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One frozen lug nut can ruin your whole day
Before I can take my Spider out of winter hibernation and put her back on the road, she needs new tires. Can't drive down to the tire shop because one wheel is dead flat and won't hold air, meaning I have to take off the wheels and bring them to the shop. And that one wheel with the flat tire has a frozen lug nut; trying to remove it turns the whole lug bolt. (I've actually known about this for a while and have put off dealing with it, but I can't put it off any longer, now that the tire is flat.)
Slightly complicating things is the fact that it's an alloy wheel and the lugs are sunk down in a well, so I don't have any access to the sides, so cutting isn't an option. I've had it soaking in PB Blaster overnight, and will try again, but I'm starting to think I'm going to have to drill out the lug bolt. (I do have a replacement bolt and nut.) But if anyone has any ideas before breaking out the drill, I'd love to hear them.
Oh, and I know the question will come up, so 1) yes, it's reverse threaded, and 2) I'm turning the right direction.
Edit: I should probably mention it's a rear wheel, so the parking brakes and hub are in the way of accessing the rear of the lugs.
Thanks,
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Bob Farace
1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce
1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold
Director, Connecticut branch, Scuderia Non Originale
Last edited by Farace; 04-18-2009 at 08:37 AM.
Reason: added info
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