Ford Swollen Lug Nut Removal & Replacement (complete Guide)

In this video, I discuss the issue with the Ford two piece Lugnuts design that eventually becomes a swollen lug nut. I also go over the parts and tools necessary to replace the Lugnuts easily. This issue has been around since 2010 when Ford decided to design a two piece lug nut causing many issues to Ford owners. I highly recommend replacing the Lugnuts before they become an issue. Below are links to parts and tools are used in this Video as well as the proper replacement Lugnuts for your application. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave something in the comment section. Thank you
Flip Socket Set
amzn.to/2Xhevni
2011-2014 f150 + expediton 14x2.0 (NON LOCKING 21MM SOCKET)
amzn.to/3hZfpOV
2011-2014 f150 + expediton 14x2.0 (LOCKING SET-SPECIAL SOCKET)
amzn.to/2DX03Hm
2015+ f150 + expedition 14x1.5 (NON LOCKING SET 21 MM SOCKET)
amzn.to/2MvqkE2
2015+ f150 + expedition (black) 14x1.5 (LOCKING SET-SPECIAL SOCKET)
amzn.to/353QbYc
2015+ f150 + expedition (chrome) 14x1.5 (LOCKING SET-SPECIAL SOCKET)
amzn.to/352iZR0
f-250, f-350 2011+
amzn.to/2l4mR1T
2011+ escape, Fiesta,focus, fusion. (12mmx1.5)
amzn.to/2OXjCFG
2015+ fusion, transit,explorer, edge, mustang (14mmx1.5)
amzn.to/38tkxHA
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[@kennethroyster]

If I said thank you a million times for the video, it would not be enough. It saved me for paying the mechanic who was going to charge me to do a break job and remove the bolts. You are a life and cash saver.

[@lookanabeauti9386]

Try doing this stuck on the side of the road..shame on Ford!!!

[@AaronHinesAuto]

Good luck my friend!

[@Hoodratliker]

many car manufacturers use two piece lug nuts, this isnt only a ford problem.

[@therealjigsawjp]

That's what happened to me!! He suggested replacing them IMMEDIATELY!

[@shaunwarfield]

I did and it sucks so bad. Ended up towing to the house and spend 3 hours getting swollen lugs and a seized wheel off the hub. Common ford

[@roberttaylor4215]

Thank you for letting them know this information smh. Not just ford

[@bvanhaun]

Problem with Toyotas too. Had to break the lugnuts off a 2010 camry. Local mechanic wanted $250 to take them off. Fuck that. Thank you so much Aaron!

[@gnohn9366]

Wal mart messed up the lug nuts on my Fusion, and they could not get them off. I will give them credit though. They told me to take it to a specialty tire shop to get the old ones off and they paid for all new lug nuts. Good video, thank you.

[@JasonW.]

Ford messed them up with the design. Walmart were the poor saps there when they failed. This isn't just a Walmart problem, nor is it limited to Ford products.

[@AaronHinesAuto]

Lol poor saps

[@markstoltz226]

Wal-mart is the worst. I just spent 3 hours trying to get tires and they finally paged me only to tell me they can't take the lug nuts off. Go to a real tire shop with real mechanics shop to get things done.

[@toodlesmith8131]

Thank you Aaron, had a horrible day today and it ended with me trying to replace my brake pads and having this issue, it was almost too much. Your video helped me see the solution and allowed me to finish what I started, now I can have my car again.

[@khoward1]

This a great video. I was going to take my truck in to the shop as I had three that were just spinning. Ford wouldn't rotate my tire because of the spinning nuts. I bought replacement all steal nuts but I couldn't get three off. With your video, it took 3 minutes to remove those three. Thanks again for the video.

[@charleshines1553]

The use of those things needs to stop once and for all. They should be banned. Any vehicle that has them on should fail inspection!!

[@dansullivan2954]

"FORD wouldn't rotate", LOL, you made em and you installed em, you remove em.

[@jdc8352]

I couldn't have dreamed up this ridiculous situation I'm in...... Thanks man

[@soundthatpleasesme]

To make a long story short, you saved my wallet and my sanity. Thank you so much!

