Locking wheel nuts - Ford

Actual Lug Nut Size, under those covers, is 7/8". I've been able to do ours with:

1. Electric Impact Wrench. My cheap Harbor Freight one will do it. 7/8 impact socket from Amazon, looks like the one I posted above.
2. 3/4" drive sized breaker bar with 7/8 socket
3. 7/8 end of a NAPA "four way" truck lug wrench (the cross-shaped ones)
4. Lug Wrench that came with the E450 chassis, WITH a piece of pipe extending it

A 1/2" drive breaker bar and 7/8 might do it too, but torque spec is 140 and when you work that high with 1/2" tools a lot of effort gets lost in twisting and bending the tool itself.

Air up All Six before you go to move this coach any distance!

And keep us updated as Dennis asks!

My SS wheel liners have 4 locking nuts each. I have a large socket, I think
1 & 1/8 inch that fits and is a lot easier to use than the T handle wrench. Dick

Bobbo wrote:
Mine has 2 of the wheel cover lug nuts that must be removed, not one.

Mine also has two nuts. I had to remove mine with a socket and ratchet - the "T" handle would NOT loosen them. Just to make it a little clearer, these 2 nuts must be removed in order to get the wheel covers off. Then you still have to remove the "regular" lug nuts to get the wheel off.

So, first look for the two chrome nuts with the "dimple" and remove those with a socket and ratchet. Then remove the wheel cover. Then use a lug wrench or socket and impact driver to actually remove the wheel.. Good luck and let us know how you came out.

Mine has 2 of the wheel cover lug nuts that must be removed, not one.

Some of the "hub caps" have two nuts that hold them to the lugs, you can find them by looking at the ends, they have a small dimple in the center, where they are welded to the nut, most sockets won't fit correct, really odd size, use the "T" tool if you have it.

navegator

First, condolences. I've lost several dear ones close to me in the last few months, one yesterday.

The common covers are from Dicor (yep, same as the Rubber Roof People). Six of the eight "nuts" are fake. Two are stainless trim caps snapped over common steel nuts. You can see the little crimp marks on those two. Is that what you are seeing? Our C has those, and didn't happen to come with the little T-handled "wrench." When I saw the "wrench" I learned it wouldn't get them adequately tight. Nor would it get them OFF if they had rusted in place. If the nuts are simply Hex, if the "wrench" is simply "Hex" (and by that I mean no oddball pattern so a unique nut pattern takes a unique wrench pattern), then they're stuck. I bought a 1-1/8" Deep Socket, 1/2" drive size, at Lowe's. Then I use my mechanic's ratchet. I like the Lowe's sockets because the portion that holds the nut is a little deeper than other brands. Because it's the front wheel, you don't need a socket extension. Could even use a "box end wrench." Of course you could use an adjustable wrench, pipe wrench, etc. but the chances of mangling the trim cover go way up if you do.

Something that grips like the closed "Box" end of the wrench or socket. About $10 each on Amazon Prime. Lowe's was about $10 for the socket. I don't think Harbor Freight sells those sizes individually.



You "might" be able to jack that wheel up a little and see if the bead touches the rim and you can air it without dealing with the lugs. I give you 99% probability of success with a wrench, 9% with the jack.

Please post a pic of the fasteners if they don't look like I described. Thanks for helping your friends. Wish we could find somebody close who could come and help.

Can you put a socket on it?? I had issues with mine once, and even ended up bending the "T" tool...got a socket and wham.....easy breezy. Hope this helps.

Look carefully at the "Lug nuts" on the wheel cover, only one of them requires the "T" tool, it will have a small "Dimple" on the side of the nut, removing this one nut will allow you to remove the wheel cover.
At least it does on my '07 E450