So I got my struts in the mail the other day, and decided today was a good day to put them on. Got 4 lug nuts off the first rear tire, and while trying to take off the el cheapo crap mazda installed locking lug, it cracked into 5 pieces. I took it to a tire shop who said it was outside their realm of repair. Really tire shop? A broken lug nut on a tire is outside your realm of repair? Did a burnout leaving their parking lot and went to a repair shop by my house. The guy said, "You can't get that off without destroying your rim. Good luck" and walked back into the office. They won't even try to do the job. So now I'm stuck. I spent a couple hours with a slightly smaller socket, a small torch, some chisels, punches, hammers, etc. I am at the point of cutting the stud off with a torch and ruining the wheel. Anyone went to aftermarket rims that will sell me an 18 inch rim for under $172 shipped? (Price I can get one at Rock Auto)

 

Are you sure you cannot hammer a socket on there to get the last of it off?

 

Yes, I spent around 90 minutes trying different sockets. I finally pulled out my dremel, and I think it will work, but I burned through my last 2 cut off wheels on it. I went and got more, but had other plans so I haven't been able to finish the job. We'll see if I'm able to get it off without hurting the rim. If not I guess I'll be getting one from Rock Auto.

 

I got the rim off without destroying it. 3 hours with a dremel, a bunch of tiny grinding discs, and several thousand profane outbursts.