[@cjsantee461]

Aaron, thanks for the video. I have a 2018 Edge. I just bought it last December. Had to have a tire patched and was told the nuts were swollen. I though it was a b.s. from the shop. Later looking at the carfax report saw the tires were either rotated or balanced every 2000 miles!!! It only has 25,000 miles on the vehicle!! Was extremely maintained, lucky me. I just ordered new set of Mcgard lugs. Thanks again for making sense of something I never heard of 👍

[@joechilds8152]

Thanks for the great video!!! I ordered the tools similar to those you recommended, but for 2 of the 5 nuts on one wheel I ran into an unexpected issue... the outer nut "cover" actually stripped. So even if I could turn it, the actual solid nut below didn't turn anymore. So I used your "time-consuming" alternate process, and was able to get to the solid nut. This saved me a trip to the Ford dealer again!

[@jonathanborchelt9613]

Thank you so very much. Can't express how grateful I am.

[@beardzebub6341]

I dont have Ford but my son's friend has a 2016 Focus and they are on the side of the road with a flat. I'm using this video as tech support to try and walk them through the process.

[@pasad335]

Your video was very helpful in showing the problem. After 7 tire rotations (I get them done every 10K miles) and numerous flat repairs, the nuts on my Ford were no longer serviceable. It was not corrosion, just the outer sleeves getting worn out by impact guns so that the 19mm socket would no longer fit. The tire store refused to do the latest rotation unless I paid an extra $75 plus materials to have them replace all the nuts. I found I was able to do this at home with normal hand tools. I bought a set of 1-piece nuts online. All but one of the old nuts came off by simply hammering a 3/4" socket about 1/4" onto the nut. That allowed me to unscrew them. Once you break the nut loose, leave it screwed on while you wiggle off the socket. If you hammer it too far on, it takes forever to get the socket back off. If you don't hammer enough you end up just damaging the sleeve even more. I found that about a 1/4" was the right amount. If you feel the socket starting to slip, stop and give it a couple more hammer blows, then try again. The first one I experimented with was badly damaged enough that I needed your chisel method to remove the sleeve, but all the others came off as described above. After that first one, all the rest were replaced in less than half an hour with no special tools.

[@charleshines1553]

I had a Chrysler with that kind of lug nut and I find it hard to believe they would ever use such a badly designed part on a vehicle! It is hard enough when some moron runs them on super tight and you just can't get the things off! My dad when he was alive had *nothing* nice to say to people who did those things!!! I had lug nuts on so tight that even with a long pipe and him jumping on it they still wouldn't move. We did everything we could too! On a different day we had a problem with one of those caps on the lug nuts. Who is the genius who thought of using those dumb things? I had them all replaced with solid and chromed lug nuts just to be rid of them once and for all! My only guess is some bean counter in accounting found they would save a nickel and suggested using those. That is a nickel extra I would have gladly paid for better lug nuts!!

[@JasonW.]

The best fix for this is to replace all lugnuts with solid closed end lug nuts. It isn't expensive if you buy them online before you need them. My 2015 F-150 lug nuts were swelling at 15k miles after one year of use. Same for Ram pickups.

[@AaronHinesAuto]

Yupp! That’s what I cover in the video!

[@Wilj05]

This could all be avoided if the mechanics at these dealerships would first MANUALLY loosen the lug nuts with a breaker bar before taking a pneumatic impact wrench to it. That's what's causing the expansion of the aluminum. The heat from the impact wrench. You ultimately end up paying for their screw ups. It's ridiculous.

[@bowlinglefty]

They don't have time for that.

[@JeffMarotta-wr2fi]

Great video, huge help! I used a 22mm impact socket to remove my factory lug nuts and a 13/16 socket to install the new Gorilla lug nuts. Needed a good, small chisel to knock out the old lugs from the 22mm socket.

[@309gti8]

Glad to see there’s aftermarket 1-piece options readily available. The nuts on my 18 F150 are starting to get a little rounded off, I’ll probably go with the Dorman ones when it comes time to replace. Preferably in black, if that’s an option.

