Ive never messed with my Fiesta much - just get the oil changed, put gas in it, enjoy 40+ mpg.
Well, after almost 170k miles, brakes were needed. Not a hard job, really, but there was a moment today when I thought, "Ok, Im calling a mechanic on Monday..."
Why? Because of lugnuts.
I told my friend, @gravehunterzero about my defeat due to not being able to get lugnuts off. They were stripping, sizes werent right (online it says 19mm, but that was NOT fitting, 20mm fit but the lugnuts were getting STUCK in the socket. Stuck so bad that Ive spend half an hour and one is still in there...Though now I have a good idea how to get it out.
Anyway, about that buddy of mine, he sent a video about two ways to fix the lugnuts - one was using a 'flip socket,' which is half mm sizes, so instead of 19, it's 19.5 etc
Eh, I want this done now, no time ot order off Amazon.
The other was to destroy the outer aluminum cover on the steel lugnuts.
Apparently, around 2010, Ford changed to a 2 piece lugnut - steel with an aluminum cover. And that cover can 'swell' and make it VERY hard to get off.
Basically, my lugnuts looked like spline lugnuts due to deforming and such.
So I thought I'd give it a try.
Tools needed:
-Hammer
-Punch or chisel (I used a punch because I dont have a small chisel)
-flathead screwdriver(s)
-pair of pliers
Some of these took, literally, less than a minute and it was done. Some were more difficult, though and took two or three minutes. But brakes are done and Ive replaced the fronts (I'll do the rears later, I was SOAKING wet from sweat) with spline drive lugnuts from White Knight from AutoZone.
I couldve just removed the covers and reused the stock units, but, again, one is still stuck in a socket.
Basic instructions:
-use punch to puncture the outer layer
-use flathead to start 'cutting' the outer layer and prying it away from steel center
-Eventually you'll hear the 'pop' of the piece separating, use pliers to pull it out
-done
Pics:
Well, after almost 170k miles, brakes were needed. Not a hard job, really, but there was a moment today when I thought, "Ok, Im calling a mechanic on Monday..."
Why? Because of lugnuts.
I told my friend, @gravehunterzero about my defeat due to not being able to get lugnuts off. They were stripping, sizes werent right (online it says 19mm, but that was NOT fitting, 20mm fit but the lugnuts were getting STUCK in the socket. Stuck so bad that Ive spend half an hour and one is still in there...Though now I have a good idea how to get it out.
Anyway, about that buddy of mine, he sent a video about two ways to fix the lugnuts - one was using a 'flip socket,' which is half mm sizes, so instead of 19, it's 19.5 etc
Eh, I want this done now, no time ot order off Amazon.
The other was to destroy the outer aluminum cover on the steel lugnuts.
Apparently, around 2010, Ford changed to a 2 piece lugnut - steel with an aluminum cover. And that cover can 'swell' and make it VERY hard to get off.
Basically, my lugnuts looked like spline lugnuts due to deforming and such.
So I thought I'd give it a try.
Tools needed:
-Hammer
-Punch or chisel (I used a punch because I dont have a small chisel)
-flathead screwdriver(s)
-pair of pliers
Some of these took, literally, less than a minute and it was done. Some were more difficult, though and took two or three minutes. But brakes are done and Ive replaced the fronts (I'll do the rears later, I was SOAKING wet from sweat) with spline drive lugnuts from White Knight from AutoZone.
I couldve just removed the covers and reused the stock units, but, again, one is still stuck in a socket.
Basic instructions:
-use punch to puncture the outer layer
-use flathead to start 'cutting' the outer layer and prying it away from steel center
-Eventually you'll hear the 'pop' of the piece separating, use pliers to pull it out
-done
Pics: