Wheel stud break??
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 638
Likes: 115
From: The High Mountains of North Texas
Wheel stud break??
I walked into the garage a couple days ago, and as I walked around the Vette, I saw one of my lugnuts lying beside the car, about halfway back. When I picked it up and looked at it, the stud was still inside. Looking at the wheels, it came off the front.
I wonder what caused this? I do take the wheels off and on periodically, to change out the brake pads before and after track days. But I always use a torque wrench, 50 then 100 lbs. I DID recently try out a new little lithium impact wrench, and let it try to load up the lugnuts, but it can't even get to 50 lbs of force. Though maybe the hammering action did it. Maybe just the abuse of running on the track? I drive pretty hard, but its not really set up for racing, nothing hard-core, as one can see in my signature.
And, it was weird that the lugnut was sitting in the garage, 5-6 feet from the front wheel. Like it fell off just as I was pulling in or backing out.
Thoughts? Anyone else seen this? Some kind of heat stress problem from working the brakes hard?
I wonder what caused this? I do take the wheels off and on periodically, to change out the brake pads before and after track days. But I always use a torque wrench, 50 then 100 lbs. I DID recently try out a new little lithium impact wrench, and let it try to load up the lugnuts, but it can't even get to 50 lbs of force. Though maybe the hammering action did it. Maybe just the abuse of running on the track? I drive pretty hard, but its not really set up for racing, nothing hard-core, as one can see in my signature.
And, it was weird that the lugnut was sitting in the garage, 5-6 feet from the front wheel. Like it fell off just as I was pulling in or backing out.
Thoughts? Anyone else seen this? Some kind of heat stress problem from working the brakes hard?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,097
Likes: 5
From: Brentwood World's first A6 in the 9's (including N/A, blower, turbo and nitrous cars) 9.950@139.267 CA
I walked into the garage a couple days ago, and as I walked around the Vette, I saw one of my lugnuts lying beside the car, about halfway back. When I picked it up and looked at it, the stud was still inside. Looking at the wheels, it came off the front.
I wonder what caused this? I do take the wheels off and on periodically, to change out the brake pads before and after track days. But I always use a torque wrench, 50 then 100 lbs. I DID recently try out a new little lithium impact wrench, and let it try to load up the lugnuts, but it can't even get to 50 lbs of force. Though maybe the hammering action did it. Maybe just the abuse of running on the track? I drive pretty hard, but its not really set up for racing, nothing hard-core, as one can see in my signature.
And, it was weird that the lugnut was sitting in the garage, 5-6 feet from the front wheel. Like it fell off just as I was pulling in or backing out.
Thoughts? Anyone else seen this? Some kind of heat stress problem from working the brakes hard?
I wonder what caused this? I do take the wheels off and on periodically, to change out the brake pads before and after track days. But I always use a torque wrench, 50 then 100 lbs. I DID recently try out a new little lithium impact wrench, and let it try to load up the lugnuts, but it can't even get to 50 lbs of force. Though maybe the hammering action did it. Maybe just the abuse of running on the track? I drive pretty hard, but its not really set up for racing, nothing hard-core, as one can see in my signature.
And, it was weird that the lugnut was sitting in the garage, 5-6 feet from the front wheel. Like it fell off just as I was pulling in or backing out.
Thoughts? Anyone else seen this? Some kind of heat stress problem from working the brakes hard?
Although some people will probably disagree with this approach, I never use a torque wrench anymore and just tighten them by feel. Since I've started doing that (about 18 mos ago) I've only had problems with one stud since then.
Although it is possible to replace just the one stud by removing the hub and tapping it out, I'd recommend replacing the entire hub with a new one because if you've had one stud break then one or more of the others are probably already on their way out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
Do you have aftermarket wheels or OEM?
That can make a difference. I had aftermarket C6/Z06 wheels on my '03 and one time, after a 1000 mile road trip I had 2 broken studs.
The most common opinion was that they were over-torqued.
That can make a difference. I had aftermarket C6/Z06 wheels on my '03 and one time, after a 1000 mile road trip I had 2 broken studs.
The most common opinion was that they were over-torqued.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 128
From: Short Hills, NJ
as I've ONLY done it that way on all of my cars and I too race (and change my wheels around) often.I've personally never broken/stretched/stripped a stud.
There were a few times where my brother or a friend followed up on my 'tightening the lugs by feel' with their torque wrenches but it's been a long time since that's happened.
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Last edited by LS1LT1; Nov 23, 2010 at 11:50 PM.
Race Director
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From: Las Vegas NV
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
weird where it happened but not too unusual to happen. The studs kinda get stretched every time you tourque (they are threaded which give them a little stretch once tightend and also causes some weak points because they are threaded) i wouldn't think its a huge thing and considering you have 4 left its not at all a dangerous situation in the short term till you fix it.
Weird yes, unusual no, strange that it happened in your garage? now that's really coincidental
Weird yes, unusual no, strange that it happened in your garage? now that's really coincidental
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I used to break a lot of studs too until I stopped using the impact, and, I realized the lug nuts have a life too of about 20 track days or so. When one gets a little knarly coming off, I replace the set. Haven't busted a stud since I got rid of the impact and started replacing the nuts regularly. I do use a torque wrench on mine, I had a wheel come loose while driving once so I don't want that to happen again.
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From: The High Mountains of North Texas
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Costa Mesa CA
I have a C-5 Z06 that is our track car and we tow a 4 x 6 trailer behind the Vette with the race tires in it. So we change the tires twice at every event.
I use an electric impacat wrench to take wheels of and on. I only snug them going on and use torque wrench to do final tightening.
Now since they go on and off a lot I always use anti-sieze on the wheel studs, so they do not gawl and provide smooth torquing.
Been doing this for 6 years and have not had a stud failure. I have not had the wheels off the ZR1 yet but will also coat the studs on it too.
I use an electric impacat wrench to take wheels of and on. I only snug them going on and use torque wrench to do final tightening.
Now since they go on and off a lot I always use anti-sieze on the wheel studs, so they do not gawl and provide smooth torquing.
Been doing this for 6 years and have not had a stud failure. I have not had the wheels off the ZR1 yet but will also coat the studs on it too.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I walked into the garage a couple days ago, and as I walked around the Vette, I saw one of my lugnuts lying beside the car, about halfway back. When I picked it up and looked at it, the stud was still inside. Looking at the wheels, it came off the front.
I wonder what caused this? ...
I wonder what caused this? ...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,001
Likes: 2,700
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I have a C-5 Z06 that is our track car and we tow a 4 x 6 trailer behind the Vette with the race tires in it. So we change the tires twice at every event.
I use an electric impacat wrench to take wheels of and on. I only snug them going on and use torque wrench to do final tightening.
Now since they go on and off a lot I always use anti-sieze on the wheel studs, so they do not gawl and provide smooth torquing.Been doing this for 6 years and have not had a stud failure. I have not had the wheels off the ZR1 yet but will also coat the studs on it too.
I use an electric impacat wrench to take wheels of and on. I only snug them going on and use torque wrench to do final tightening.
Now since they go on and off a lot I always use anti-sieze on the wheel studs, so they do not gawl and provide smooth torquing.Been doing this for 6 years and have not had a stud failure. I have not had the wheels off the ZR1 yet but will also coat the studs on it too.
You're not likely to snap or strip your studs tomorrow, but over the long term it would be better to use reduced torque or just be sure the nuts/studs are really clean and use normal torque.
