20" wheel nuts are siezed

[DaveO]

I have only recently got around to taking a proper look at my 2004 XKR acquisition made in November. I just checked the boot for a wheel change tool kit and was pleased to see the original Jaguar kit was present and looked unused. I had the car jacked up at the front and wanted to remove the front wheels but alas the wrench supplied by Jaguar bent in precisely 15 seconds, not a good start but I was in my warm comfy garage so no stress. I reverted to my snap on tool box for a 22mm socket and a large torque wrench but no dice baby- the wheel nuts were solid!

I booked the vehicle into ATS thinking I might need a monkey with a large airgun to release the darned nuts but ATS informed they are no longer allowed to use air wrenches but they said they had a mighty long lever and would soon release the nuts. My idea was for them to remove the nuts one by one on all 4 wheels, apply some vaselin to the stud threads and retorque to 65 lbsft. When I arrived they took one look at the car (Very posh babe!) and refused to make any attempt. They said it was too risky as they might be cross threaded (a likely story) and if they broke some studs it would cost them dearly.

I telephoned my local independent Jaguar specialist, Greg of G&D Motors Falmouth who has already done a few jobs on the car, excellent fellow, and he will sort it at the next round of work, subframe mounts and front ball joints.

In the meantime I am feeling like some kind of dick not being able to change a wheel for goodness sakes. I mean what kind of idiot would venture out in his sparkling XKR and not be capable of handling a puncture!

Has anyone had this problem? Should I try a hot air blower (as used for applying vinyl graphics) with the intention of expanding the nuts hopefully quicker than the alloy wheel centres. I don't much like the idea of pneumatic guns, have never resorted to that myself, but it might be the only way???

[J44EAG]

I don`t think there can be much that any of us can say other than corrosion is a wicked thing to have to get apart and that you will probably break some studs or experience other damage in the process of getting the wheels off. You might also reasonably expect ali rims to have seized to wheel hubs. Lack of copper grease on the inter-face is the usual issue and cause of sticking rims. The wheels obviously have not been off the car for a fair old while. I suspect who ever has the joy of trying to get nuts released and rims removed is likely to ask you to sign a disclaimer notice. It is common in such cases that considerable force times distance is going to have to be applied and that some damage may occur.

It might be worth spraying with penetration oil in the hope that it might soften things up a bit. Use of a hair dryer or similar hot air appliance is unlikely in my opinion to have much if any effect.

Hammer guns even on low torque settings have a horrible habit of wrecking the hex corners on wheel nuts. I think you might have to accept nut right off as part of the process of getting the wheels off. It is worth noting that the chome part of the nut you see is possibly/probably only a chromed thin wall trim piece. On an S-type and also X350, I`ve had to resort to hammering a 1/4" chisel throth the trim cover to expose the nut propper. On S and X350, the nut socket was 19mm but with the crome trim cover hacked off, the underlying nut was 18mm. So even with a slipping 19mm socket, the removal day could be saved by hacking down to the smaller nut and trying again with an 18mm socket. Obviously having done that, new nuts were needed because the trims were gonners. I know the XK has rather larger nuts which is born out by your use of the 22mm socket.

Best advice is NOT to copper grease studs because it destroys correct torque values. Any grease should only be used on the inter-face between the nut washers and the wheel rim, the rim and the hub bore or the rim and the hub face.

At the end of the day, unless someone else here comes up with a better suggestion, you are probably faced with brute force times the square root of ignorance to get this issue sorted.

Kind regards,

Mike Kennedy.

[DaveO]

Thank you very much Mike, quite a learning curve there! On reflection I have decided not to attempt anything other than trying to soak in some PlusGas. Failing that I will see how "Greg" makes out with the problem.

[DaveO]

I spent the entire day today un-seizing my wheel nuts and pleased to be able to report success. For the umpteenth time in my life I never cease to be amazed at the validity of "Plus Gas". It did the trick with the help (I think) of a hot air blower.

Spraying the PlusGas between the aly spokes to the back of the wheel to reach the top of the wheel hub was particularly effective as was evident once I was able to remove a wheel. I had to use a lump hammer to my wrench on the first wheel nut on each hub and then more spray and allow to soak through. It was a slow task but ultimately rewarding.

Btw if anyone wants a more sturdy 1\2" drive telescopic wrench than the pathetic Jaguar standard issue I was able to buy one from Mill Autos to carry in the breakdown boot kit. Sockets made in china are definitely not up to the task, you need Snap-on or Britool type quality. The only breakage I suffered was 3 of the plastic lugs that secure the wheel centre badges and I have glued them back until I can find a set of new ones. Not sure if they are still available.

Phew!!!

[J44EAG]

Well done.

The standard wrenches supplied in most car tool kits are usually pretty crass. In my experience, the wrench is loose on the nuts,is appallingly made, is prone to slipping off when torque is applied and that in itself wrecks the wheel nuts. I won`t use the Jaguar scissor jacks. They are an accident waiting to happen. Despite its size, I carry a one and a half ton aluminum hydraulic trolley jack permanently in the boot. It is a small price to pay for having the right kit to hand when your day goes pear shaped due to tyre issues.

Like you, I also keep a telescopic wrench and a good quality suitably sized socket permanently fitted together in the spare wheel compartment for emergency wheel changing. Nothing is more maddening or indeed worrying than having to search in the car for missing tools. You want them immediately to hand to get the job done in as short a time as possible. No one likes being stuck on a motorway shoulder with huge lorries screaming past just inches away from ones delicate human frame. Be like a boy scout... be prepared!

Mike K

[DaveO]

Yeah Mike I think you and I are cast from the same mould and I am grateful to you for responding to my call.

Tomorrow (Today) I join the local JEC XK group on a joy ride across Dartmoor. It will be good to meet fellow nut cases and compare notes etc

DavidO