C6 Complaint
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
It happened to me once. Aftermarket "factory reproduction" wheels (made in China, of course) on a 2003 Corvette.
3 rear studs broken... torqued to 100 lb!
I think the aluminum quality of some of these wheels, is sub-standard. A much "softer" density than the factory wheels.
That's been my experience.
3 rear studs broken... torqued to 100 lb!
I think the aluminum quality of some of these wheels, is sub-standard. A much "softer" density than the factory wheels.
That's been my experience.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Did anyone else have the tires off in past?
I ran into this on another car. I was getting new tires when the first one snapped. I was watching and saw the shock on the tech's face as he was torquing it with proper wrench when it snapped or I would not of believed them.
The manager blamed a past over tightening for "stretching" the studs. We inspected them and I could see two others with visible damage around the necks - small cracks and the diameter was a bit thinner (stretched). The previous rotation was done by me (by hand) and it was the first time in my life I had to resort to a breaker bar to free them. The one before that - that over tightened them and did the damage - was the "free rotation" by the dealer.
If that's the case you probably should of replaced them all while it was off or at least carefully inspect them for damage while its off.
I ran into this on another car. I was getting new tires when the first one snapped. I was watching and saw the shock on the tech's face as he was torquing it with proper wrench when it snapped or I would not of believed them.
The manager blamed a past over tightening for "stretching" the studs. We inspected them and I could see two others with visible damage around the necks - small cracks and the diameter was a bit thinner (stretched). The previous rotation was done by me (by hand) and it was the first time in my life I had to resort to a breaker bar to free them. The one before that - that over tightened them and did the damage - was the "free rotation" by the dealer.
If that's the case you probably should of replaced them all while it was off or at least carefully inspect them for damage while its off.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
Certain aspects of working on the C6 are a PITA (but no one said it would be easy). It's unusual, however, to be breaking wheel studs with such regularity. I've used the stock, long and longest wheel studs and I change wheels frequently. I've snapped one stud due to my own stupidity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,072
Likes: 196
From: Arizona
Is your torque wrench working correctly? Also, not all torque wrenches are created equal -- I'm especially talking about the $29.95 specials that come from Papa Mao's Motorworks. Cheap tools suck.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 3
From: Palm Coast Florida
14 Corvetts and many other cars, No broken studs. If you use anti seize on the studs and then torque you will put considerable more torque pressure. Lets face it you must be doing something wrong. Someone might have an answer on this forum.
Capt Bob
Capt Bob
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Hell I have him beat easy... I broke 5 All at One Time..
Oh did I mention it was at the drag strip doing a launch @ 5200 RPM with 12" Slicks....
Or am I given a pass for that one.... other than that I too have NEVER broken a stud!
Oh did I mention it was at the drag strip doing a launch @ 5200 RPM with 12" Slicks....
Or am I given a pass for that one.... other than that I too have NEVER broken a stud!
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Totally a wild guess but is there any chance the lug nuts are not correct for your wheels? Did the ZR1 repo's come with new nuts? Just thinking if the nuts arent threading onto the studs far enough, it would put a lot of stress on the studs, especially if the new wheels have more offset than the originals. Also, are the repo's hub centric? Do they use any spacers? Again looking for something that would put more leverage on the studs than they were designed for.
I also have only had one wheel stud go bad and need replacing and that's in dozens of years of driving multiple vehicles thru some of the worst road/salt conditions.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 15
From: Southern Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,813
Likes: 287
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
I read the original posters thread and took it at face value. He was just trying to impart some information and easing his frustration at what he just went thru. When I read thru the replies I can see that some of us have not shown him much sympathy and are questioning his methods. What a rough crowd we have here.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 76
From: Marshall, Missouri
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
As I stated earlier, some after-market wheels are made from inferior materials.
I was curious if your wheels are factory of aftermarket. (?)
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 2
From: Escondido Ca
He was just trying to impart some information and easing his frustration at what he just went thru. When I read thru the replies I can see that some of us have not shown him much sympathy and are questioning his methods. What a rough crowd we have here.[/QUOTE]
It is not just questioning his methods, it is more "how can this happen to you twice" when nearly every response was "this has never happened to me in 50 years, or in owing 20 cars this never happened to me"! The fact that breaking a stud is a very very rare happening and therefore, responders are questioning his tools or his methods to have not one break, but two!
It is not just questioning his methods, it is more "how can this happen to you twice" when nearly every response was "this has never happened to me in 50 years, or in owing 20 cars this never happened to me"! The fact that breaking a stud is a very very rare happening and therefore, responders are questioning his tools or his methods to have not one break, but two!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I can understand your frustration on some small level. However, criticizing GM engineers because you found it difficult to change a part that they really didn't intend for you to have to change is kind of over the top. I've been driving for 28 years and have never broken a wheel stud over dozens of vehicles in that time. I've owned three Corvettes including my current '05 and never had to change one.
You seem to be fairly convinced that your "joe by eye" method of torquing is working for you. I'd honestly say to you that you have presented evidence to the contrary. If you go through wheel studs like most people change their oil, there is something wrong with either your equipment, your method or your parts supply.
You seem to be fairly convinced that your "joe by eye" method of torquing is working for you. I'd honestly say to you that you have presented evidence to the contrary. If you go through wheel studs like most people change their oil, there is something wrong with either your equipment, your method or your parts supply.
This definitely looks like operator error.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 206
From: Mooresville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 424
Likes: 19
From: Taylor Mill KY
Is it possible that his car got a bad batch of studs? Most parts for any car come from all over the world. Even with QC, some things can slip through. Stud hardness can be effected by many things in the manufacturing process. It could be user error or part defect. I do not believe plus or minus 15 ft/lbs would be the difference in breaking one. If he has the skills to remove the rear stud, it would seem he could tighten the lug nuts! There was a comment about a hole in the rear backing plate making this easier. Could we drill one and plug when completed? I worked in an auto parts store when in HS and college. We had a full assortment of wheel studs. People bought them or we would not carry them!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,942
Likes: 4
From: LINCOLN RI - 2010 GS Coupe - 2007 Coupe
I can understand your frustration on some small level. However, criticizing GM engineers because you found it difficult to change a part that they really didn't intend for you to have to change is kind of over the top. I've been driving for 28 years and have never broken a wheel stud over dozens of vehicles in that time. I've owned three Corvettes including my current '05 and never had to change one.
You seem to be fairly convinced that your "joe by eye" method of torquing is working for you. I'd honestly say to you that you have presented evidence to the contrary. If you go through wheel studs like most people change their oil, there is something wrong with either your equipment, your method or your parts supply.
You seem to be fairly convinced that your "joe by eye" method of torquing is working for you. I'd honestly say to you that you have presented evidence to the contrary. If you go through wheel studs like most people change their oil, there is something wrong with either your equipment, your method or your parts supply.