Help requested dealing with mechanic error

I'm not certain this is the right place for this post.
If so, please let me know.

I have a 2013 Honda Civic and had a rear tire with a slow leak last week.
Took it to a local tire shop, had the tire plugged.
Same tire was completely flat this morning.
I went to put spare tire on, and a lug stud snapped off.
Inspecting it, the stud is obviously bent.

I googled causes, and it says this is almost always error when putting a tire on, either misaligning the lug nut, or overtightening with a power tool.
I have a good feeling when I go to the tire shop tomorrow the response will be "we didn't do it". Possibly, but who else would have? This morning was the first time I've removed a tire from this vehicle myself.

So, any advice or tips when going in to talk to the tire shop, that I'm obviously not aware of?
Thanks in advance for any advice

I'm sure their first question will be something along the lines of, "What tool were you using to remove the lug nut when the stud bent?" If it's something like an L-shaped lug wrench, then they have a point, those put side pressure on lugs and can cause them to bend. Of course if they had plugged the tire correctly, then you've wouldn't have had to use a lug wrench in the first place. :smile:

Most good shops will either use a torque wrench or torque extension to properly torque the lugs. If this is one of those shops, then they did nothing wrong. The damage could've been done the last time new tires were put on. It's pretty much going to come down to whether or not they're willing to own all or part of it. If they don't, you have no proof and will have to pay to have the stud replaced.

I'm sure their first question will be something along the lines of, "What tool were you using to remove the lug nut when the stud bent?" If it's something like an L-shaped lug wrench, then they have a point, those put side pressure on lugs and can cause them to bend. Of course if they had plugged the tire correctly, then you've wouldn't have had to use a lug wrench in the first place. :smile:

Most good shops will either use a torque wrench or torque extension to properly torque the lugs. If this is one of those shops, then they did nothing wrong. The damage could've been done the last time new tires were put on. It's pretty much going to come down to whether or not they're willing to own all or part of it. If they don't, you have no proof and will have to pay to have the stud replaced.

I used an "×" shaped lug wrench.
I'm obviously not mechanically inclined, and not sure of the proper name, but it's the type with a different size socket on all four ends.
Again, I'm as far from an expert as you can get, but I'm pretty sure it's an acceptable lug wrench.
But, what you replied is basically what I was afraid of, no way to prove what/who caused the bend. But as I stated, I've not removed the tire (before this incident) and haven't hit anything or any severe potholes or anything of the like.

Anyway, thanks for the reply.
I'm quite sure I'll be eating this repair...lol.

After having tires rotated or new ones put on, at home I would have to STAND ON THE straight tire iron to loosen each nut, star pattern of course, indicating clearly how much torque the shop applied with their impact guns.

Then, retorque all to spec with the torque wrench.

Common problem over tightening lug nuts with an impact gun, they should use torque limiter extensions, simple fix for this. I mentioned this to shop I know and got a mechanical double talk answer. This is an industry wide problem.

Agree wth wedge:


Limit impact to 50 lb-ft (or ft-lb!), then, "take them home" with a torque wrench to specified torque.