I removed my wheels to clean out the fender wells today and when I went to torque the bolts to replace the wheels one of them stripped out in the thread section near the head. Anyone else have this problem?

 

Hi Phil, I've changed my wheels from summer to winter setup 2 years in a row and haven't had any problems and that adds up to 8 times on and off.

 

I've removed/installed thousands of M-B lugbolts with my 1/2'' impact and only stripped one when I was in a rush and didn't bother to hand thread the first two threads like I always do. Needless to say my rushing to save a second cost me twenty minutes in re-removing the wheel and then re tapping the threads in the hub and replacing the damn lug bolt. That's my story.

 

Dealer says two days and 12 dollars for the bolt. I think I will look elsewhere first.

 

Wait.... $12 for ONE BOLT???

Hell, I have a whole set of lugs for an N/A crossfire. 20 Lugs.

I can sell you one lug for $5 bucks shipped in a little padded envelope...

Hell I'd sell you the lugs for one entire wheel for $15 +shipping... probably ~$20 shipped.

PM me if you want it. I'll pay shipping on one lug bolt...standard shipping, but if you want something faster then you will have to pay.

 

Pulled my wheels yesterday and again today and two lugs stripped out!!! one on each back wheel!! You still have those lugs to sell!

 

Are you guys using the proper torque setting when tightening the lug bolts? I torque all mine at 85 foot lbs regardless of the manual specs. Also I put a dab of never-seize on each bolt.

James

 

I didnt use a air gun, I also didnt crank them down super tight.. I know it the lugs only need 75fpt

 

If you don't use a torque wrench or torque stick, you are guessing. James

 

Are you running aftermarket rims that aren't hubcentric? The only way to strip the bolts other than having crappy aftermarket wheels that aren't made to be on the car..........is for the installer to cross the threads on install of the lug bolts(they don't strip themselves).

 

No stock crap wheels..

 

75 fpt isnt alot of effort

 

Air impact to install? If so, ALWAYS hand turn each lug bolt one or two threads before buzzing it on to make sure it won't cross the threads. I never bother to actually use a torque wrench(Just 1/2'' impact) on my Crossfire and never broke/crossthreaded a bolt using that method..............and the wheels have been taken off many many times.

 

You can figure it out by caculations. If you have a wrench with a 1 foot handle and you weigh 200 lbs. Then you are tourqing the bolt at 200 ft/lbs
If you wanted 100 ft/lbs of fource on the nut then you would need a 6 inch handle. You can figure it out but its alot easier with a torque wrench.

 

I changed my rear wheels every week for a year now (switching to drag radials) torque them without a torque wrench ,, have been doing this for a year on the Xfire, and 55 years on other cars, have i ever striped and maybe can't remember but have broken a few.never broken or striped any in a year now, I installed my wheels and had a tire shop check them for torque each one was different 1= 81' lbs 2=79'lbs 3=85'lbs 4 =90' lbs and last one was 83'lbs,, i only checked one wheel the guys at the shop ask how i did that, i mounted the wheel in front of them, when i said "you don't need to check the torque they wanted to anyway .. jim

 

I have swapped the wheels and slicks possibly 100+ times and had one Lug go bad. I support the hand turn in 2 turns with a socket then use a wrench. Never seeze is a definate no no from the factory and I never FAIL to add it, Gaulling happens.

I use my torque wrench all the time set to level #3 which is about 90#ft which is what my car clubs check before events. When bolts go tired , replace them.

I would like to get another set of 20 wheel bolts if someone has a reasonable price, ebay has shakey lot sizes and costs so I avoid them.

OOOOH OOOOh almost forgot , I ALWAYS USE A BOLT TO HANG THE WHEEL ON WHILE DOING THE INSTALL OR REMOVAL TO KEEP STRESS OFF THE BOLTS DURING INSTALL. THERE IS A STICKY SHOWING MY WHEEL HELPER THAT I MADE FOR $2 OUT OF A LONG METRIC BOLT. HAVE ONE FOR EACH SIDE FOR CONVIENCE. i ALSO USED A POLISHED SOCKET TO KEEP FROM CHIPPING THE WHEELS PAINT-FINISH. JUST SAND THE SOCKET WHILE SPINNING IT IN THE GUN USING A GLOVE TO PREVENT A NASTY BURN ON THE OLD HAND.....



WOODY

 

I removed my o.e.m wheels to clean them. When i put them back on I noticed the lug only turned into the hub about 5 turns? Is that enough?

 

Depends, how many turns did the others take. They should all be the same. If the others were more than 5 turns, then you likely have a bolt that isnt seated and that isnt good. Take it back out, check the bolt, check the hole threads and try again. It sounds like you have a messed up thread and it should be re-cut and then will be fine.

 

All the lugs turn in about 5 turns? It just seems not a lot of thread is holding the wheel on?

 

Using a stud is a good idea, but the best way is to use two studs on one wheel. One long stud and one shorter by about an inch or two, put the wheel on the long stud and the rotate the wheel to fit it on the second stud, the wheel then aligns easily to the hub.
The studs required are 12mm x 1.5 mm pitch for anyone who wants to know. The thread portion ideally only needs to be about 3/8-1/2" long to prevent reaming the wheel bolt hole too much.