Broken wheel lug studs with Pro Comp 7069s?

[Road Bull]

I am trying to figure out why I seem to experience so many broken lug studs. Over the past couple of years I have had Discount Tire, put new tires on my old OEM 5 stars, rotate tires, get new wheels, (Pro Comp 7069s), transfer tires to new wheels, then upgrade to larger 285s, and have those put on the 7069s...

I have had to replace FIVE studs between two of my DTs services. That seems excessive. Maybe it's not, I don't know.

As I would attempt various maintenance projects that required me to remove the wheels I discovered numerous seized lugs on the studs that resulted in a snapped stud. Discount Tire paid for the repair but it was still a PITA to get sorted out.

The other day I went to do some front-end maintenance and remove the driver side front wheel. And guess what I came across? Another snapped stud. I'm beginning to wonder if at some point someone really over torqued the lugs to stretch them out and set them up for future failure. Because I'm pretty sure I had taken this wheel off and put it back on myself being very careful in hand tightening the self centering extended thread lugs when putting the wheel back on. I also used a torque wrench to tighten them back up to spec. Yet, this keeps happening.

I know the Pro Comp 7069s are a lug centric wheel. I have been using Gorilla E-T S/D Acorn 12mm x 1.50, part #DT#85379/21134ETD. DT later swapped the old lugs out for Gorilla part #41734ETD, E/T Ultra 12mm x 1.50.

I know there are literally tons of people running this wheel combination. Do any of you run into snapped lug studs this often? I don't really think my troubles are the product of the 7069 specifically.

You guys just think that maybe these things got stretched out with an over torqued airgun at some point or something else might be causing problems?

 

[aontkos]

I would be willing to bet that the gorillas at Discount Tire overtightened the lugs. I guarantee they used air tools to tighten them instead of a torque wrench. It's how they roll.

I can't imagine that any wheel out there would cause studs to snap like that.

 

[dustxking]

I would be willing to bet that the gorillas at Discount Tire overtightened the lugs. I guarantee they used air tools to tighten them instead of a torque wrench. It's how they roll.

I can't imagine that any wheel out there would cause studs to snap like that.

Discount tire uses whats called a "pre torque" extension, just like I have pictured below. So everything gets pre torqued to 50 ft pounds. Also it is typical for a stud to replace here and there when removing lugs/tires rotations every 5k. I agree, we don't like it when it happens, but its something that does happen. Discount Tire takes care of every incident correct? Great as they should. It happens more often then you could imagine.

 

[Road Bull]

At this point, I am not trying to cast shade on Discount Tire. They did take care of me for sure. They are a stand up company. And while it is possible that 'that' particular tech missed the mark that day, I just don't know. It was a bit of a hassle, but they paid for studs and having them installed. They even ended up comping me a full sized 285 KO2 for all the trouble. Discount Tire went above and beyond to try to make me happy.

I am just trying to figure out why this keeps happening. I don't know if it more common with lug centric wheels, the centering lug design, or perhaps stud fatigue possible stemming from them being over torqued at some point.

If there are better lugs to be using, I would be willing to give em a try. If it just normal to break this many.. it sucks, but I will order a dozen to have on hand and get good at popping them out myself. The only reason I had someone else do it to start with was because they were last serviced at DT, and they came off fine without issue, went back on, then would not come off without breaking.

 

[Scramble]

Dude, there are better, much better. I'm running these ARP's, unbreakable.

https://www.amazon.com/ARP-1007715-...&qid=1507422070&sr=8-2&keywords=arp+for+lexus

 

[dustxking]

Been working for Discount for 14 years, I am not just saying this because I work for them, but Toyota studs are probably the most common that we have to send for repair.

At this point, I am not trying to cast shade on Discount Tire. They did take care of me for sure. They are a stand up company. And while it is possible that 'that' particular tech missed the mark that day, I just don't know. It was a bit of a hassle, but they paid for studs and having them installed. They even ended up comping me a full sized 285 KO2 for all the trouble. Discount Tire went above and beyond to try to make me happy.

I am just trying to figure out why this keeps happening. I don't know if it more common with lug centric wheels, the centering lug design, or perhaps stud fatigue possible stemming from them being over torqued at some point.

If there are better lugs to be using, I would be willing to give em a try. If it just normal to break this many.. it sucks, but I will order a dozen to have on hand and get good at popping them out myself. The only reason I had someone else do it to start with was because they were last serviced at DT, and they came off fine without issue, went back on, then would not come off without breaking.