Date:         Wed, 6 Sep 2000 09:33:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: ??? LUG NUTS & FRETTING CORROSION???
Comments: To: JKrevnov@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

One thing you might want to check is that your brakes are not overheating.

I recall that if your brakes overheat they 'cook' the lugnuts and make them very
hard to remove. I forget the actual process at work that does it.

Todd
'88 Westy

Rico Sapolich wrote:

> What can be done to ease the removal of Vanagon lug nuts?  I have always had
> a bitch of a time taking off the lug nuts.  I think this is caused by
> fretting corrosion whose effect is compounded by their metallurgical
> composition and heat treatment.
>
> I have installed the lug nuts dry and tightened with a torque wrench; I have
> cleaned the threads scrupulously and used antiseize (Fel-Pro & Neverseize) at
> assembly; I have sprayed them with PB Blaster when removing them.  No matter
> what, they are a son-of-a-bitch to remove.  How tough is it?  Well, I use the
> largest, high quality metric 4-way I could find.  I am far from a wimp-ass
> and still I have to use a cheater and say a prayer.  Once, I had to take a
> 2WD to a garage to remove the front lug bolts.  The mechanic hammered on them
> for about 20 minutes with an Ingersoll-Rand (no junk tool) impact wrench.  On
> a couple of them we even had to heat them to cherry before they would give up
> their hold.
>
> >From what I know of fretting corrosion, I am confident that this is the cause
> of the problem.  The lug nuts finally release their tenacious grasp with a
> start, accompanied by a sharp retort and a puff of reddish brown dust.
>
> My references all talk of measures to take to reduce fretting in order to
> maintain fatigue life.  All I want is to be able to remove my wheels in a
> predictable manner.  Any suggestions?  No, I am not going to carry my cutting
> torch in the van and I already have a AAA membership.
>
> Rich