View Full Version : RS7 Lug Bolt Removal
GasMan
11-03-2019, 09:42 AM
I'm trying to remove my Vertini wheels to put on my Audi 20" winter setup. I can't get the bolts off to save my life. I have replacement bolts on the car from Kickstart Motorsports which the receipt claims are 14x1.5 which I believe are the stock size. Guessing 14 doesn't refer to the head? The only socket I can get on the head of the bolt is an 18mm and even that's a little loose.
The wrench in the trunk does me no good as the bolt holes on the Vertini wheels are narrower than stock.
Any ideas? I'm thinking the grease monkey who mounted my wheels probably just put them on with the impact set on overkill, so they're probably not coming off without an impact.
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AgentHubcap
11-03-2019, 09:46 AM
I used a 17mm deep socket and had no issues. They're probably corroded a bit. Do you have a breaker bar?
zabds319
11-03-2019, 09:48 AM
14x1.5 refers to bolt diameter and pitch. I think the heads are 17mm.
GasMan
11-03-2019, 10:01 AM
Okay, definitely a 17. No deep well, but I can't even get the bolt to budge with this setup lol.
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OlyS6
11-03-2019, 10:33 AM
Okay, definitely a 17. No deep well, but I can't even get the bolt to budge with this setup lol.
148764
You may try spraying some W-D40 on them and letting them sit, and then getting an impact wrench to take them off. If you dont have one, you can rent most tools ‘for free’ (with a refundable deposit) from Autozone or O’Reilly’s or similar. You may want to inspect everything closely for signs of stripping. The bolts should be put back on carefully by hand with a torque wrench to a spec of 90 ft-lbs each.
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jcoleman_11
11-03-2019, 10:36 AM
You still have the bolt caps on. You need to remove the plastic cap covering the bolt off first. There’s a removal tool in your spare tire kit.
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Chiromikey
11-03-2019, 12:00 PM
You still have the bolt caps on. You need to remove the plastic cap covering the bolt off first. There’s a removal tool in your spare tire kit.
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^^^this!
IowaRS7
11-03-2019, 12:03 PM
If you don’t have a breaker bar, I use a pipe on the end of my ratchet that extends the handle out to give me leverage when needed. I wouldn’t pull hard and linear, I would pull hard and back off, pull hard and back off, so you only pull enough to break them loose. Don’t use a torque wrench to remove the bolts, only use it to tighten them. Just noting that as some torque wrench’s are long and one might be tempted to use it as a breaker bar.
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AFter you get those caps off and your setup does not work, then it was torqued way too much.
AFter you get those caps off and your setup does not work, then it was torqued way too much.
^^^this!
I let a tire place work on my car one time and one time only.
They put the bolts on with an impact and I had to use similar to you a two foot breaker bar sleeved with a 4 foot section of pipe and it was still damn hard to get them off.
When I called them on it they said sorry, he used the wrong gun to put them on....sheesh. Even telling them how it would be impossible to remove these bolts on the side of the road did not seem to garner any real concern from them.
My estimate was they were at 300+ lb-ft. amazed the lug bolts didn't snap.
It sucks that so few places uses a real torque wrench.
https://www.motorweek.org/features/goss_garage/impact_guns
I use a little electric impact to get them started but since it is maxed out at 145ft-lbs there is no real worry and then I finish off with a real torque wrench.
https://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/impact-drivers-and-wrenches/18v-xrp-lithion-12-13mm-impact-wrench-kit/dc822kl
Interesting side note:
Most Audi's spec 120NM (89 lb-ft) lug nut torque, but the SUV's are 140Nm (103 lb-ft.)
The little electric dewalt won't be able to take off the 140NM bolts after they have been on for a while.
Vinng86
11-03-2019, 02:32 PM
OP just go out and buy a proper breaker bar and 17mm x 1/2" drive deep socket. Breaker bar's aren't expensive at all and can be had for cheap, they're just a bar of metal after all.
It's good you didn't use the lug wrench in the trunk, it seems they're only good for up to 90 ft/lbs and they can actually break if they're torque'd too hard:
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Even my local audi dealership torqued them too hard [headbang]
OP just go out and buy a proper breaker bar and 17mm x 1/2" drive deep socket. Breaker bar's aren't expensive at all and can be had for cheap, they're just a bar of metal after all.
It's good you didn't use the lug wrench in the trunk, it seems they're only good for up to 90 ft/lbs and they can actually break if they're torque'd too hard:
148817
Even my local audi dealership torqued them too hard [headbang]
Made at the same factory as the widowmaker jack. [o_o]
OP just go out and buy a proper breaker bar and 17mm x 1/2" drive deep socket. Breaker bar's aren't expensive at all and can be had for cheap, they're just a bar of metal after all.
It's good you didn't use the lug wrench in the trunk, it seems they're only good for up to 90 ft/lbs and they can actually break if they're torque'd too hard:
148817
Even my local audi dealership torqued them too hard [headbang]
Wow, that lug wrench sure gives you confidence in their parts/tools. And the widowmaker is one dumb design. Simple scissor jack is far superior design.
