Ford Swollen Lug Nut Removal & Replacement (complete Guide)

In this video, I discuss the issue with the Ford two piece Lugnuts design that eventually becomes a swollen lug nut. I also go over the parts and tools necessary to replace the Lugnuts easily. This issue has been around since 2010 when Ford decided to design a two piece lug nut causing many issues to Ford owners. I highly recommend replacing the Lugnuts before they become an issue. Below are links to parts and tools are used in this Video as well as the proper replacement Lugnuts for your application. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave something in the comment section. Thank you

Flip Socket Set

2011-2014 f150 + expediton 14x2.0 (NON LOCKING 21MM SOCKET)

2011-2014 f150 + expediton 14x2.0 (LOCKING SET-SPECIAL SOCKET)

2015+ f150 + expedition 14x1.5 (NON LOCKING SET 21 MM SOCKET)

2015+ f150 + expedition (black) 14x1.5 (LOCKING SET-SPECIAL SOCKET)

2015+ f150 + expedition (chrome) 14x1.5 (LOCKING SET-SPECIAL SOCKET)

f-250, f-350 2011+

2011+ escape, Fiesta,focus, fusion. (12mmx1.5)

2015+ fusion, transit,explorer, edge, mustang (14mmx1.5)

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[kennethroyster]

If I said thank you a million times for the video, it would not be enough. It saved me for paying the mechanic who was going to charge me to do a break job and remove the bolts. You are a life and cash saver.

[bvanhaun]

Problem with Toyotas too. Had to break the lugnuts off a 2010 camry. Local mechanic wanted $250 to take them off. Fuck that. Thank you so much Aaron!

[toodlesmith]

Thank you Aaron, had a horrible day today and it ended with me trying to replace my brake pads and having this issue, it was almost too much. Your video helped me see the solution and allowed me to finish what I started, now I can have my car again.

[Sw]

Thank you - I know this is an old post, but it's still helping people out. I have a 2017 F350, and on my most recent visit to a Ford dealership (using my maintenance plan from 7 years ago), I saw a comment on the maintenance paperwork stating that the mechanic was unable to complete the tire rotation. This is how I learned about the swollen lug nut issue. I plan on buying a new set of lug nuts and then having them installed by Discount Tire, who normally does my tire rotations for me. If they won't, or can't pull them off, I now know what to do. Thanks again!

[gnohn]

Wal mart messed up the lug nuts on my Fusion, and they could not get them off. I will give them credit though. They told me to take it to a specialty tire shop to get the old ones off and they paid for all new lug nuts. Good video, thank you.

[jdc]

I couldn't have dreamed up this ridiculous situation I'm Thanks man

[khoward]

This a great video. I was going to take my truck in to the shop as I had three that were just spinning. Ford wouldn't rotate my tire because of the spinning nuts. I bought replacement all steal nuts but I couldn't get three off. With your video, it took 3 minutes to remove those three. Thanks again for the video.

[cjsantee]

Aaron, thanks for the video. I have a 2018 Edge. I just bought it last December. Had to have a tire patched and was told the nuts were swollen. I though it was a b.s. from the shop. Later looking at the carfax report saw the tires were either rotated or balanced every 2000 miles!!! It only has 25, 000 miles on the vehicle!! Was extremely maintained, lucky me. I just ordered new set of Mcgard lugs. Thanks again for making sense of something I never heard of 👍

[soundthatpleasesme]

To make a long story short, you saved my wallet and my sanity. Thank you so much!

[joechilds]

Thanks for the great video!!! I ordered the tools similar to those you recommended, but for 2 of the 5 nuts on one wheel I ran into an unexpected issue... the outer nut "cover" actually stripped. So even if I could turn it, the actual solid nut below didn't turn anymore. So I used your "time-consuming" alternate process, and was able to get to the solid nut. This saved me a trip to the Ford dealer again!

[pasad]

Your video was very helpful in showing the problem. After 7 tire rotations (I get them done every 10K miles) and numerous flat repairs, the nuts on my Ford were no longer serviceable. It was not corrosion, just the outer sleeves getting worn out by impact guns so that the 19mm socket would no longer fit. The tire store refused to do the latest rotation unless I paid an extra $75 plus materials to have them replace all the nuts. I found I was able to do this at home with normal hand tools. I bought a set of 1-piece nuts online. All but one of the old nuts came off by simply hammering a 3/4" socket about 1/4" onto the nut. That allowed me to unscrew them. Once you break the nut loose, leave it screwed on while you wiggle off the socket. If you hammer it too far on, it takes forever to get the socket back off. If you don't hammer enough you end up just damaging the sleeve even more. I found that about a 1/4" was the right amount. If you feel the socket starting to slip, stop and give it a couple more hammer blows, then try again. The first one I experimented with was badly damaged enough that I needed your chisel method to remove the sleeve, but all the others came off as described above. After that first one, all the rest were replaced in less than half an hour with no special tools.

[jonathanborchelt]

Thank you so very much. Can't express how grateful I am.

[lookanabeauti]

Try doing this stuck on the side of the road..shame on Ford!!!

[beardzebub]

I dont have Ford but my son's friend has a 2016 Focus and they are on the side of the road with a flat. I'm using this video as tech support to try and walk them through the process.

[JeffMarotta-wrfi]

Great video, huge help! I used a 22mm impact socket to remove my factory lug nuts and a 13/16 socket to install the new Gorilla lug nuts. Needed a good, small chisel to knock out the old lugs from the 22mm socket.

[JasonW.]

The best fix for this is to replace all lugnuts with solid closed end lug nuts. It isn't expensive if you buy them online before you need them.
My 2015 F-150 lug nuts were swelling at 15k miles after one year of use.
Same for Ram pickups.

[gti]

Glad to see there’s aftermarket 1-piece options readily available. The nuts on my 18 F150 are starting to get a little rounded off, I’ll probably go with the Dorman ones when it comes time to replace. Preferably in black, if that’s an option.

[rafaelcorrea]

I know this was 3 years ago but this still helps so much I have a 2016 fusion and today trying to take the tire off the car after side wall of tire popped I thought the out side of the lugnut was stripped but it’s just a aluminum cover ?Thats so frustrating spent 2-4 hours taking of that one tire thank you

[sarahFYI]

Thank you for adding links for different models in the description! Your video was super helpful.

[joepolacek]

Dont punch a hole in the center, go down one side and work it open. The key is breaking the base of the cover and prying it apart. The first 2 lugnuts took me 20 minutes using the center punch method. With the side method about 2 minutes a lugnut. You wont even need pliers