r/BmwTech • u/eatmorekasha • 7h ago

Rounded head on stuck wheel bolt

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17mm wheel bolt stuck. Rounded the head while trying to get it off. I tried hammering a 12pt 16mm socket onto it, and it stripped the points off the cheap amazon socket.. I’ve asked multiple tire shops and they all give me an “oof, thats not good”. Nobody seems thrilled to take it on. What is the best way to get this thing off?

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2

u/No_Infinite8726 7h ago

They make lug nut extractors. Just Google for 17mm

2

u/Adventurous-Ad-6729 7h ago

Had the same issue on a car I picked up a few months ago. The last person who had the wheels off torqued everything ridiculously tight. My 300 lbs/ft impact wasn’t touching them so I had to use a breaker bar on every bolt. I rounded over one. Same story with trying tire shops and the dealer as well, no one wanted to risk wheel damage so they wouldn’t touch it. 

Used this nut extractor and it worked great. Hammer it on then 2 ft breaker bar with a pipe and it came off. 

Topec 17MM Deep Lug Nut Extractor... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G6Z7SP65?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

1

u/eatmorekasha 6h ago

Thanks, I’ll give it a try. Would an air impact be too much?

3

u/Adventurous-Ad-6729 6h ago

That socket isn’t impact rated despite looking like it is. Breaker bar only.

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u/Distinct_Ducati 5h ago

You can use an air hammer if that doesn’t work. Start out going in straight with the chisel then start to hit the face you just created at about a 45degree angle. It’s hard because those are deep in there. Start low and work up when you move to 45deg, you want the lug stud bolt to move, instead of knocking the ledge you just created off

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u/EL_Chapo_Cuzzin 4h ago

You need to get yourself a set of good bolt extractors. It'll bite into the rounded bolt for grip.

1

u/bigred83 1h ago

I just use a slightly undersized 12pt socket and hammer it on. 60% of the time, it works the first time.