Hello Peaches,
My W111 has been in storage for a while. I needed to replace the hydraulic clutch hose. Life got busy with other stuff. So the Emerald Bullet had to wait for love and attention.
It has been about two years since I parked it. Thought I should check the tire pressure before rolling the car out of the garage. While adding air to the rear passenger side tire, the air nozzle got stuck on the wheel valve. I panicked at the point where over-inflated tire should explode and yanked the nozzle which pulled away the top of the valve.
I was disgusted. Luckily I do have a spare.
I jacked up the car slightly and pulled the hub cap off. Then I started to remove the lug nuts. They would not budge. Good thing I was in my garage where I have tools above and beyond my emergency kit in the trunk. I grabbed a three-foot section of pipe for leverage. It would not budge. I stood on the pipe will all my weight. The only thing that gave was the 17mm socket. I have never cracked a socket before!
I called a friend for advice. He suggested soaking the nuts and bolts in penetrating fluid. Over a two-day period I applied penetrating fluid morning, noon and night. On the third day I managed to get three nuts off with the leverage of the three foot pipe. Each nut that gave made that breaking sound. The last two appeared to be stripped and would not let go of their grip on the stud. More penetrating fluid did not help. Tapping with a hammer did not help. Gripping with a pipe wrench did not help.
I
I pulled out my grinder and cut the two nuts and bolts off. The wheel would not budge. Tapping with a hammer did not do it. I braced an eight foot length of two-by-four lumber against the frame and pushed on the wheel with no effect. The next step would be drilling the bolts out.
I started with small steel drill bit, then one size up, then another size up until the bit I was using matched the lug bolt thickness. I pulled on the wheel and it would not budge. Applied force with the two-by-four again and it would not budge. Finally it gave with my friend hitting the wheel with the hammer while I applied length of wood. What a nightmare!
Now I have to replace the lug bolts I destroyed. Mercedes wants $35.00 for the bolts and $15.00 for the nuts. Luckily, I have a spare rear axle with lug bolts attached. In preparation for removal, I am soaking them in penetrating fluid.
How do these bolts come out of the hub that holds them?
Thank you in advance for your advice.
Happy New Year!
Jeffrey