[@davecarberry8212]

When my wife brought her 2017 Ford Escape back from the dealer for service she told me they said she has swollen lug nuts and wanted $600 to change them. I laughed my ass off and said they’re full of shit. Then when I went out to check with my sockets…. Why would Ford do this? Ordered the flip socket set and new lug nuts you recommended. Excellent video thank you!

[@rafaelcorrea4894]

I know this was 3 years ago but this still helps so much I have a 2016 fusion and today trying to take the tire off the car after side wall of tire popped I thought the out side of the lugnut was stripped but it’s just a aluminum cover ?Thats so frustrating spent 2-4 hours taking of that one tire thank you

[@enigmaone7055]

Thought my simple break job today was going to go quickly on my 2017 Fusion until I ran into this lug nut BS! I fumbled around with different size sockets until I found your video, thank you! A dremmel cut off wheel and a screw driver made somewhat quick work of those caps. Ford can go screw themselves for this type of engineering, WTF would you do on the side of the road with a flat? The spare tire tool does not even fit!!! SMH....

[@deadeye4543]

I have these lug nuts on my 2014 F150 TREMOR. I personally swap from aluminum rims with street tires to steel rims with Goodyear Duratrac snow and mud tires each fall and spring. The 9 year old lug nuts are pristine, because they've never been removed or installed with an IMPACT WRENCH!

[@stacyadiaz]

Thanks for the explanation. I had the tires replaced on my daughter's car today at Discount Tire. They told me the lug nuts were swollen and gave me an estimate of over $100 to replace them all. I didn't understand how they could swell and they didn't show me an example or offer and explanation. The service tech said they had a hard time getting some of them off but when I watched them, they were like a pit crew and had no issues.

[@masterwhopper414]

They likely used a 19.5mm socket on the 19mm lugnuts. A solution, but the lugnuts only get worse from that point

[@stacyadiaz]

@@masterwhopper414 I ended up replacing them all myself with a 1 piece Dorman lug nut. I had issues with 3 of the old lug nuts.

[@masterwhopper414]

@@stacyadiaz For sure, just explaining why it may have seemed Discount Tire didn't have any problems doing your tire service - aka they took a shortcut instead of doing it right (which I don't blame them)

[@kenthompson3730]

No one has touched my 2016 F150 but the dealer techs. Seven years old and only has 41k miles. The ONLY thing ever to need repair/replacement was these lug nut. The dealer has rotated tires about six times since new. My service writer pointed out the problem after my last oil/filter change. Right before I went on a 2000 mile trip! I ordered new Gorilla nuts when I got home. Only then did I realize how bad the OEMs were. I was able to get a socket on only two out of 24 nuts. It was time for a new set of Michelins so I let Discount Tires do the honors. But had I had a flat on a remote highway in West Texas on my tias trip, I’d have been dead in the water. Shame on Ford for continuing to send out these defective lug nuts.

[@jveebklyn1644]

The folks at Tire Kingdom are aware of this problem. The folks in the Ford service department are aware of it. It took me a minute or so to find this and several other YT videos about this problem. However, the folks in the customer service department at Ford are blissfully unaware, but will happily consider your complaint after you visit a dealer and have them evaluate your vehicle.

[@IndiFornication]

A big thumbs up. Was able to remove the damaged lug nuts easy peasy.

[@sarahFYI]

Thank you for adding links for different models in the description! Your video was super helpful.

[@chuckmiller5763]

A 13/16 works well once you remove the chrome wrapper, a 19 mm is a little tight.

[@playingoutsideafter50]

I had no idea Thanks for the information I’m actually at Discount Tires getting tires rotated and they brought it to my attention Getting new lug nuts as we speak

[@brandonlopez4800]

I’ve been changing my own flats and brakes for 30 years. I recently had to change my brakes for the first time on my 2017 F-150. Was under service warranty before and tire shop put my tires on so I’ve never had to remove these wheels myself. Well I guess I was the lucky one who got the swollen lugs. I thought I was crazy when the stock tire iron didn’t fit. Then after buying a bigger one I thought I was even crazier when I muscled my lug nut into a warped blob of metal!!!!! I knew I wasn’t that strong. I had to hammer a flat head into it and pry off the shell. I immediately replaced all 24 nuts (expensive!) But all I could think of was being on the side of the road coming back from a river trip in the middle of the desert with my family and not being able to change a flat because of these crappy lugs. Ford really let me down on this one.

