Apply some PB blaster to the threads if possible; "rap" the bolt head
sharply with a hammer to break any rust loose, and perhaps even apply some
heat (not too much as the aluminum wheels will easily melt if you're not
careful, not to mention burning off the clear coat and aluminum paint
coating).
"Frozen" lug bolts are almost always the result of some McDonalds Drop-Out
using an impact wrench until he has almost "welded" the threads in place. I
have yet to see ANY tire shop that just uses an air wrench apply the proper
torque to these bolts. The proper torque for almost all M-Bs is 81
pound-feet, which is a lot less than is commonly used by tire shops and gas
stations. Too much torque, unevenly applied, can also lead to warped
rotors. I even had a local tire shop use a "red" torque limiting extension
once, and 3 miles later at home, had to use a 3-foot long pipe extension to
loosen the lug bolts, and then properly re-torque with a torque-wrench!
A trick I learned in really cold weather (Alaska) was to apply a very LIGHT
amount of anti-seize to wheel lug bolt threads, to keep them from "freezing"
or galling from a lack of lubrication. I've done that to all my vehicles
for the last 35 years after seeing what damage air wrenches can do spinning
dry threads, or worse snapping off the bolts when cold and brittle. I know
that M-B doesn't recommend using anti-seize, but when applied very lightly,
it seems to work just fine.
Werner
----- Original Message -----
From: "wchopkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 6:40 PM
Subject: [MBZ] front lug bolts 300SDL
The tire guy tried to get the front lug bolts off today & they wouldn't
budge. He says he had to cut the wheel off another Benz in the past
because of frozen lug bolts. The rear came off OK, but was tight and
looked a little corroded, not at the threads, but at the shoulder that
presses onto the wheel. Will WD-40 for a couple of days do the trick? Or
is something else better? They've only been on a couple of years since
the new tires were mounted. And this is California (not the coast and not
the mountains) weather.
BTW, thanks to the guys who responded about my cruise control problem a
few months ago.
Regards
