Swelled Lugnuts

[reb]

I recently had my tires rotated on my 2003 Vibe, 165000 miles @ SAM'S CLUB. Guy stripped 1 lug and had a lot of trouble removing the lug nuts. He said they were swelled and that this was a common problem with Vibes. Anybody heard of this ?????

[ehoff121]

Quote, originally posted by reb »He said they were swelled and that this was a common problem with Vibes. Anybody heard of this ?????I call shenanigans!My guess is the last time it was at Sam's, they overtorqued the lugs. That would explain why he thinks it's common on Vibes...

[silverbullet]

I don't know about it being common on the vibes. But this has happened to me on other cars, several times. And last time I did my brakes I had to replace about five lugs that could no longer be used. This was while doing my own work. I would inspect all the lugs and see what you think about it. They should be showing you any part in question

[djkeev]

Swelled lug nuts?!!? Oh please! The only way metal increases in size it due to temperature rise and rust.They MIGHT be rusty, they sure aren't being affected by temperature to any major degree.As mentioned, over tightening is most likely the cause. Lug nuts do have a torque specification and it is surprisingly low, approx 90 ft lbs +/-. If one overtightens the nuts, the threads on the lug stud are stretched and misshapen by being pulled so tight. The threads inside of the nut are similarly stretched and misshapen as well.The result is that you have a threaded connection that no longer mates properly. This makes them really really hard to unscrew, they can seize together and snap off the stud. If you do get the nuts off, they will fight you going back on.Both items need to be replaced. It's going to cost you $$'s to have this done and try as you might, no one is standing in line to be blamed for screwing this up. You'll need to foot the bill.In the future demand that your lugs be installed to final tight using a torque wrench.. NOT AN AIR POWER IMPACT GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They have torque limiters for these impact guns but say, "no thanks, use a proper torque wrench, those limiters are prone to gross inaccuracy."Tell your tire shop to take his "swelled" terminology, stick it somewhere where the sun don't shine and to please not insult you with such terminology nonsense any longer. Ask them to be honest and simply say that someone grossly over tightened your lug nuts and destroyed the studs and nuts and that they will need to be replaced.This problem has NOTHING to do with the car being a VIBE at all. Negligence and air impact abuse happens to all years, makes and models.Dave

[beemerphile1]

Lug bolts are stretched slightly when the nuts are tightened to the correct torque. When the nut is loosened they return to original length.When overtightened the lugs will over stretch and stay permanently stretched (damaged). Lug bolts and/or lug nuts do NOT swell. When a lug bolt is overstretched it gets longer and thinner allowing it to be easily stripped.

[455SD]

If you have the steel encapsulated lug nuts that came on the factory aluminum wheels, then the terminology is correct. The outer thin steel caps do swell to the point a socket will not fit correctly. I believe that this is due to what is being discussed, the use of an impact wrench to loosenand/or tighten this style lug. I have had to replace most of the ones on my two Vibes, due to previous owners method of removal/install. Only use a breaker bar and correct size socket to remove, and a ratchet + torque wrench for install. This is probably the most frustrating issue I have had to deal with on either car. The outer steel "cap" is what gets distorted, the correct size socket won't fit, and the next size up "rounds out" the lug. You can beat the correct size socket onto the deformed nut, but then you have to beat the lug out of the socket - pretty much destroying it.

[Old Tele man]

...tell the monkey-wrench "clown" to use a lug-wrench and not a power-wrench and he'll NEVER encounter such "problems" with any car.

[Salsa Guy]

That's what you call a CYA. The last tech who tighten the lug nuts didn't torque them either correctly or not at all (assuming it was a Sam's Tech). They owe you some new lug nuts and studs because someone took a short cut.

[tribalman]

only time i had the lugs put on at a shop is when i got the winters installed on my steelies. they took hours longer than quoted and also over torqued the lugs so when i went to rotate them a few months later it took a lot of effort. not going back to them ever again. luckily i haven't had to change any lug nuts or the bolts yet. well... that's not true. i haven't had to replace any lug nuts due to failure. i have a set for the summer rims cause the stock acorns don't fit and last time i rotated my winters was on a very windy day and i had to go to my cousins cause my lift was broken and i somehow lost a few lugs in the wind. going to be rotating my tires later today even though i plan on putting on my winters in 4 weeks.

[silverbullet]

I don't know about it being common on the vibes. But this has happened to me on other cars, several times. And last time I did my brakes I had to replace about five lugs that could no longer be used. This was while doing my own work. I would inspect all the lugs and see what you think about it. They should be showing you any part in question

[reb]

Spoke to the dealer and a reputable tire garage, they have NEVER heard of this problem! The stripped lug will now have to be cut off, possibly damaging the wheel. Aftermarket cost of wheel, $190, with total bill approaching $300! Manager at Sam's Club says they will pay bill, update everyone soon.

[Kincaid]

Hey that's swell!