:mad I happened to notice on my invoice from when I had my brakes/rotors changed that in the comments it says "Missing 1 lugnut on each front tire." I just removed the covers and sure enough. I'm missing one on each tire. This is the first time I've had the front tires off since I bought the car about a year ago.

Also I had the brakes and rotors changed because they were catching. The front left rotor was worn a bit more than the front right one but the pads were worn evenly. I had them change the rotors and pads about 6 or 7 months ago. I've been noticing that the front left wheel usually has about twice as much brake dust on it than the other front wheel. They have recently started catching again when stopping usually once I slow down to about 5-10 MPH. The car tracks straight, and the tires are wearing evenly. I haven't tried to move an existing lugnut to the one that is missing yet to see if there's a reason there's not one on it. If something is seriously wrong I'm going to beat some azz at the dealership. They had to know the lugnuts were missing since they took the tires off while trouble shooting one of the tire pressure sensors. Maybe I should call them and say that I just wrecked my car because the front tire that was missing a lugnut flew off. :boxing

Is there any reason the rotors would wear unevenly and the front tires would each be missing 1 lugnut? :skep:

 

Were the missing lug nuts the locking lug nuts?

Why would you claim something that is an outright lie?

 

:iagree:

Call the dealership and be firm that they screwed up and need to fix their screw-up, but don't lie to them because that won't solve your problem. :cheers:

 

It's a little hard to figure out what you are experiencing. What do you mean by "catching" at slow speed? Why do you think the rotor is worn - too thin to meet minimum specs, pulsing, ?

 

I think I phrased that wrong since I was in a hurry. I wouldn't actually try to sue them or claim that but I'm just saying they could have at least told me it needed two lugnuts for the front tires when they were checking out the tire pressure sensors. It wouldn't have affected me buying the car, I mean lugnuts are not that expensive. Just blowing off some steam. And now that you mention it. I think it is the locking lugnuts....

 

When I first got them changed the rotors were below minimum specs but the left one was much worse than the right. And as I said before I notice more break dust on the left tire. A lot more. At slow speeds it seems that there is a "spot" in the rotation where the break catches harder. I've only had the new rotors for about 6 months and don't usually break down aggressively unless I'm avoiding an emergency.

 

You have a used car! you are missing four lugnuts... just go and buy four lug nuts.. 5 dollars, or go and buy a set of locks 30/50 dollars.. You are not going to get any satisfaction from anyone after a year,...

 

You're missing the point. I have no problem buying more lug nuts. What I'm trying to find out is if there could be a reason the nuts would be missing and the rotors wearing unevenly and if the two are related.

 

I doubt there is a reason the nuts are missing, other than the dealer was too lazy to put them on. Are you sure the actual lugs are there? Brakes grab irregularly usually due to a warped rotor. This is usually caused by not properly torquing (tto much, too little or inconsistantly) the lugnuts. I doubt if one missing nut is enough to warp the rotor this bad, but it is possible.

 

OK the only reason I can see is, the car was bought/traded with locks on it.. the Dealer did not get the key from the original owner and cut the locks off...OR the original owner removed his locking lugnuts, for his new car.. and never told the dealer.... in either event it is too flimsy to persue... many people get warped rotors for various reasons.. if those four lugnuts where torqued in sequence to 100 ft pounds.. missing one would not be a reason for rotor warp..unless you were maniacing at road courses for a year

 

Sorry for this question but doesn't the lug nut cover screw on to the lug nut itself? Or can the cover be put on with a lug nut missing?
Thx

 

The is a potential for rotors warping with 5 lug nut properly torqured.


The center caps on my stock '98 wheels attach only to the wheels.

 

It does on my car, I don't know how you wouldn't see missing lug nuts - this makes no sense to me, or am I missing something too?? The lug nut and cover is there (or not) for all to see, without having to remove anything!

Les

 

My guess is that they were the locking nuts too. Do you have the key? Have you checked the other wheels to see if they have locking nuts on them? It would not be fun to need to change the tire and not have the key available. I know that it can be done but wouldn't be my first choice.

 

Mine has a cover that goes in center of the wheel over the lugnuts. It is a complete seperate piece that covers all 5 lug nuts. Look closely at Dan Plett's sig above. The center piece of the wheel that resembles 5 lug nuts is one complete piece with kind of a metal coil that goes into the center of the wheel. Your Z06 wheels may be a little bit different.


[Modified by Ubenripped, 3:04 PM 1/31/2004]

 

It's the locking nuts and no, I didn't get a key with it. The lugs themselves look ok. I'm guessing they cut them off while trying to fix the tire pressure sensors. It was really a luxury car dealership I bought it from that mainly sells BMW, Mercedes, Porsches, and a few Ferraris here and there. You could tell they weren't real knowledgeable about Corvettes. I love the car but I had a lot of issues with the dealership after purchasing it. Getting them to fix a few things they agreed to when I purchased the car was a major pain in the azz. They also tried to pull several things over on me in the process which I caught them red handed at. I'm sure if I didn't have it in writing they would have acted like they never agreed to it. I don't plan on doing any business with them in the future. My next vette I'm purchasing new at the dealership I bought my Camaro from. I had 0 problems and getting things fixed was never a problem. In fact that's where I've been taking my vette since I purchased it.


[Modified by Ubenripped, 3:21 PM 1/31/2004]

 

Thanks for the clarification, and your guess as to how the locking lugs went missing sounds reasonable. As others have said unless the remaining 4 lugs were over-torqued (possible since one was missing) the missing lug itself should not cause the rotor to warp.

Les

 

Well, it ain't good to not have a lug nut. You aren't going to get anywhere pursuing this a year after buying the car. My guess is they used to have wheel locks on them, which got removed for some dum-azz reason or another and not replaced.

Just get some new lugs and snag an inexpensive torque wrench and a deep 3/4" or 19mm socket. Go around the car and check each wheel. Torque each wheel yourself in a star pattern to 50, 70 and 100lbs in stages. Then you'll know it is done right.

That's what I do. Especially after the car gets worked on. Just don't trust anyone to do it right.

 

Check in the archives for bedding pads and seasoning rotors. There was a very good post about it in which the author described a condition that left a buildup on the rotors that in effect caused the brakes to grab and was often diagnosed as warped rotors.. I wish I could remember the approximate date but it was in the last month or two. Maybe another member will remember it. I just thought since your rotor and pad replacement was recent it could help you out. good luck.

 

Did you buy from Export One? They are famous for things like this.