Bolts are used to secure the vehicle's wheel, but they need to be loosened and sometimes removed when changing tires, checking brakes, or performing other types of repairs on the vehicle. It is important that every motorist knows how to loosen and tighten the bolts; you never know when you will have to change a flat tire! Thankfully it's not difficult and there are a number of "tricks" that will help you with even the most stubborn bolts.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Loosen the Bolts
Step 1. Park the car on a level surface and apply the handbrake
Step 2. Remove the hubcap, if present, and locate the bolts
Depending on your car model, it may be necessary to remove the hubcap before you have access to the bolts to loosen them. This element is typically fixed with metal clips that snap directly onto the bolt heads themselves. In other cases there are small plastic bolts.
- If your car's hubcap is secured with clips, simply pry the thick edge with the flat part of the tire removal wrench or a flat screwdriver.
- If, on the other hand, it is fixed with bolts, you can only remove it after having completely unscrewed the latter. If you try to detach the hubcap without removing the mounting bolts first, you could break them.
- The plastic bolts of the hubcap must be loosened and unscrewed with a cross wrench. When you need to tighten them at the end of the job, don't over tighten them to prevent them from breaking.
Step 3. Check the bolts
The wheels of cars, vans and other vehicles are connected to the axle by means of bolts, the number of which varies from four to six. These ensure that the wheel is centered and securely fixed. On some vehicles you may find nuts instead of bolts, but the process should be the same.
- Some cars have security bolts to prevent the wheels from being stolen. Generally, one bolt for each wheel is sufficient and you can easily recognize it because it is different from the others. To loosen it you need a special key that unlocks the clamping mechanism.
- In some cases it is possible to hammer in a 22, 23 mm 12-sided bush over the head of the safety bolt and unscrew it in this way without using the appropriate wrench. The tricky part of this is that later on you will also need a vise to put the compass into to pry the safety bolt out with an awl.
Step 4. Use a cross wrench to remove the bolts
This tool is usually included in the tool kit along with the spare wheel and jack. The wrench should fit snugly over the head of the wheel-mounted bolts and you shouldn't need anything else to proceed.
- In some cases the key is not a Phillips, but it is a normal straight socket wrench. The cross pattern allows you to apply more force because you can grab the ends of both arms and rotate them with both hands.
- If the bolts are stuck due to rust, have been tightened too hard or for other reasons, then read the next section, where you will find numerous tips to remedy this situation.
Step 5. Begin by loosening the bolts with the machine still resting on the ground
Do not lift it on the jack until you have unscrewed the bolts a little. Use the friction of the tread on the ground to your advantage, so you can do your job. The tire will not turn while it is resting on the ground, this means that you will be able to remove the bolts more easily.
Step 6. Insert the Phillips wrench onto the bolt head and turn it counterclockwise
Turn it only after it is securely locked, apply firm and constant force until you feel the bolt begin to give way and unscrew. It is not necessary to remove it completely, just use the cross wrench to loosen the tightening a little, so you can continue with your fingers.
Step 7. Proceed with all other bolts
It doesn't matter which one you unscrew first. Choose a bolt and then move on to the next one in a "star" pattern, skipping the bolt adjacent to the one you just loosened. This diagram ensures that the wheel is well centered on the hub and is particularly important in the assembly phase. However, it is a good habit to keep even in the gum removal phase.
When all the bolts are partially unscrewed, it is time to jack up the car and completely remove the nut screws by turning them by hand. You can then remove the tire and complete the repair you designed. If you need to perform maintenance that goes far beyond immediately replacing the wheel with a spare or a new one, you can put on a safety stand until you have finished the work
Method 2 of 2: Loosen the Locked Bolts
Step 1. Check that you have applied the parking brake
If the bolts are stuck, you will need more force to unscrew them. First, therefore, you must make sure that the car cannot move. Make sure it's parked on level ground and the parking brake is activated before you start "fighting" with these stubborn bolts.
Step 2. Get a tool for more leverage
The Phillips wrenches that come with the tool kit typically have quite short arms and don't offer much leverage. The first and safest thing to do is to use the physical laws of levers to your advantage. If the handle of the wrench you are using is longer then it will be easier to unscrew the bolts.
