Date:         Tue, 17 Dec 1996 07:15:45 +0000
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         VWnut@smus.bc.ca
Subject:      Re: Forget the Drums, How do you get the Lug nuts OFF!

> >       Well I attempted to put to use all the good advice I got on how to
> >     pull (maybe hammer would be a better description) the drums off the
> >     '85 Vanagon.  However, I naively assumed it would be easy to get the
> >     wheels off--I could not remove even one of the lug nuts.   I have
> >     tried penetrating oil soaked over night, heat from a propane torch, &
> >     a six point impact socket and 2 foot breaker bar.  None of these have
> >     even allowed me to get a slight turn out of any of the nuts.
> 
> A 2 footer?  Boy, you haven't even begun to get serious.  Get a 4 foot
> piece of metal pipe to fit over the breaker bar (about a foots worth).  Now
> you've got torque.  Mulitply your wieght by 5 and you know the torque
> potential.  That nut will jump off from fright alone!
> 
> This is what they'll do in the shop anyway.  You won't believe how easy the
> nut will turn with that kind of power applied to it.  It not only will get
NOT always!! When we first got ours, I couldn't get the front's off 
using a breaker bar & 3ft pipe (I weigh 150). I took it in for new 
front tires, and watched the biggest guy there lean on & *break* a 
2ft "cross-type" breaker bar. They then used about 30" snap-on 
breaker, and a 5-6ft pipe, with TWO guys on it, and finally broke 
them free.

Needless to say I was amazed the studs/bolts didn't break!!
Shawn & Janis Wright
'88 Westy (336k) '85 Jetta TD (363k)
VWnut@smus.bc.ca (swright@smus.bc.ca)
http://www.islandnet.com/~swright/vw.html