Replacing Wheel Stud

Costco rotated my tires and when finished, the tech told may they may have stripped or other wise damaged a wheel stud. Chances are they may have cross threaded while using impact wrench.

It was only one stud, so I got back home and undid the lug nut, didn't really see any debris inside or damage to the stud thread. Reinstalled the lug nut w/ regular wrench and there was a tight spot but then seemed ok. Torqued it to spec and have had no issues. (Also loosened and re-torqued all 4 wheels)

Getting ready to rotate tires again, this time I'm doing it. If the lug was damaged, how difficult is it to replace?

2019 SR5, 55K, stock wheels.

 

Turns out, it ain't that hard...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWaih8E-WUI&t=163s

 

why didnt costco fix it?

 

Pull the wheel off and inspect the stud. You may be able to run a die around it and fix the threads - of course you would want to replace the lugnut too. Just did this to my daughter's Tacoma and it was easy peezy.

 

I replaced a couple not long ago. Easy to replace. Have to remove caliper and rotor but you might just rethread it with a die. Use a little antiseize and rethread it with the lug nut. They were covering themselves because they didn't start them by hand. They probably just threw it up there and used the lug nuts to pull it onto the register and cocked it tightening it. Either way, they didn’t do it right.

 

Did not want them to do anything else as I don't think their skill set goes beyond what they already screwed up. Just happy to get it back home to see what the damage may be and fix it.

 

Don't have a die set- what size would I need for this?

 

^You'd use a thread chaser die like one from this set:

$28 TOMMARS 15-Piece Metric Thread Chaser Set, M6 M8 M10 M12 Thread Restorer Tool Rethreading Repair Kit

https://www.amazon.com/TOMMARS-15-Piece-Metric-Restorer-Rethreading/dp/B0BCP86Q4Z/

Thread size is M12x1.50.

Wheel studs are like $1 each but a bit more work: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1060129&cc=3441741&pt=7680&jsn=4
Local source: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOE6411286

 

@3JOH22A I don’t own a thread chaser set but I do own a nice tap and die set. I’ve always used the taps and dies to chase damaged threads. If I were going to advise someone to buy tools, I’d suggest they get a tap and die set before a thread chaser set, for the greater utility. But who knows? Are there situations where chasers are called for and dies are ill advised? So much so that one would need both? The only people I know who actually own thread chasers are machinists.

 

^I learned to use thread chasers watching South Main Auto YouTube channel. Seems to me the normal taps and dies would be too aggressive and remove too much material, weakening the threads. I've used the chineseium Amz thread chasers I linked to clean out threaded holes on my 15 year-old frame successfully over the past couple of years.

 

Ah yes. Weakened threads. You have reminded me. I indeed asked a machinist years ago and he said exactly what you did. The thread chasers are less aggressive and the main point of using them is to avoid removing the case-hardening of the fastener.

Thanks.

 

You can buy individual dies at Ace.

 

Can confirm.

Have been doing machining and fabrication work for over thirty years.

Thread chasing is different than thread cutting.

Chasing set is a good investment.

Jason

 

Amen. I hear ya.

 

Went to Costco today. Saw a dude gunning on a wheel as it was not flush at all, all crooked, seemed like he cross threaded the lug AND the socket was shrieking as it was grinding against the wheel.

No torque stick used. Battery powered impact gun.

Crazy.

 

I tip the guy $5 at discount tire and stand and watch. The $5 is for him to start them by hand.

 

If he was held accountable for his actions, he would probably take a moment to start the lug nuts by hand. I mean, how long would it take to start them by hand?

 

Not a bad idea...
It's just too bad that it isn't normal behavior to hand start anymore. Every repair or install video I watch seems to have guys zipping everything in with a power tool. There is only one or two that use hand tools.

 

I tell the people at the register - who ever works on this gets X tip if my wheels don't have any new scratches

 

I was in Florida last year. Wanted to get the tires rotated before we headed home. Took it to Firestone. They cross threaded it. They fixed it but they just painted the lug nut black. Didn’t notice until I got home. Then I had to order a replacement. Pissed me off to no end

 

easy to do. Lota of vids. Had to do that on my 2007 when I got new tires and the jack ass crossbthreaded then impact gunned the shit out of it and snapped it right off.