- You can increase the effectiveness of the lever by using a "telescopic socket wrench". It is a tool with a longer and sturdier handle than the one that comes standard with the machine.
- If that's not enough, get a piece of pipe that you can thread the handle of the wrench into so that you can apply the force further away from the bolt. Also, this method allows you to use both hands. When choosing the tube, look for one whose internal diameter is similar to that of the key handle.
Step 3. Use one foot
If you don't have anything else available and you don't have enough strength in your arms, then you can use your stronger leg muscles to move the bolt. If you are forced to resort to this method, be careful.
- Securely attach the socket wrench to the bolt head and keep the handle parallel to the ground. With great caution, use one foot to press on the handle, turning the tool counterclockwise. Use the strength of your leg to push hard. Hold on to the car, gently bouncing off the key if necessary. When the bolt has been loosened, stop and use the wrench in the usual way.
- Be extremely cautious in these operations. The key handle is not a trampoline. Don't hit it hard and don't jump on it. Always keep foot contact on the tool and let your body weight do the work.
Step 4. Use a sledgehammer or sledgehammer
If you don't have a tube available to increase the length of the handle, then a rough technique is worth resorting to. Take a mallet or a rubber mallet and hit the handle of the cross key; this can be an effective method of loosening particularly stuck bolts when you are in an emergency situation. If you find yourself in the hard shoulder on the freeway, it may be your only solution. If you don't have a hammer, use a rock or other similar heavy object.
Be very careful and, if you have decided to use the hammer, do not strike the socket wrench in an uncoordinated manner. Use short, controlled strokes, and pause from time to time to check that the bolt has moved enough to proceed with complete removal using another technique
Step 5. If the bolts have rusted on the hub, you can use unlocking oil
This trick represents the last resort. If the problem goes beyond tightening bolts, then you can spray a small amount of low viscosity oil, such as Svitol or WD40, directly onto the thread where it disappears inside the hub. Use the small straw that comes with the oil can to properly target the spray and avoid greasing the brake drum or disc. Let the product work for ten minutes, during which time it will penetrate the thread and reduce the friction a little.
- If the bolt is resisting, try to lightly spray the threaded portion of the hub again, exactly where it engages with the bolt. Wait another ten minutes and check the results. At this point, the action of a few firm hammer blows on the Phillips wrench should be effective.
- Make sure the brake disc or drum is not smeared with oil before driving. The presence of this product on the braking surfaces compromises the safety of the vehicle, causing an increase in the braking distance, malfunctioning of the brakes and therefore accidents. Clean the metal surfaces of the brake pads with a cloth and a suitable solvent, such as acetone. If you have completely soiled your brakes and pads with release oil, it is best to replace them or seek advice from a mechanic.
- If some of the oil has contaminated the braking surfaces, test driving at low speed on an empty road to assess stopping power and clearance. Repeat the test gradually increasing the speed until you are sure you can drive safely. Remember to warn other users of the vehicle that the vehicle may not stop promptly as in the past and let them try the new braking capacity of the car.
Step 6. Use a special adapter to remove the safety bolts
If you have lost the key to the anti-theft bolts, then you can try to unscrew them using a special compass which is designed for this purpose. This tool has a reverse thread that grips the bolt and is able to remove it without the need to use the special wrench. It is also perfect for unscrewing those bolts that have a rounded head and on which normal wrenches cannot have adherence. The adapter is available online and in most auto parts stores.
To use, insert it and attach it to the end of the socket wrench. Then use the wrench to unscrew the bolt counterclockwise, as you normally would. You shouldn't encounter any difficulties
Step 7. When reassembling the bolts, use a torque wrench
If you have had a hard time loosening the bolts because they were over-tightened during the previous tire change, then you should be careful and tighten them to a specific torque level using a torque wrench. Consult your vehicle's operation and maintenance manual to find the suggested torque value for the wheel bolts and then set the wrench accordingly. Finally insert it on the head of the bolts using the clamp ring. Remember to screw in the bolts respecting the cross pattern. Repeat the process twice to make sure each bolt is screwed in correctly.
