Twisted Off a Stud When Rotating Tires

[00328]

It was a pretty nice day yesterday so I decided to rotate my tires, mileage is at 5400, so it was time.
Everything went fine until I did the last tire on the front drivers side. One lug nut would not get tighter than 60 lbs of torque, the manual says to torque at 83 lbs, so I knew something wasn't right. Left it that way because I had to go run an errand.
When I got back home I removed the lug nut thinking maybe I got it cross threaded. Carefully put it back on and began to torque it again, again it would not get tighter than 60 lbs. I thought screw it and kept going until i felt it give, the nut fell off the wheel with the stud inside it.
When I take it to the service dept. I know they're going to say that I over torqued it.
Oh well, guess I'll get the TSB for the V8 stink done at the same time.
Think they'll provide me with a loaner?

 

[T4RUSAF]

I say do it yourself... when I rotated my tires and used a torque wrench to get em' tight the torque wrench was way out of spec (the old sun dial type face) and the plate was all messed up. So when i was trying to get 83 lbs of torque I was acutally getting up towards 118 llbs. So anyways, i've replaced 4 of them so far. Really really easy. All you would have to do is remove the two bolts holding your caliper and then hang it with a coat hanger or something. Slide off your rotor and then hammer out your old stud and them throw in the new one from behind. Took me about 15 mins to replace one the other day.

 

[00328]

Yeah, I probably should have done it myself, usually I do, but it should be covered.
I have the old style torque wrench too and it's in pretty good shape so I think it was pretty close.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Damn........you two must be as strong as those Toyota factory mechanic gorrillas!!

 

[SWUtah]

Yeah, I probably should have done it myself, usually I do, but it should be covered.
I have the old style torque wrench too and it's in pretty good shape so I think it was pretty close.

One thing I learned is that when you use an extention on your torque wrench it multiplies the torque. When you do a tire you have to use an extension to reach the nuts so I bet you were way over the torque limit. Most dealers use torque sticks that keep them from over torqing the lugs. I always use a tire store or the dealer to do the rotation, I also discuss torque spec's before they do the job. If the screw it up then they fix it. Good luck but I am sure the dealer will charge you around $60-80 to fix the stud.

 

[dcampen]

One thing I learned is that when you use an extention on your torque wrench it multiplies the torque. When you do a tire you have to use an extension to reach the nuts

No, an extension like you are talking about does not change the torque. Using a crowsfoot increases the actual torque over the reading because it increases the length of the lever arm. Only an extension that increases the length of the lever arm will alter the torque.

 

[00328]

Damn........you two must be as strong as those Toyota factory mechanic gorrillas!!

I never got the torque wrench reading above 60 ft lbs before I felt it give. Must have been a bad stud casting.
Just picked it up from the dealer and they did it under warrantee, they also ordered the parts to take care of my runners fart problem. Now maybe my son will stop giving me that look when I pull up to a light after a quick acceleration.

 

[05SportV8]

FYI

Just a little note to add. Torque wrenches measure torque from the axis of rotation (Althought their readings are based on a force applied at 1 foot from the axis of rotation (lb-ft) or at 1 m (if the readings are in kg-m). Same standard that is used to calculated the torque of an engine.
In other words, does not matter if you have 1 foot, 3 feet or 10 feet of leverage; the readings do not change. Granted that the force you apply at 3 feet from the axis of rotation will be less than the one you need to aply at just one foot from the axis thus the help of an extension = "leverage". Just read your wrench and if it is in good shape You should be fine with or without extension.

I actually like to use extension because it is easier to achieve the desire torque without much effort.

Fred

 

[lightfoot]

I had a similar problem with my O6 when I rotated the tires for the second time at 9,500 mi. One of the right front lugs seemed to be stretching as I tightened it. I backed the torque wrench off from 83 ft. lbs to 70 and was able to go that far. When I tried to go from 70 to 75 the bolt seemed to be stretching again. I removed the lug nut and marked the stud with a vertical line so I could see if the stud was turning in the hub. I had the same results as above. When I backed the lug nut off this time it was harder to remove with my fingers. It felt like the threads had stretched. I put the lug nut back on and stopped at 70 ft. lbs.

I'm debating whether to twist it off or leave it alone before I take it in for repair.

I wonder how many more of the studs are defective. Perhaps Toyota designed the studs to shear off in an accident.