Stuck lug nuts...
12-08-2014, 06:26 PM
#1
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Stuck lug nuts...
*I apologize if this is the wrong area...just looking for some answers...
Approximately 6 moths ago, I got two new tires for my 2010 F150. I ordered them through an auto shop near where I live...partly because I hate going to the actual tire dealer in my town, and partly because they could get me the tires at dang near the online price and I'd rather give the money to a local business. They are not a TIRE shop, but they do quite a bit of tire work.
They put the two new tires on the front, because they were worn the worst...and left the other two on the rear. I was very happy with the service there (just a small town shop). I drove the 20 miles home, went to work the next day (couple of miles), then when returning home I got out the tire wrench and made sure the nuts were still tight (gave them a good crank, and they did not move...good).
Well, a few days ago, I had them order two more identical tires to replace the old rear ones. Took the truck to the shop today, handed over the keys, and sat in the waiting area. The manager (or co-owner/co-manager...not exactly sure) came to me after about 15 minutes and told me that the front lug nuts will NOT come off, but the mechanic was going to keep trying (they were going to rotate them and put the new ones on the front). After about another 20 minutes he came to me and said that the mechanic tried everything he could think of, but every nut wouldn't budge. He said they also tried a larger impact driver that they use on big trucks, and it would not work.*
I said "The last time the front wheels were off was when I got those tires put on here."
He says "Ok, so they've been on there quite a while."
I thought "6 months is quite a while for lug nuts to be on a stud?
I said, "Do you think they were just overtightened and then seized?"
He says, "Yeah, probably. We have never seen this before. You know, sometimes one or two are stubborn, but this is all of them"
Anyways, he says they are going to have to torch them off, and then replace the nuts and the studs. He does not have them in stock, and is going to order them. I asked him how much this would cost, and he said it would take the mechanic about an hour hopefully, and that it would be near 200 dollars.
I was immediately upset.
I left there without getting the new tires on (should have just told him to put them on the rear, and don't worry about the rotation right now...the others are just a few months old...but I was upset and didn't).
SOOOO...here's the question...
Would I be out of line for asking them to pay for the new studs and nuts and labor? It just seems like I will be out $200 for something that I had no control of.
I am looking or answers from people that run auto shops, here. Is it possible that it wasn't their fault? The nuts were NOT over tightened, and just seized that hard on their own?
Sorry for the length guys...but (as with MANY other people in this country) I really don't have the $200 to spend right now, and am kind of angry at the whole situation.
Approximately 6 moths ago, I got two new tires for my 2010 F150. I ordered them through an auto shop near where I live...partly because I hate going to the actual tire dealer in my town, and partly because they could get me the tires at dang near the online price and I'd rather give the money to a local business. They are not a TIRE shop, but they do quite a bit of tire work.
They put the two new tires on the front, because they were worn the worst...and left the other two on the rear. I was very happy with the service there (just a small town shop). I drove the 20 miles home, went to work the next day (couple of miles), then when returning home I got out the tire wrench and made sure the nuts were still tight (gave them a good crank, and they did not move...good).
Well, a few days ago, I had them order two more identical tires to replace the old rear ones. Took the truck to the shop today, handed over the keys, and sat in the waiting area. The manager (or co-owner/co-manager...not exactly sure) came to me after about 15 minutes and told me that the front lug nuts will NOT come off, but the mechanic was going to keep trying (they were going to rotate them and put the new ones on the front). After about another 20 minutes he came to me and said that the mechanic tried everything he could think of, but every nut wouldn't budge. He said they also tried a larger impact driver that they use on big trucks, and it would not work.*
I said "The last time the front wheels were off was when I got those tires put on here."
He says "Ok, so they've been on there quite a while."
I thought "6 months is quite a while for lug nuts to be on a stud?
I said, "Do you think they were just overtightened and then seized?"
He says, "Yeah, probably. We have never seen this before. You know, sometimes one or two are stubborn, but this is all of them"
Anyways, he says they are going to have to torch them off, and then replace the nuts and the studs. He does not have them in stock, and is going to order them. I asked him how much this would cost, and he said it would take the mechanic about an hour hopefully, and that it would be near 200 dollars.
I was immediately upset.
I left there without getting the new tires on (should have just told him to put them on the rear, and don't worry about the rotation right now...the others are just a few months old...but I was upset and didn't).
SOOOO...here's the question...
