Flat Tire Surprise

[Old Fart]

The 4 way worked great on 4 of the five lugs, I used a bottle jack under the opposite side of the 4 way to stabilize the wrench then jumped on the downside, it finally broke loose.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

Just sharing a flat tire experience.

I've done this before, picked up a staple causing a leak in a rear tire. First time to remove a tire on the Maverick so pulled out the "Toy" tire tools from the back seat. "Are you kidding me". But what's included is pretty typical in all new vehicles.

I've changed many tires so I had already added the "4 way lug wrench" tire tool that will fit pretty much any nut. The 4 way tire tool gives a lot of leverage over the "toy tire tool" wrench under the rear seat. But to my surprise there was no way the 4-way tire tool would come close to turning a lug nut....not a one of them. So went to my backup plan and that is a "chain link fence post" I had added to my tire tool box years ago for leverage. Even adding the 4 foot long fence post for leverage it took brute strength to finally break loose the first lug loose.

Just a suggestion, you might want to try this exercise on removing just one lug nut before heading out on a long trip, or trip to the grocery store. The "toy set of tire tools" and 4-way Tire Tool would have left me stranded on the side of a road.

No doubt, the lug nuts from the factory were put on by air wrench and probably applied with way more power than those put on by hand. Since I had my handy "chain link fence post out" I continued to loosen each of my lug nuts on all four wheels and retightened them to human strength, so I don't have to haul around a fence post in my back seat. Every single lug nut took brute "fence post" strength to break loose.

Great thread.
I went ahead and I checked my lugs they were pretty tight. It also reminded me to put my four-way lug wrench and well used homemade breaker bar in my truck.
Thank You

 

[Randorita]

After the last one I changed a year or so ago, I will be calling roadside assistance. I pay for it with my insurance, so why not use it? It makes my knees hurt again just thinking about it. You should have seen the 12" round file that came out when the tire was replaced! It was a real bastard!

 

[Vickram]

Or one of these,,,,,

HRG

My son has this model , it's a BEAST.

 

[Aherpa]

My sister-in-law had AAA come out to put the spare on her Ford Escape. He got the lugs off with a battery powered impact wrench but he had to beat the wheel off the spindle with a piece of wood and a 4lb maul. He said it's common for Fords.
I've had trouble removing lug nuts but after they are all off, the wheel just falls off. Had I not seen this in person, I might not believe it.

 

[dochawk]

I have AAA too. Last time I called for service the wait was quoted at 2 hours and it was actually closer to three.

when this happens, call your insurance, and see if they'll cover you finding your own truck.

I found this out too late after waiting three hours for a truck when the transmission on my E-150 seized. And another truck stopped by that I could have hired!

Any modern battery operated impact wrench will do it quickly.

I can tell you from experience that the 18v Ryobi that comes in their set won't remove a lug nut.

 

[colinl]

I can tell you from experience that the 18v Ryobi that comes in their set won't remove a lug nut.

the torque spec is 150ft-lb as mentioned in this thread and simple math (x12) gives us 1800 inch pounds.

there are NOT many cordless impact drivers can do that. even of those that can, there is only like 1 or 2 on the market under 200$. Bosch makes one.

 

[MavDan]

when this happens, call your insurance, and see if they'll cover you finding your own truck.

I found this out too late after waiting three hours for a truck when the transmission on my E-150 seized. And another truck stopped by that I could have hired!




I can tell you from experience that the 18v Ryobi that comes in their set won't remove a lug nut.

It ABSOLUTELY will/ Impact Wrench, not Impact Driver. Big difference.

 

[colinl]

It ABSOLUTELY will/ Impact Wrench, not Impact Driver. Big difference.

that's literally one specific model of Ryobi - the rest of what they sell can't do it.

so you're going to leave a $300+ tool with a $100 battery on it in each vehicle instead of a breaker bar, or just the Maverick?

or are you doing this at home in your garage where a $50 120V impact could do it?

