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Author Topic: WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???  (Read 15051 times)

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Offline F Bill

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WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???
« on: June 16, 2013, 11:08:47 AM »
A frequent complaint heard from new jeep owners is that the wheels seem awfully tight when removal is attempted..

Well.....the answer is pretty simple as long as you remember it .. Originally your flatty came with the left side lug nuts threaded backwards, aka left hand threads. You turn them to the RIGHT to loosen them. Supposedly this kept the wheels from loosening on their own...

Over the years things happen though..like lugs get broken and replaced with right hand ones, drum/hub assemblies get swapped side to side, etc. So check those threads before you bust your gut� or the stud trying to remove those wheels.

And, as always, some patience and your favorite rust removal juice like P-Blaster or Kroil�or liquid wrench is always helpful when the rusties have seized things up. Wire brush things shiny bright and use a dab of Never Seez on the studs for reassembly to help out the next guy.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2013, 10:16:49 AM by johnrb3b »
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Offline johnrb3b

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Re: WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2013, 10:15:53 AM »
On many old Willys, the studs are stamped with an R or an L to alert you to which "hand" the threads are.
I'll try to get some pics this weekend for the record.
« Last Edit: June 19, 2013, 08:34:54 AM by johnrb3b »
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1946 2A - - - 1949 me - older than most of my Jeeps
1954 3B - - - 1957 Wagon - - - 2010 4-door JK
past Jeeps ---> '54 3B - no tub --- '59 3B - no engine
past addiction - VW ---> '69 bus --- '70 camper

Offline F Bill

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Re: WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2013, 04:41:18 PM »
On some vehicles the left handed nuts had a machined in groove around them to identify them as left hand....but I don't think too many jeeps used them. (Its the same thing as left handed acetylene fittings) Good idea, looking at the end of the stud. I left that out...I will usually wire brush the stud if it is rusty and run a fingernail in a thread to see which way moves it away from the nut and off the stud. I guess if you really wanted a foolproof method you could try a known left and right handed nut on what sticks out, if there is enough stud sticking out to do that with.
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Based in central TX and upstate NY.

Offline PaulS

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Re: WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2013, 05:11:38 PM »
Quote
On many old Willys, the studs are stamped with an R or an L to alert you to which "hand" the threads are.
I'll try to get some pics this weekend for the record.

On my '49 CJ3A, the studs are marked with the L & R, as you say.� Even so, I've still forgotten more than once...

On my spare set of axles (which I think may be from a CJ5, but I don't really know), the studs are all right-hand, and I think (I'll have to check) that they still have the R on all of them.
« Last Edit: June 19, 2013, 08:35:39 AM by johnrb3b »
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Offline johnrb3b

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Re: WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2013, 08:38:03 AM »
The PO of my '54 3B had done an almost complete brake job before I bought it. He swapped out all the left hand thread studs for normals. But my '57 Wagon has all the originals. I still have to stop and think before I turn a lug wrench on that one.
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1946 2A - - - 1949 me - older than most of my Jeeps
1954 3B - - - 1957 Wagon - - - 2010 4-door JK
past Jeeps ---> '54 3B - no tub --- '59 3B - no engine
past addiction - VW ---> '69 bus --- '70 camper

Offline Dre

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Re: WHY WON'T MY LUG NUTS LOOSEN???
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2015, 06:25:47 PM »
interesting - I attempted to remove the wheels on my 50 3A yesterday to no avail... impact wrench would not turn even one bolt on left front wheel and so I left it all till today soaking in PB Blaster... I have removed right wheel with no issues whatsoever though - go figure - someone must of swapped the hubs or studs...
 :o
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