>Hey Volks.
>In prepping for my road trip in my 86 syncro, I wanted to make sure I
could
>get the lug nuts turning before I got a flat. Do other people have
serious
>problems getting them to turn?

Only when the tire monkeys use an impact wrench to tighten them.  If you
use a torque wrench and tighten them to spec, you shouldn't have a
problem getting them off.

The VW lug wrench seems of little use.

It is a little short for my tastes.  I went to a FLAPS and bough a 19mm
lug wrench, a little longer than the stock wrench.  Breaks 'em free, no
problem.  For added leverage loosening them (but not tightening them!)
you can put the lug wrench on a nut and then stand on the lug wrench,
using your weight to break the nut free or you can put the lug wrench on
facing the other way and pull UP on it rather than pushing down.  Give
it a quick jerk up, but don't throw out your back doing it!

We
>actually broke a 19mm socket on another try, and this was after I
soaked them
>with liquid wrench.

Wow, that is REALLY tight.  I'd take the van somewhere with an impact
wrench and get them to loosen the nuts, then tighten them yourself with
a torque wrench.

The tires are from Firestone, so I had them rotated for
>free and told the manager of the problems I had. Now that I get it
back, I
>still can't turn them!

Probably because they still used the impact wrench!

That's going to make the nifty worm gear jack
>worthless. Which brings up the second question. I'm the second owner
and in
>checking out everything, I found this odd little spring clip in with
the jack.
>It's about coat hanger thick and  shaped like a tapered U, about 2"
long and
>the ends are turned 90 degrees for about 3/8". Anybody know what this
is?

That is a VW hubcap puller.  I don't know if your van has the steel
wheels with chrome VW hubcaps, but if it does, that's how you get them
off.  Put the clip's prongs into the two holes on the rim of the hubcap,
insert your stock lug wrench through the U-part, and then lever the
hubcap off against the tire.  Works like a charm!  If you don't have the
chrome hubcaps, this is useless to you :-)

Sean Bartnik
Fairfax, Virginia
============================
'81 Vanagon L Westfalia
'74 Karmann Ghia convertible
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/tech.htm

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