A previous owner used a normal hex nut on the wheel hub. I'm trying to get it off, but I don't have a socket that fits. My question is, does it matter if I use a 7/8 inch or 22mm socket? There isn't much room in between the nut and wheel, and I think I read somewhere that only metric nuts will fit, so I figured I'd ask.

 

No it doesn't matter, as long as it's not on with 100+ ft/lbs and it's reasonably tight. You might strip the nut or snap the socket, but hopefully you're planning on replacing the nut and luckily a 22mm socket is only $2.99.

 

worst come to worst, drill that ****** out, replace lug. ????. profit.

 

Cool, I'll pick one up tomarrow. I'm replacing the nut with "locking" wheel nut and leaving off the center caps since the car looks better without em', and so I can experiment with painting them instead of the wheel itself.

 

Your user name is "gearhead" and you don't have a 7/8" socket? Or are you picking up a 22mm? You'll hardly use it, I suggest just using a 7/8" if it fits in their.

Painting the center cap won't help you, they're generally uncoated plastic, where as the wheels are coated metal.

 

I have a 7/8 in. or 22mm box end wrench, but I can't get it close enough to the nut to see if it's an exact fit. I'm a college kid, I'm accumulating tools and 7/8 isn's a size that I'd normally use or need a socket of.

Part of my center caps are the same metal as the rest of the wheel. It's not a center cap like most wheels, it's flush which you can kida see in this picture:

 

hella flush.

 

use metric if its metric, standard if its standard. no mixing unless you want to round that nut nice and smooth specially if a monkey at Firestone or jiffy lube tighten that nut before.

 

You can probably loosen all nuts then snap the one stud, that's how ghetto trash gets new wheels.

 

Harbor Freight is a college kid's best friend. You can pick up a cheap set of the larger sizes for very little money.

Here:10 Piece 1/2" Drive Metric Impact Socket Set Sale: $12.99
Sizes: 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 16mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm and 24mm

 

If you have access to a grinder, get a cheap socket and grind down the outside till it drops in.