Would I be out of line for asking them to pay for the new studs and nuts and labor? It just seems like I will be out $200 for something that I had no control of.
I am looking or answers from people that run auto shops, here. Is it possible that it wasn't their fault? The nuts were NOT over tightened, and just seized that hard on their own?
Sorry for the length guys...but (as with MANY other people in this country) I really don't have the $200 to spend right now, and am kind of angry at the whole situation.
12-08-2014, 07:23 PM
#2
Senior Member
I got out the tire wrench and made sure the nuts were still tight (gave them a good crank, and they did not move...good).
Are you mad at the maint. shop or yourself for the torque of front tires?
How you decide to justify $200 can go one of two ways: be happy with worn tires, potentially leading to an accident that will cost you a couple thousand or worse... or pay the $200 and drive off happy knowing you have a safe reliable vehicle.
Maybe take your vehicle to a reliable tire shop have them loosen and check the rear tires then take it back to the maintenance shop to have them put tires on the rear and then have a check to see if they did something outside the norm. Take it back to tire shop if you find they are being negligent.
Are you mad at the maint. shop or yourself for the torque of front tires?
How you decide to justify $200 can go one of two ways: be happy with worn tires, potentially leading to an accident that will cost you a couple thousand or worse... or pay the $200 and drive off happy knowing you have a safe reliable vehicle.
Maybe take your vehicle to a reliable tire shop have them loosen and check the rear tires then take it back to the maintenance shop to have them put tires on the rear and then have a check to see if they did something outside the norm. Take it back to tire shop if you find they are being negligent.
12-08-2014, 07:27 PM
#3
Senior Member
Had you not touched them you'd have a claim. But you did torque them.
12-08-2014, 07:39 PM
#5
I Like Tires
You should have gone somewhere else when they were willing to leave your new tires on the front but that's a completely different debate.
If your lug nuts are stuck and they are the last person to touch them, THEY should pay to have it repaired.
Do they use torque sticks?
Do they even torque lug nuts with a torque wrench?
Sounds like they just take their 900ft/lbs impact gun and hammer those bitches on and call it good.
Anytime studs are broken or seized and we were the last ones to touch it, we pay to have it fixed we don't throw that on the customer. It's not their fault and it's wrong. They brought their vehicle to us because they trust us to do the job right and take care of them. Luckily because we use all the proper equipment, the only issue we run into is the occasional cross thread when installing lug nuts.
You sir, have found out why the local ma and pa shops aren't always the best. They don't do enough volume, nor do they have the assets that they need to protect from liability to perform proper procedures.
Ask and see if they use torque sticks when running up lug nuts. If not, there is one reason it's their fault.
See if they use a torque wrench with a properly sized torque stick to torque all the lug nuts to manufacturer specifications. If not, strike 2.
Did they inform you why leaving new tires on the front can be dangerous and have you sign a liability waiver? If not, strike 3.
They should pay for their screw up.
Sounds like a shady shop trying to put the damages on you.
If your lug nuts are stuck and they are the last person to touch them, THEY should pay to have it repaired.
Do they use torque sticks?
Do they even torque lug nuts with a torque wrench?
Sounds like they just take their 900ft/lbs impact gun and hammer those bitches on and call it good.
Anytime studs are broken or seized and we were the last ones to touch it, we pay to have it fixed we don't throw that on the customer. It's not their fault and it's wrong. They brought their vehicle to us because they trust us to do the job right and take care of them. Luckily because we use all the proper equipment, the only issue we run into is the occasional cross thread when installing lug nuts.
You sir, have found out why the local ma and pa shops aren't always the best. They don't do enough volume, nor do they have the assets that they need to protect from liability to perform proper procedures.
Ask and see if they use torque sticks when running up lug nuts. If not, there is one reason it's their fault.
See if they use a torque wrench with a properly sized torque stick to torque all the lug nuts to manufacturer specifications. If not, strike 2.
Did they inform you why leaving new tires on the front can be dangerous and have you sign a liability waiver? If not, strike 3.
They should pay for their screw up.
Sounds like a shady shop trying to put the damages on you.
12-08-2014, 07:42 PM
#6
I Like Tires
12-08-2014, 07:59 PM
#7
At this point in time I would buy a 4 way lug wrench and see if I could loosen them, sounds to me like they are trying to take you for a ride down Bull**** Blvd.
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12-08-2014, 08:21 PM
#8
Senior Member
