I went out Saturday night to watch this KISS tribute band, nothing wrong (they were pretty good BTW). Drove home that night, nothing wrong. Didn't drive my truck at all on Sunday. Headed to work this morning and it starts shaking violently, I pull over and my front passenger wheel has 1 lug holding it on. Not two or three or four, but one. I've had these rims on two trucks, a 99 and my 02. 70k on my 02, and at least that on my 99 so I know there well "worn in" as far as lugs are concerned. These rims have had three different sets of tires on them 31's, 33's and now 35's. The latest has been on for about 40k, and the last time I rotated was about 8k miles ago (I know I was due for a rotation anyway). I just washed it last Wednesday and I know the lugs were on it then when I detailed my wheels. I had to purchase a thin wall 13/16 long socket to put the lugs on anyway (14mm x 2.00), so I don't think possible theft was the cause unless they had that particular socket that. I live in the boonies with a rather long driveway to the rear of my house, so I know no one came up my driveway on Sunday while I was home. All the other wheels were snug and in tact lug wise. Three of the lugs were sheared completely off at the last thread by the base, flush with the axle shaft plate. The 4th was broke completly in half with no sign of wear, just twisted completely in two. The 5th was bent but thankfully still holding on. So I sat in the parking lot of a gas station today for around 4 hours, waiting for my boss to round up 5 lug bolts (none at O'R's, none at AZ, none at CHF or PB's, finally found two at one ford house and three at another across town). Got her all put back together, even fixed a rattle in my door while I was waiting and also installed a trailer brake controller. Only had 2 people ask me if I needed help, I saw about 80 people. Any other ideas on what could have caused the lugs to break? My first thought was over torque from the last time they were rotated by a service company, but if that was the case, I would think they would have broken long ago.

 

haha funny thing i blew a wheel stud this weekend and it go caught in the hub and brough my truck to a screaching hault.

 

Well after investigating further, it looks like the studs have been cracked for some time. I assume it was from a high impact air torque wrench from the previous service shop rotating my tires. There was a rusty "pit" in the middle of each wheel stud where it was cracked and the threads were a clean break. There's no telling how long the studs have been cracked, and it just took time for them to rust out from the middle towards the threads until it was to thin to hold. I hate to think how many of my other wheels studs have suffered the same fate. Only hand torque from now on, and if they have a problem with that, I'll take my business elsewhere.

 

[QUOTE=WarrenH.;3837018]Well after investigating further, it looks like the studs have been cracked for some time. I assume it was from a high impact air torque wrench from the previous service shop rotating my tires. There was a rusty "pit" in the middle of each wheel stud where it was cracked and the threads were a clean break. There's no telling how long the studs have been cracked, and it just took time for them to rust out from the middle towards the threads until it was to thin to hold. I hate to think how many of my other wheels studs have suffered the same fate. Only hand torque from now on, and if they have a problem with that, I'll take my business elsewhere.[/QUOTE]

Because of this post I will remember to remind the tire installers to hand torque mine when I get new tires in the next couple weeks. I always do it, and previous tire installers have, but I try to remember and re-iterate the fact that I don't want them crankin on them with thier impacts.

 

A coworker of mine used an air gun when putting his wheels back on and, by his account - cranked the crap out of them. Well, the studs decided to let loose at 70 mph on the hiway. The wheel and tire crossed 4 lanes of traffic and hopped the concrete median and hit a car going the opposite direction, then took off and came to rest at an unknown location (the tire and wheel were not found).

Fortunately, nobody was injured, but his rear 1/4 was trashed ('76 vette - alost $3k in damage) and the other car had $1k in damage.

Tighter isn't always better (when talking cars).

 

Not just overstressing a stud with an impact gun, I've had a shop crossthread a lugnut then drive it home that way. Had that happen on my T-Bird and it was a bear to get off. Basically had to break the stud to get it off, then replace it. Too many jocks think the impact wrench is the end-all tool is a tire shop.

Good you hear it wasn't any worse than it was.

Paul

 

I had one of mine torqued to 280 ft lbs by a ford dealer....I ripped them a new *******. Now they know they had better all be at 150 or my business goes elsewhere....and the thousands of dollars I have spent on my vehicles.

 

My GF lost all her wheel studs in one corner on her 95 blazer one night, no warning signs other then a pop and then a vibration, then kaboom