Vinng86
11-03-2019, 06:45 PM
Yeah, they're aluminum (presumably for weight reasons) and it broke after taking off just 2.5 bolts. Luckily it was in my driveway. If I had to do a roadside tire change, I would have been forced to call for a tow. I keep my breaker bar in the trunk now just in case.
jcoleman_11
11-03-2019, 06:58 PM
Yeah, they're aluminum (presumably for weight reasons) and it broke after taking off just 2.5 bolts. Luckily it was in my driveway. If I had to a roadside tire change I would have been forced to call for a tow. I keep my breaker bar in the trunk now just in case.
Same! Always a breaker bar with a low profile Teflon sleeved 17mm socket in the trunk.
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GasMan
11-03-2019, 07:04 PM
UPDATE:
Winter wheels on! I sprayed the bolts with some WD40 and let it soak for about an hour while I cleaned up the winter wheels. I thought I was destroying my wrench with the setup I had. Kept making a terrible banging sound when the wrench would let loose. Turns out that noise was the bolts finally breaking free.
Those bolts had to be severely over torque spec. I've changed my own wheels for years and have never heard anything that bad, ever. Almost feel like calling the shop that put them on to give them a little "customer feedback."
I had no idea the caps come off unti I just read the updated posts. I still managed to get the wheels on with the caps on and properly torque them to 90 ft-lb. I inspected each bolt carefully, no damage appeared to have been done. I did end up breaking a non craftsman extension at the socket end when loosening the bolts!
Usually if caps are left on during remove/replace, they get all damaged up. Cheap to replace, so no big. It might have been easier with them off though.
GasMan
11-03-2019, 07:51 PM
Usually if caps are left on during remove/replace, they get all damaged up. Cheap to replace, so no big. It might have been easier with them off though.
There was some minor surface scratches, but nothing terrible. I just figured it was normal wear and tear on them.
A U D I
11-03-2019, 07:54 PM
Always a breaker bar with a low profile Teflon sleeved 17mm socket in the trunk.
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This is what I do also ! A lot safer if you ever need it on the go.
Can’t stand tire places that don’t do torque specs to wheels correct. This is what they are doing all day.
GasMan
11-03-2019, 07:58 PM
This is what I do also ! A lot safer if you ever need it on the go.
Can’t stand tire places that don’t do torque specs to wheels correct. This is what they are doing all day.
After going through this, I am with you guys. Need something more useful in the trunk. A sleeved socket will be nice for when the Vertinis go back on.
OlyS6
11-04-2019, 10:10 AM
^^^this!
I let a tire place work on my car one time and one time only.
They put the bolts on with an impact and I had to use similar to you a two foot breaker bar sleeved with a 4 foot section of pipe and it was still damn hard to get them off.
When I called them on it they said sorry, he used the wrong gun to put them on....sheesh. Even telling them how it would be impossible to remove these bolts on the side of the road did not seem to garner any real concern from them.
My estimate was they were at 300+ lb-ft. amazed the lug bolts didn't snap.
It sucks that so few places uses a real torque wrench.
https://www.motorweek.org/features/goss_garage/impact_guns
I use a little electric impact to get them started but since it is maxed out at 145ft-lbs there is no real worry and then I finish off with a real torque wrench.
https://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/impact-drivers-and-wrenches/18v-xrp-lithion-12-13mm-impact-wrench-kit/dc822kl
Interesting side note:
Most Audi's spec 120NM (89 lb-ft) lug nut torque, but the SUV's are 140Nm (103 lb-ft.)
The little electric dewalt won't be able to take off the 140NM bolts after they have been on for a while.
Same here. I had a local tire place (years ago when I first bought the car) put new wheels on and they WAY overtorqued the bolts, to the point where the bolts became somewhat stripped (as were the receivers, which all needed to be replaced as a result).
Lesson learned- I now manually do everything to 90 ft-lbs, or when getting new tires watch the techs do it manually with a torque wrench.
Valpo A7
11-05-2019, 12:31 PM
I deal with my local discount tire and they always use the torque sticks along with the impact wrench. I have never had a problem from them on over-torquing any of my cars.
Some discounts I have been to use torque sticks and some use torque wrenches. After I get home I retorque. Some lugs are tighter then others and some were looser. No matter what, I check and retorque.
A U D I
11-07-2019, 07:03 AM
Some discounts I have been to use torque sticks and some use torque wrenches. After I get home I retorque. Some lugs are tighter then others and some were looser. No matter what, I check and retorque.
Same here
I usually pull out the torque bar and a box of tissues for when I find they have put them to 140ftlbs.
Four rings fan
11-07-2019, 08:56 AM
My tire guy has a Snap-on torque wrench and always asks me what I want the bolts or nuts torqued to. Because he knows I'm anal about stuff like that. That's why I go to him.
I think If I went elsewhere and found that my bolts were way over torqued I'd buy a fresh set of lug bolts. I wouldn't want to use lug bolts where the threads were severely over stretched.