Problem with a wheel bolt

[Striker]

I want to paint my brake calipers and I decide to remove the wheels, but the tool has slipped and one bolt is round...what shall I do [:I]
I can't remove it...I have try with some other tools and now the bolt is all round [xx(]

[CREWZIN]

Phil,

Time to sell it!


Only kidding of course. Any good mechanic shop or dealer should have the necessary tools to get the bolt off. No telling what they will charge you, but power tools can do wonders for rounded off bolts. Just tell them you want to be able to replace the bolt so go easy on taking it off, and you may want to try and protect the rest of the chrome wheel before they go at it.

[1wedwudy]

I had that same thing to happen once on my pickup. You can take a socket thats just a little smaller than the bolt and tap in on with a hammer. The teeth of the socket will grab the bolt and you should be able to get the bolt off. Of course, you will need to replace the bolt with a new one.

[Striker]

Frank:the bolts are 16mm and I have tried to tap a 15mm but I can't.I have also try with a dremel tool making a flat area to put it but that don't work...
Carey:I will go tomorrow at the dealer to buy a turbo convertible...or a new bolt...let's see what the bank thing of it
The bad thing in this storie is that my brake caliper paint (mixed with hardener) is completely dry now (only one wheel is done)

[bobs turbo pt]

i had that on a different car and did the socket thing it worked out fine, good luck striker !!

[bmanmg]

Sears sells a set of sockets that take off rounded off bolts. The socket has spirals inside that dig in and grab the bolt. I have a set and they work!

Bob

[SR-PT4]

Really hard to find a Sears in Belgium though!!

As for that caliper paint Striker, don't worry about it. You really don't need the two part stuff....any old basic spray paint will do. Just spray it into a paper cup and brush it on with a standard issue paint brush or one of those cheap foam paint brushes. I did this on another car of mine, a little two seat roadster that gets pretty heavy useage on local mountain roads, meaning the brakes get a serious workout. I've not had a hint of trouble with heat using pretty basic paint.

[fritz_t_coyote]

Wheel bolt? Or (translation issues) Wheel NUT?

Terminology time:

The nut has internal threads and screws onto a bolt which has external threads.

PTs wheels are mounted on the 5 studs (a kind of bolt) that are pressed into the brake drum (drum brakes) or hub (disk brakes). The nuts (called lug nuts due to their special shape) then are threaded onto the studs to secure the wheel.

If you rounded the corners off of a lug nut, a decent repair shop should be able to remove it with an nut removal tool and an air impact wrench. A replacement nut can then be found in any good auto supply shop and will screw right on.

If the stud is damaged, it will be more expensive, as the old stud has to be removed and the new one pressed in; typically a hydraulic press is used to do this job.

[Striker]

quote:Originally posted by fritz_t_coyote

Wheel bolt? Or (translation issues) Wheel NUT?

This one...


So it's a wheel nut
But my local dealer is close for holidays (I pray I will have no bunch...)

[fritz_t_coyote]

quote:Originally posted by Striker

So it's a wheel nut

Yes, but there are plenty of 'nuts' on this forum. One more tip: when you get a replacement nut, not only does the size than thread pitch have to be the same, the taper of the side that contacts the wheel must be the same. Alloy wheels can be damaged if the lug nuts do not properly match the taper of the holes.