Stripped lug nut on '24 Maverick

[Heavyt100]

My 2024 Maverick Lariat is about 2 months old and so far I’m very happy with it.

That said, just had my first issue.

Driving home from work last night, I drove over a bolt and it punctured the tire, although I was able to get home safely.

I used the Ford app to contact roadside assistance.

A short time later, a guy showed up in a BMW sedan (!), pulled a NASCAR-style jack out of the trunk and attempted to change the tire.

He got one lug nut off with an impact wrench, but said he couldn’t get the second one off because the lug nut was improperly installed and the thread was stripped. He plugged the tire but couldn’t change it.

Got on the Ford app again and they sent someone to tow the Maverick to the closest Ford dealer.



Curious if anyone else has encountered this issue

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[CurtisB]

I think Mr. Nascar forgot to losen the nuts from the bolts with a breaker bar first, then speed remove the nuts. Using an impact wrench on these soft threaded bolts is asking for a shredded bolt thread. What I do is:

While the car/truck is on the ground, with the weight of the truck on all for wheels is get a good old fashioned breaker bar and losen all the bolts. A breaker bar allows one to use their own weight to losen the tightest of bolts. The weight of the truck also keeps the bolts secure and in place as the nut is loosened.

Then I use my powered wrench to remove the nuts, and again, I rotate to each nut a little at a time till they are sufficiently loose. THEN I raise the car/truck, hand loosen the nuts and I am done.

I learned this the hard way!

 

[DinoLord]

Couldn't get it off? Sounds crossthreaded, not stripped.

 

[Heavyt100]

I think Mr. Nascar forgot to losen the nuts from the bolts with a breaker bar first, then speed remove the nuts. Using an impact wrench on these soft threaded bolts is asking for a shredded bolt thread. What I do is:

While the car/truck is on the ground, with the weight of the truck on all for wheels is get a good old fashioned breaker bar and losen all the bolts. A breaker bar allows one to use their own weight to losen the tightest of bolts. The weight of the truck also keeps the bolts secure and in place as the nut is loosened.

Then I use my powered wrench to remove the nuts, and again, I rotate to each nut a little at a time till they are sufficiently loose. THEN I raise the car/truck, hand loosen the nuts and I am done.

I learned this the hard way!

Thanks. That's good advice.

 

[fossil]

Have to assume the BMW pit crew didn't have an air impact wrench but an electric, and wonder why you needed a tow if the tire was plugged/repaired.

 

[Heavyt100]

Have to assume the BMW pit crew didn't have an air impact wrench but an electric, and wonder why you needed a tow if the tire was plugged/repaired.

The hole was pretty large and I had concerns about the patch holding, which the dealer confirmed. The tire needs replacing.

 

[dalola]

Really hard to access without seeing it, but, I'd be skeptical of the road crew story.....doesn't make a lot of sense as written. Perhaps you'll get another opinion from the dealer.

 

[Bigred]

A good impact with a full charge will zip them off with no problem.

 

[Barnstorm]

Don't the Ford lug nuts have a trim cap over the actual nut?

I've heard that recently on this or another forum, and I've also run into it "out in the wild" when i stopped to a few years ago to help an older woman in a Lincoln that had a flat - the nut was on tight and the outer cap cracked as i tried to loosen it. The actual lug nut underneath was a smaller size, and the factory wrench would not fit the nut underneath. I had to jam parts of the cracked cover cap into the wrench to get a grip on the nut.

I had never run into that issue before, but I'd never changed a tire on a Ford before.

The forum post recommended removing the factory nuts and replacing them with solid steel nuts with the same size.

 

[Exranger]

Sounds sketch…suggest…buy some new non jacketed nuts and change them all at your next rotation.

 

[fauxhican]

Don't the Ford lug nuts have a trim cap over the actual nut?

I've heard that recently on this or another forum, and I've also run into it "out in the wild" when i stopped to a few years ago to help an older woman in a Lincoln that had a flat - the nut was on tight and the outer cap cracked as i tried to loosen it. The actual lug nut underneath was a smaller size, and the factory wrench would not fit the nut underneath. I had to jam parts of the cracked cover cap into the wrench to get a grip on the nut.

I had never run into that issue before, but I'd never changed a tire on a Ford before.

The forum post recommended removing the factory nuts and replacing them with solid steel nuts with the same size.

Good callout. I just had to replace a few lug nuts on a mercury with capped nuts after the cap was loose and twisting, got a bit mangled. Had a similar feel to cross threaded nuts, could be easy to misinterpret that.

 

[Master Blaster]

A good impact with a full charge will zip them off with no problem.

I've had 2 sets that had to be replaced because the stupid mechanic used an impact on them with a non-metric socket. After that they're bulged and you have problems. Always use a 19mm 6pt deep socket instead of the 3/4" socket you have in your toolbox cuz its close, a breaker bar to loosen them and a torque wrench to put them back on, especially with aluminum rims.

 

[jmatchco]

I've had 2 sets that had to be replaced because the stupid mechanic used an impact on them with a non-metric socket. After that they're bulged and you have problems. Always use a 19mm 6pt deep socket instead of the 3/4" socket you have in your toolbox cuz its close, a breaker bar to loosen them and a torque wrench to put them back on, especially with aluminum rims.

Agree in spirit but Maverick's have 21mm, not 19.

 

[Exranger]

Snap on or Matco makes a specific oversized socket just for fords. 2 sizes on it. 19.5 and 21.5 here are some from Amazon

https://a.co/d/4cWhca4

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