Tool Review: CTA Manufacturing Lug Driller Kit

While most domestic passenger vehicles use lug nuts to fasten the wheel to studs on the hub assembly, many European models have the opposite setup: they use lug bolts instead, which fasten into threaded bores on the hub assembly. According to Matt Fanslow, technician and shop manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, Minnesota, lug bolts often use an internal hex pattern head which can become stripped if not handled correctly. When stripped, lug bolts become nearly impossible to remove.

“Per procedure, you would never use an impact on these,” Fanslow says. “But guess what every shop does? They impact them off and then they impact them on with either the torque limiting sockets or the torque limiting extensions. And they just hammer away. Eventually, [the lug bolt heads] round out and then they're a real pain to try to get out.”

When Fanslow tried out the Lug Driller Kit from CTA Manufacturing, he says he had an “ah-ha” moment.

“I didn't really know kits like this existed,” he says. “I would call them a lifesaver.”

While Fanslow uses the kit mostly for damaged or stripped lug bolts, the manufacturer says it is also helpful for removing locking lug bolts for which the key has gone missing or become damaged.

The kit works by using a centering guide to help the technician drill into the center of the damaged lug bolt. An extractor can then be fitted and hammered into the resulting hole. Once the extractor is in place, the technician can simply use a ratchet to rotate the lug bolt out. Fanslow says the kit also includes a pickle fork-type extractor remover to help get the extractor apart from the damaged lug bolt.

The kit comes in a “really nice” blow molded case with two latches, which Fanslow says feels well-made and heavy duty. And an easy-to-follow user’s manual is also included.

“There's a pretty decent user's manual inside that's all pictures, no words,” he says. “It's really step-by-step what to do.”

Fanslow says the kit seems to be high quality, but he couldn’t easily find how to order replacement parts should any of the component wear out.

Editor's note: Fanslow received an early example of the kit. A label specifying part numbers is now included inside the case.

Aside from this minor complaint, the technician remains impressed with the kit from CTA Manufacturing.

“I really like the centering cones,” he says. “I like that everything is in [the kit] except for the drill and the air hose and the magnet to clean up after you're drilling. Everything else is in there ready to go.”

According to Fanslow, the CTA Manufacturing Lug Driller Kit is a quality set that can save shops a lot of time working on vehicles with lug bolts.

“Everything about the tool, I think, is of good quality,” he says. “[It’s a] nice kit, good instructions … it's a must-have tool for a Euro shop that sees a lot of lug bolts.”