[Tommy R]

Hey y'all,

It appears that the previous owner of my truck had a locking lug nut on the spare. The key is long gone. I tried removing it with several methods including the special removal socket that is commercially availble. All have been unusuccessful. The lug is now nicely mangled to getting the correct key now (if possible) is not not feasible.

Since I plan on replacing the spare wheel and tire anyway, I figured I'll just leave the whole thing as-is and just buy a replacement bracket for the new wheel/tire. The bracket I need is the one that has the three welded studs and bolts to the spare tire main carrier. Does anyone have this piece? I'll post pics of it tonight. Hoping to find one local before I open up my search.

Not sure if it matters, but this is for a '96 model.

Thanks,
Tommy

 

[sewiv]

Tried welding a handle onto the nut?

 

[Tommy R]

Tried welding a handle onto the nut?

Nah. My welder has been on the fritz. The wire feed has issues. Otherwise, yeah, I'd have tried that.

Tommy

 

[TXBronco82]

and if you don't have a welder, vise grips and mayby a cheater pipe

 

[Tommy R]

and if you don't have a welder, vise grips and mayby a cheater pipe

Neither worked. :cry

I suspect this thing was cranked on way too tightly. Also, no anti-seize was ever used on this truck. I stripped a rear stud removing a lugnut because it was seized on there so tight. I suspect this may be the case with this locking lug. FYI, the other two hex lug nuts removed without incident.

Tommy

 

[TXBronco82]

cut it off wit a grinder or a torch and buy a ney lug. have you tried some jb80 , soak or wd40 ?
\

cut it from the back though

 

[TxTaurus74]

Let me look in my garage at the house but I think I took my tire carrier down home to my parents ranch and its sitting out with all the old plows in the field....:toothless but i might be able to grab it next time I'm down if you still need it...

 

[Tommy R]

cut it off wit a grinder

Tried it. It'll just bung up the welded-in stud which means I'll need a new stud or carrier anyway. So I stopped. Considering I can likely pick one up for very little money, I just didn't see that being worthwhile. Sure, I'll get the wheel/tire off, but I'm replacing them anyway with a fullsize version (33").

or a torch

Don't have one. And see above about the stud.

and buy a ney lug.

Didn't even consider it. No idea who makes it, so I'd be chasing my tail trying to get a key plus killing time going to tire shops to see if they have anything that would work.

have you tried some jb80 , soak or wd40 ?

Of course! None helped, though.

So now the lug is all mangled from my attempts to cut it/grind it off. At some point I'll sacrifice the stud so I can get the wheel/tire off to sell it. Regardless, I want a new carrier mount with studs....or whatever this part is called.

Tommy

 

[TXBronco82]

ok

 

[Tommy R]

ok

I appreciate the suggestions, though. :thumbup

Tommy

 

[sewiv]

Tried a nut splitter?

 

[Tommy R]

Tried a nut splitter?

Good idea. Haven't tried that yet. I'd need a fairly large one. Maybe I can get a free loaner from one of the local parts stores....

Thanks!
Tommy

 

[sewiv]

They're fairly inexpensive (< $10) and useful things to have around.

 

[Tommy R]

They're fairly inexpensive (< $10) and useful things to have around.

Oh, h3ll. I'll just pick one up then! Thanks!

Tommy

 

[Justshootme84]

Tommy R, since I removed my external spare tire carrier, I prolly have the parts you need. Let me look in the "parts" room and see what I got, JSM84

 

[TX_BEAST]

another suggestion would be pipe wrench they can get a grip on just about anything.

 

[sewiv]

It's hard to get a pipe wrench on a lugnut that's holding a tire on the rack, though.

 

[Tommy R]

Thanks, Randy! Let me know what you've got.

And yeah, space inside the wheel is tight. A pipe wrench would be tough...

Tommy

 

[Justshootme84]

Think I have everything but the bracket that mounts to the back of the tailgate to hold the carrier in place. I'll call you this week and plan to bring it up to G'town this weekend. Maybe you can help out with some work on my Bronco, either applying Herculiner or working on the rollcage. JSM84

 

[Tommy R]

Think I have everything but the bracket that mounts to the back of the tailgate to hold the carrier in place. I'll call you this week and plan to bring it up to G'town this weekend. Maybe you can help out with some work on my Bronco, either applying Herculiner or working on the rollcage. JSM84

Thanks, Randy! You know all I need is the part with the studs on it, right? Just let me know what you want for it.

I'd love to help out on your truck, but it looks like Sunday is the only day I'll have available. Our alumni association (LSU) is having a crawfish boil this weekend and I'm on the board, so that means I need to be there bright and early on Sat. and stay until everything is cleaned up. Yeah, it'll be fun, but it'll also be quite a bit of work! I can be available on Sunday pretty much anytime, though....

Tommy