So some of you may have come up against the problem of swollen nuts, no not those ones, wheel nuts. I thought I would share a solution I used which worked surprisingly well.

So having already bought some nice new ones before embarking on my recent front suspension work, I wanted to replace some of the swollen nuts that I had discovered when changing the brakes earlier this year. Most of them came of quite well but I found one on the front that just would not allow me to get the 22mm socket on cleanly. I tried a hammer, that only made things marginally worse, tried to file down the flat parts to help get a socket on, that was difficult. I didn't want to risk cutting off the outer shell as the nut beneath it seemed heavily corroded and decided that I'd try to avoid ending up in a worse place.

So, I came up with a cunning plan. I cut the shell off one of the nuts that I had already removed (and obviously wouldn't need again) using a Dremmel, and then fitted it OVER the shell of the nut I was battling with and using a 24mm socket which fitted perfectly over the outer shell, removed the troublesome one with very little resistance.

Might not work for everyone but went quite smoothly for me.

Click image to enlarge

Cream ice cubes and loose underwear

Excellent tip!

I know it's been done to death, but what solution did you go with for your replacements?

I suspect I will be doing this at the next service / within a month or so and I'm not sure giving the dealer a King's ransom is the right long-term solution... 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDv8

Advanced Factors in the end - hopefully will prove good enough quality to out last the car (or me)!!

These to be exact:

https://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/kit432-f...9002-p.asp

Jon

Could you not have fitted a bigger socket over your swollen nuts?

I just got a set from John Craddock via their eBay store. £23.85 for 20 delivered. I read that if you spray some WD40 or similar into the space between the nut and the outer cover it can help protect the original nut from corroding and swelling. Of course ultimately it is going to happen nd I suspect mechanis and tyre fitters using an ugga dugga gun is not going help them. You can buy one piece nuts in stainless steel but they are £20 each which is too rich for my blood.

I had a back up plan;

Laser Tools 8226 Double Ended... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09Q6GM7CY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Turns out the solution I devised work fine so never needed to go that route. The 23mm socket was just too big I felt and couldn’t chance making the problem worse.


J

A few places now selling them....

22.5 mm socket....

https://www.lasertools.co.uk/Product/8226/...2-x-22.5mm Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Yes indeed, on this occasion Amazon was cheaper. Although using my recycled method it’s a free fix!!

What’s not to like and my nuts are now perfectly normal again!!

J

If your nuts are perfectly normal then what more do you want....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

I treated mine to some stainless steel ones from a member off the forum. Expensive but nice.

I just have a 23mm socket for the few that are too tight for the 22mm. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

I used 7/8 imperial socket on mine just loose enough without being too loose, sockets are not really a precise tool, so a 22mm from a cheap set might well fit.

I keep old worn sockets in a tub just in case. Fuji White / Jet 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster

All good solutions to the problem. On the day I had run out of options, didn’t have a 23mm socket, nothing else big enough other than a 24mm I’d bought when fitting the tow bar.

Are the metal shells meant to be tight as after fitting a couple of my new ones are already loose on the nut beneath. I’m assuming they should remain tight fitting?

J

I spray my nuts weekly with WD40, keeps the swelling at bay. 2011MY 4.4TDV8 Autobiography Baltic Blue
TVR Griffith
Alfa Romeo Mito QV