[@charleshines1553]

A lot of Chrysler vehicles came with similar lug nuts for a long time and probably still do. I have seen how much trouble they cause! I had a 2002 Neon that had those terrible things on it from the factory and having had a similar Chrysler that had them, I knew I had to get rid of them soon. A local tire shop (less than 5 miles away) has good solid ones that don't have those caps. They are chromed and look good too. I realize that those stupid capped lug nuts were used for looks but really, there are much better lug nuts that won't cause problems. My solid ones were a dollar each and already far better than those things I had on it! When I found out they were just a dollar each, I told the man behind the counter to replace all of them. He knew why I was doing it too. In my opinion, those lug nuts with the thin metal cap should be banned and any vehicle that still has them should not pass inspection. We need to make it obvious that they need to stop using these awful things on our cars!!

[@doomie77]

I went to rotate my tires but couldn't do the left side because of some stuck lug nuts. Thanks for this video

[@WoodyPhillips]

Yep. My problem exactly. Thanks for the pointers.

[@joepolacek]

Dont punch a hole in the center, go down one side and work it open. The key is breaking the base of the cover and prying it apart. The first 2 lugnuts took me 20 minutes using the center punch method. With the side method about 2 minutes a lugnut. You wont even need pliers

[@boestey5164]

Thanks Aaron all the way from Australia where Ford supply these same dopey wheel nuts on the Ranger and Mustang. The nuts on a 2016 Ranger were in even worse shape with the aluminium caps just spinning on top of the steel nuts. It was therapeutic taking to these things with a hammer and some worn out screwdrivers just like I’d like to take to the Ford Bean Counters who think that it’s acceptable to supply this garbage on their vehicles. I shudder to think of people stuck in remote areas trying to change a flat tyre. I can only hope that they at least have mobile reception so they can watch your video on the toobs!

[@Sci-Fi_Fan296]

I've heard about this issue which will effect many of us transit ownership at some point during our ownership if we are unaware of.

[@c31irq]

Also, after customers decided to grab new hardware, I would unshell the old lugs & grind the shoulders off, so the lugs could be reused to secure mobile brake lathe hub adapters to the studs.

[@AaronHinesAuto]

Great idea!

[@faranciscoperez6760]

FORD Co. shame on you. The technology to produce better lug nuts for the cars you make is here. Use it!

[@LA_Commander]

This swollen lug nuts issue is with just about ALL makes. I have personally seen them on Fords, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, and so on and so forth. McGuard makes really good solid steel lug nuts. Dorman also makes decent ones. Basically get anything that is a solid one piece design.

[@SandorFule]

I purchased new, normal lug nuts, went to the tyre shop, and have them replaced in no time. I paid cca 8 dollars for the work.

[@margussibul8217]

Thank you! Saved my day.

[@thomaschandler4397]

Doing the lords work sir! definitely SHAME on Ford

[@ConsultingDoctor394]

Thank you for the video! Very informative

[@alku1008]

Thanks to you for this valuable info

[@edwardbiglang-awa7313]

Had to use a 13/16 socket that didn’t fit well and needed a 21 mm on the lug nut that was supposed to be 19 mm

[@asmlandscapingandconcrete2761]

Thanks a lot!!! A tire shop guy messed on mines

[@susanquitzau2433]

Thank you!

[@MetalMike2112]

Great Video, Thank You. And Thank You For The Links.

[@mainemotivation]

Wow great video Aaron you’re the man!

[@FloridaCoastalGuy]

It's not just Ford, tap on with hammer, a 21mm 6-point Socket to remove, knock out swollen lug nut from socket in vise and replace all with solid lug nuts.

[@Del-ji3xr]

Another issue is they are soft. If they are over torqued, it will anialate them. Had this problem with my mustang. Previous owner had destroyed them. Had to take a 21mm socket, and hammer it on the lugs to get them off

[@johnnyharden3766]

Thanks for advice!!!!!

[@katzenpapa]

This issue also plagues GM products as well. I have a 2010 LaCrosse and hate these lugnuts. Many other GM products these lugnuts.

