I believe those tire store over-torqued your lug nuts.  It happened to me
every time I visit them.  It supposed to be 130 ft-lb.   You should be able
to use the VW lug wrench to loose it.  I've done it several times while I
have the original Michelin MXL and it blew up on me 3 times on the highway.
Use your foot to strike the wrench.
There are pictures on your owners manual (if you still have it) showing the
usage of the U shaped tool.  It's for taking off the center chrome wheel
caps.

Yi-Ruey Wei
87 Vanagon GL Syncro  w/leaking cylinder head
85 Jetta GLI  w/160,000 miles
"Hot" Dallas, TX

Gary Edwards <MrVital@AOL.COM> on 07/22/98 05:21:40 PM

Please respond to MrVital@AOL.COM
To:   Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
cc:
Subject:  lug nuts and mystery clip

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? The VW lug wrench seems of little use. We
actually broke a 19mm socket on another try, and this was after I soaked
them
with liquid 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! 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?
Thanks, Gary

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