided against a lawsuit being brought against Ford that would of been / forced for a recall.........His decision based on not thinking that if broken down on the side of the road that it was not an emergency ,if you weren't able to change your tire & To think that Ford to this day during service at dealership will tell you ..."Oh you need new lug nuts" ( at a huge expense ) wanting to install the SAME thing as replacements.. Ford in its brilliance has not changed the manufacture of them ..... Someone should be dragged behind a pick-up ! It is THAT simple !!!

[@gelmann2]

My next truck will be a Dodge... No expanding lugnuts there.

[@GametimeSlime]

Nah you gone get it from mopar too I promise… sadly

[@mr.stewmeatii7950]

I cringe when i see a ford pulling into my stall for tire service!

[@GearTubeTV]

Rightfully so!