[@iiFuture]

Just happened to me and the dealership wants to charge $200 for lug nuts and labor. Just ordered what I need and I’m going to do it myself.

[@rpm2dayg648]

Decent technique. I drive my star wrench on with a mallet and unscrew the lug nut 75%. Wiggle the wrench off of the mess and then unscrew it by hand. Put new lug nut on and done.

[@jerryliu6319]

Honestly it’s not the problem of removing them it’s a problem of getting them off you’re socket lol

[@justinjones3395]

Great video, thanks !

[@alexandrnavumenka6049]

Thank you, that really helped me!

[@josedelarosa5150]

I'm trying to change my flat I've been using 7/8 socket but I just feel like it is not moving anywhere thanks for the tip

[@Jtrain3643]

Thanks!!!

[@fedex1339]

I cannot believe the lawsuit against Ford was thrown out by Judge. Ford must of bought the Judge. Still trying to put on spare on sisters Fiesta. Thank you for the info. Have you driven a Ford lately? Never again. FORD Fix Or Repair Daily.

[@Hoodratliker]

many car manufacturers use two piece lug nuts, this isnt only a ford problem.

[@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!!

[@dustbat]

UPDATE: Just got back from Ford dealer and they did not charge any more for labor for installing new nuts. Old ones were beat up from impact but VERY little separation. They had 4 rotations on them.

[@dryphtyr]

Thank you

[@patrickfitzgerald9859]

Picked up a nail and thankfully was only 1 mile from home when the tire began to go flat. Drove gingerly home when I could not get the nuts off the wheel. Would really suck if I had to do this on the side of a busy highway. From know on I will have a hammer and screwdriver in my trunk.

[@regularperson7]

The Dorman link only gets you 10 lug nuts. Just enough for 1 and 4/6 wheels

[@menguardingtheirownwallets6791]

CTA Tools 4221 Lug Nut Flip Socket (18.5mm x 19.5mm)

[@29kalel]

This was a nightmare. A brake and rotor job took forever because I had to test these covers off of the nut. I would be hot as a firecracker if I had to change a tire

[@Gameplayery]

Leave it to Ford to fck up such a SIMPLE thing like lug nuts... Amazing

[@Hoodratliker]

many car manufacturers use two piece lug nuts, this isnt only a ford problem.

[@Gameplayery]

@@Hoodratliker It's predominantly Ford tho, i did a bunch of research and they all recommend to replace them with simple one-piece parts. And we did. Cost us 80$, still not a good look on Ford, and now my GF's 2013 Focus has other quality issues that my 2003 JDM subaru doesn't have. Let's face it Ford isnt know for quality, not anymore atleast

[@Everything_David]

I am having this same issue. Original lug nuts are so bad..

[@bowlinglefty]

Is that outer casing aluminum or stainless steel? Looks like stainless to me. I just replaced all the lug nuts on my wife's Escape. Got rid of the locking lug nuts. I don't think they hold up to mechanics loosening and tightening them with their impact guns. You don't need 19mm sockets. A 3/4" six sided socket is only .002 larger. You can't feel the difference.

[@rukusrasputin4290]

Thank you so much!

[@bobhanson2111]

You can include the 2015 Ford Edge also. Lug is 22mm.

[@dano-jafo]

Can I just take the shell cap off and drive with just the remaining piece?

[@DIYGARAGES]

I have a 13 f150 with one spline on each wheel. It appears to be the same as the tool in your hand at 2:02 in the video. I’m not seeing a link to that tool and having a hell of a time finding it.

[@partero01]

Thank You! I appreciate your video. Any recommendations for a one piece solid lug nut for a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder?

[@dustbat]

I am leaving this am to get a state inspection from my dealer. Also "the works" oil change, which includes tire rotation. I have new one piece units waiting at dealers parts department. As I always expect a rip off I have left 4 messages to the service manager who has returned none of them. I cannot see how they could justify an extra charge for this. Checked my 2018 explorer this morning and the 19mm socket still slides on. This is p.m. The dealer charged me $120 for a set of one piece.

