Swollen Lugs

[awfavre]

Hi all. I have an 04 with about 110k miles. I recently had my first flat on this car & couldn’t get my never-before used lug wrench (the one that came with the vehicle) over 3 of the five lugs. A guy who came along & rescued me had to use two or three different sized sockets on his lug wrench. He said the lugs must have been swollen to make them change sizes like that. He suggested the dealer tightened them too much (they do my rotations & balances, which was done a few days before the flat). The lugs themselves were pretty worked over, with the flat surfaces pock-marked & not so flat anymore. When I took the flat back to the dealer for fixing, they told me it’s a common problem with the Vibes. They said even if I changed the lugs, it would still be a problem. They said basically, I had to start carrying a multi-socket lug wrench to deal with the problem.I searched the forum for this issue, using the search function & reading the threads in the wheels & tires section, & I didn’t see anything about swollen lugs being an issue. Anyone else have this problem?

[djkeev]

Ah!I just love schumucks with air powered tools!!You can thank you local mechanic and tire shop for your woes.They used an air impact wrench to install your wheels and the force of tightening them well beyond the 90 lb +/- ft lbs torque specified misshaped the hex of the nut.You can remove them and file off the buggers or just purchase some new ones and vow to never never never ever let another shop install your wheels with an impact wrench!!!!!! They are ok to remove but installing?? Pass.Make your feelings known at the next shop visit, they will grumble and (removed) and moan but they should do as you wish. Best if you can watch. I have little to no trust for a repair shop. I've seen them torque nuts when a customer is actually in the shop and then impact them once the customer is gone!I'll be honest, an impact wrench is fun! I have one, I use it for certain applications but reinstalling wheels isn't one of them.Dave

[lovemyraffe]

I've never heard of lug nuts swelling. It could have been a different size lug nut to begin with.I believe the proper torque specs for the lug nuts are 76 ft/lbs.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by lovemyraffe »I've never heard of lug nuts swelling. It could have been a different size lug nut to begin with.I believe the proper torque specs for the lug nuts are 76 ft/lbs.The beating of the hex by the socket (not always the correct size is used) by the air impact mishapes the hex, essentially changing the size of the socket now needed to get it off.No, steel does not swell except microscopically in warm weather.Dave

[lovemyraffe]

Quote, originally posted by djkeev »The beating of the hex by the socket (not always the correct size is used) by the air impact mishapes the hex, essentially changing the size of the socket now needed to get it off.No, steel does not swell except microscopically in warm weather.DaveOk, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

[ou.grizzly]

Autozone sells the OEM Style replacements for like $1.99 per $2.00 x 20 = $40.00 for a new set.

[vibolista]

Swollen Lugs. Sounds like a nasty medical condition.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Swollen Lugs. Sounds like a nasty medical condition. Yeah, I side stepped that one earlier. Was LOLing

[dragon64]

Quote, originally posted by lovemyraffe »I've never heard of lug nuts swelling. It could have been a different size lug nut to begin with.I believe the proper torque specs for the lug nuts are 76 ft/lbs.Actually it is possible to have a lug nut swell. Many OEM lugs are made of steel a size smaller with a soft "bright" metal cap stamped over it. Often what happens in area were road salt is used in the winter is that corrosion forms under this cover and pushes it out making it larger. In addition to this impact tools stretch the cap giving more room to rust to form. I would look for a good quality chrome plated replacement nut available from most autoparts stores.

[bikeman1]

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Swollen Lugs. Sounds like a nasty medical condition. I really dislike it when you take your Vibe in for rotation and they hold one of your lugs and make you cough......