Have you ever had a flat tyre on your Land Rover and not been able to remove the wheel nuts? If the answer is yes, then you’re not alone. In this article, we uncover the common problem with the Land Rover wheel nuts and how to prevent this issue from happening again in the future.
Uncovering the wheel nut issue
For some reason Land Rover chose to use wheel nuts with an outer stainless-steel cap. Unfortunately overtime water builds up behind the caps causing corrosion and the wheel nuts then become swollen. This means when you go to remove the wheel you can’t get a socket or wheel wrench over the wheel nut.
Tips to replace the wheel nuts
Getting the swollen wheel nuts off your Land Rover can be tricky, especially if the wheel nuts are very swollen. Here are our top tips to removing your wheel nuts:
- Tip 1 – Use the next socket size up.
- Tip 2 – If you still can’t get the socket over the wheel nut, lightly tap the socket or wrench on to the wheel nut with a hammer to force it on to the wheel nut.
- Tip 3 – For over torqued wheel nuts / wheel nuts that have been on a long time / have corrosion between the wheel nut and wheel stud use a large breaker bar to help easily remove the wheel nuts.
Remember to always tighten the wheel nuts to the correct torque setting outlined in your user manual.
Whilst you’ve got the wheel off
You can either choose to remove and replace the wheel nuts one by one or you can jack the car up and remove the wheel. Whilst you’ve got the wheel off your Land Rover it is a good idea to check other components for any signs of wear including:
- The brake components including the brake discs, brake pads and brake flexi hoses for corrosion, wear and any signs of perishing.
- The steering track-rod ends at the front of your Land Rover for any play or movement.
- The ball-joints and suspension component for movement as any movement is a good indication that the parts are worn and require replacing.
- The wheel bearing by holding the wheel at 12 and 6 o’clock and moving the wheel to feel any movement.
If you are unsure, we always recommend taking your Land Rover to a competent person who can inspect it and advise which parts require replacing.
How to prevent future problems
It is a good idea to check your Land Rover wheel nuts regularly. We recommend adding this to your weekly/monthly vehicle check list. If you do require replacement wheel nuts, we hold stock for all Land Rover models.
James at the JGS4x4 team are always on hand to discuss your Land Rover parts requirements. Comment on this article: A common problem with Land Rover wheel nuts
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