[@jayralston2305]

i just found out what the lug nuts do my f150 has 58000 miles on it i could not believe it , i tried a 21mm on them and it would not fit , so what happens when you get a flat tire on the road . what a stupid design , i remember that this was never an issue with older vehicle and ford tried to tell me that to replace them they would cost 17.99 a piece , not happening went on amazon and got them for 54.00 the whole set

[@ShogunAutoworks]

I read that a 19.5mm socket takes them right off. I'm going to verify very soon. I don't know that they're swelling. I think we are using the wrong size period, then messing the caps up.

[@MrKnapppj18]

I just had new tires put on a 2018 and went to re-torque at 100 miles in the driveway and all my lug nuts are bad and 1 is spinning. Wish the tire shop would have said something…

[@miman-ck9jv]

Have they every stopped using this type of lug nuts? If so when. 👍

[@AaronHinesAuto]

Nope, we just bought a few 2021s and they came with them

[@miman-ck9jv]

@@AaronHinesAuto thanks for the reply 👍

[@jveebklyn1644]

Went to a Ford dealer today. They will happily sell you the same defective part for $5.90 each.

[@christinasmith1940]

After a recent routine visit for an oil change, my local ford dealership sent an e-mail stating I needed to replace both the lugs and studs at a cost of $175. After watching your video I understand now why the lugs but I'm wondering why they say I need the studs replaced as well. Any idea? I have a 2016 Edge with 23000 miles and have maintained excellent service on the vehicle. They didn't mention the required repair while I was there, only after I had left.

[@alvinomartinez6549]

Would the new lug nuts that you have in the link will hold the hub caps???

[@reverendsonhouse]

Just an FYI for ya, your amazon link for the 2015+ fusion, transit, etc... DOES NOT FIT a 2015 Ford Fusion according to Amazon's Confirmed Fit calculator....???

[@tedfahy3843]

Question: Amazon's compatibility algorithm says that the Gorilla lug nuts don't fit the 2013 Ford Escape?

[@trenttrulock4482]

Just ran into this issue today. Tried to use a 3/4” socket, and the lug nuts are now spinning but they’re not tightening or loosening, just keep spinning. Do I have to replace those lug nuts now? Guess I have to cut them off? How can I avoid this in the future?

[@davidjsouth231]

I ended up going to a tire shop and put all new ones on

[@elgmac73]

funny how the lugnuts on my 2010 Focus are still functionable and the ones from my 2013 Escape went kaput

[@luvr381]

Doing my 2013 Escape right now, what a pain.

[@jreb650]

Will the dorman lug nuts hold the hubcaps

[@alexmoore5771]

What do you do when your lugnut breaks after you get the outer shell off?

[@dannybaran1966]

They swell up due to water getting behind them and freezing. Or water get behind them and causing rust On the steel it swells them up

[@lorinhehl9278]

Thanks for the video! I need new to replace 2 on my 2011 Ford Expedition, we bought it that way. Any chance they sell just the stainless caps for them?

[@829smith]

Which link for a 2010 Taurus Limited?

[@gt-c-]

What would you recommend for a Ford Raptor 2013? Looking for black nuts/

[@ShogunAutoworks]

If the nut underneath is a 19mm and snug, then it makes sense to try a 19.5mm socket. Which is still stupid, but I didn't build the thing. 🤦🤷

[@chrissimmonds4898]

Thanks for the information. This is some bs lol

[@bigal2417]

this is crazy what you would have do if you got a puncher at the side of the road.

[@schzx14]

25mm holesaw will cut through the cheap metal in about 5 to ten seconds. I got all ten of my front lugs off in about 5 minutes. Much easier than chisel. If the outer shell spins, wedge a screwdriver to prevent spinning. A better idea from Ford.

[@manuelramos4608]

Would an extractor socket work?

[@williamgleaves1954]

I have a NUTTY idea, use a 22mm socket! That's what I did. Why use a 1/2 sized socket?

[@MrSestra08]

Jump to 3 minutes to learn how to remove the shell

[@robertm2172]

I believe the covers are stainless

[@AaronHinesAuto]

You are correct I missspoke

[@pasad335]

The cover material is very magnetic, seemingly even more so than even the nut itself, so definitely not aluminum.