If your original lug bolts on your Exige or Elise are stuck and you keep shearing the 10 point adapter tool, you will be faced with the decision to drill them out for removal. What is happening is the surface between the cone of the bolt and the wheel is where it is stuck, it is not the bolt thread to the hub threads. The trick here is to just use a 3/8 inch Cobalt drill bit with some PB Blaster Penetrant oil around the lug bolt and on the drilling surface and go to a depth just there the threads (on the lug bolt) start. This will allow you to use a maximum of 175 lb-feet of torque to loosen the bolt. Do not go much above 200 lb-feet of torque with the Evora adapter tool (don’t use the stock Elise or Exige tool) otherwise it will shear. This drill out procedure essentially collapses the surface around the cone and allows the surfaces to break loose or detach. Do not worry about being exactly centered, but try to be as close as possible and always check your progress with a depth gauge and light. Note that the stock 10 point lug bolts are made of a non hardend steel so Cobalt 3/8 drill bit can cut through it relatively easily. The Socket Wrench used is actually a 14 inch (in length) unit, half inch drive with a 17 mm socket. No breaker bar was used so this limited the amount of torque applied to the Lotus adapter tool….which is also made out of non-hardened steel. Very weak design.
Post time: Jun-12-2017