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Lugs WAAAAAY too tight

1K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  Sinister6 
#1 ·
Just bought the Jeep two weeks ago. Putting wheel locks on, and had to use a 2 ft breaker bar to loosen the lugs. One is now stripped on the outer hex drive, and I'll have to take it to the tire shop to get it off. Would like very much to take that breaker bar to the nuts of the guy who cranked them so freaking tight!!!
 
#5 ·
I thought the same, especially on a vehicle that spent its life in Philly. But none. Just so tight they creaked. Dealer I bought from changed frt brakes and rotors. Their mechanic is the culprit.
 
#7 ·
So when I get new tires, they don't disappear and end up on some Toyota Sequoia somewhere, LOL!
 
#9 ·
Just had the same thing last weekend. Three wheels normal, driver side rear super-torqued. Broke a short extension tip off in the socket. Then snapped off the head of the flex bar. I was using a 2' length of pipe over the entire length of the handle. Not oxidized or rusty, just gawdawful tight.
 
#10 ·
My Americas Tire store nearby actually torques lugs properly. I watch them every time, and they do it right. Same Co as Discount Tire, but it prob depends on the manager. If he's not experienced, he will let his guys just wrap up all your lugs with the impact. That is just dumb.
 
#12 ·
Years ago, after almost not being able to remove a flat tire in the field because of overtight lug nuts, I rebelled and began using grease on lug nuts and torqueing to spec, compensating for the lubrication by reducing torque by 30%. The amount of compensation is an estimated value which I derived from the "Pocket Ref" manual.

No more nut-screeching, tool-breaking or operator-cursing every time I have to get the wheel off.

The price to pay for doing this is to service the vehicle myself. Too often the guys in the shop use air-guns calibrated for 18-wheelers to install wheels. This is very hard on everything, especially alloy wheels.
 
#13 ·
I am surprised the tapered mating surface on the alloy wheels isn't cracked.

Another chapter in the saga. I bought a stripped lugnut removal socket. Put it on the 2 ft breaker bar, and the one lugnut STILL won't budge. I pushed and pulled on that breaker bar until i was really worried it would break. Time to take it to the tire store and let them use the impact on it.
 
#16 ·
I really think this one may have been cross threaded and the guy just leaned on it harder with the impact turned all the way up.
 
#17 ·
Not cross threaded! My tire guys got it off with the impact turned all the way up and some coaxing. No charge! Bought them a cold sixpack of Corona for their trouble, on my lunch break, and put it on a bag of ice in one guy's trunk so they can cool down after work. Pays to be on the good side of your tire guys. Buying 6 new tires in the next few weeks, and it's good to know the right people.
 
#18 ·
On a side note, America's Tire (Discount Tire) torques these lugs to 110 ft lbs. I can easily do that with my lug wrench, and more importantly, can get them off in the outback.
 
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