AAA is $99 a year with 100 miles of towing included. if you can't turn a lug wrench, don't. I can, but I'd still just call AAA unless I have no alternative.

 

[Tbone289]

My sister-in-law had AAA come out to put the spare on her Ford Escape. He got the lugs off with a battery powered impact wrench but he had to beat the wheel off the spindle with a piece of wood and a 4lb maul. He said it's common for Fords.

It's common when dissimilar metals have a tight-tolerance fit (alloy wheel, steel spindle), no matter the brand. A light coating of grease on the spindle/wheel mating surfaces will prevent this problem. If not greased and they stick, all it takes is a kick to the tire sidewall to break it loose.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I have AAA too. Last time I called for service the wait was quoted at 2 hours and it was actually closer to three.

This

I live in a rural area and this is why I have road hazard on my insurance plan instead of AAA. It's dirt cheap and I can just google "nearest wrecker service." Arrival is usually much faster than a AAA truck. I just submit the bill later to my insurance for reimbursement.

 

[Jeffredo]

Just sharing a flat tire experience.

I've done this before, picked up a staple causing a leak in a rear tire. First time to remove a tire on the Maverick so pulled out the "Toy" tire tools from the back seat. "Are you kidding me". But what's included is pretty typical in all new vehicles.

I've changed many tires so I had already added the "4 way lug wrench" tire tool that will fit pretty much any nut. The 4 way tire tool gives a lot of leverage over the "toy tire tool" wrench under the rear seat. But to my surprise there was no way the 4-way tire tool would come close to turning a lug nut....not a one of them. So went to my backup plan and that is a "chain link fence post" I had added to my tire tool box years ago for leverage. Even adding the 4 foot long fence post for leverage it took brute strength to finally break loose the first lug loose.

Just a suggestion, you might want to try this exercise on removing just one lug nut before heading out on a long trip, or trip to the grocery store. The "toy set of tire tools" and 4-way Tire Tool would have left me stranded on the side of a road.

No doubt, the lug nuts from the factory were put on by air wrench and probably applied with way more power than those put on by hand. Since I had my handy "chain link fence post out" I continued to loosen each of my lug nuts on all four wheels and retightened them to human strength, so I don't have to haul around a fence post in my back seat. Every single lug nut took brute "fence post" strength to break loose.

 

[Jeffredo]

Just sharing a flat tire experience.

I've done this before, picked up a staple causing a leak in a rear tire. First time to remove a tire on the Maverick so pulled out the "Toy" tire tools from the back seat. "Are you kidding me". But what's included is pretty typical in all new vehicles.

I've changed many tires so I had already added the "4 way lug wrench" tire tool that will fit pretty much any nut. The 4 way tire tool gives a lot of leverage over the "toy tire tool" wrench under the rear seat. But to my surprise there was no way the 4-way tire tool would come close to turning a lug nut....not a one of them. So went to my backup plan and that is a "chain link fence post" I had added to my tire tool box years ago for leverage. Even adding the 4 foot long fence post for leverage it took brute strength to finally break loose the first lug loose.

Just a suggestion, you might want to try this exercise on removing just one lug nut before heading out on a long trip, or trip to the grocery store. The "toy set of tire tools" and 4-way Tire Tool would have left me stranded on the side of a road.

No doubt, the lug nuts from the factory were put on by air wrench and probably applied with way more power than those put on by hand. Since I had my handy "chain link fence post out" I continued to loosen each of my lug nuts on all four wheels and retightened them to human strength, so I don't have to haul around a fence post in my back seat. Every single lug nut took brute "fence post" strength to break loose.

 

[Jeffredo]

I checked my ‘24 XLT wheels. They loosened at 95 ft lbs.

 

[Tbone289]

I checked my ‘24 XLT wheels. They loosened at 95 ft lbs.

That's about where mine were from the factory as well, and one reason why I'm calling 100 lb/ft "good enough".

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