Running w/5 lugs instead of 6?...

Last time I was at Firestone to rotate the tires, they broke off a front stud, drivers side. You know the famous crappy lugs of the 96-97 model years; anyway they refused to fix it, saying it was already broke.

My question is, whether or not it's safe to drive - they let me go, saying that it was totally safe with the 5 remaining.

I will get it fixed, i just don't have time right now.

5 is safe but I would rather have six!! If you can prove they broke it I would go back to the manager at the tire store and raise h#$$ with him.

I had a friend who took his car to a place to get his tires rotated and when they put the tires back on they used an airhammer on the lugnuts....without realizing they were cross-threading. When he went to replace his brake pads the next day he said the lugnuts were on extremely tight, and when they finally broke loose they just snapped off the lugs. He went back to the place he had his tires rotated and told them what happened and they agreed to pay the bill to have him go somewhere else to have it fixed. Bottom line....if they messed up, they should fix it.

Oh the dreaded lug nuts! I replaced all of mine on my 94 Rodeo. I then applied the grey stuff in a tube called "anti-seize" compound every time the lug nuts are removed. I also use a hand torque wrench to the correct spec’s. When I have the tires worked on a tire store I make sure they use my torque wrench to tighten everything up. That corrected the problem!

Oh the dreaded lug nuts! I replaced all of mine on my 94 Rodeo. I then applied the grey stuff in a tube called "anti-seize" compound every time the lug nuts are removed. I also use a hand torque wrench to the correct spec’s. When I have the tires worked on a tire store I make sure they use my torque wrench to tighten everything up. That corrected the problem!



I know that was the problem, the guy at Firestone refused to use a hand torque.

Would you happen to know exactly what I need to replace this with, I'm gonna do it myself. Thanks!

I know that was the problem, the guy at Firestone refused to use a hand torque.

Would you happen to know exactly what I need to replace this with, I'm gonna do it myself. Thanks!


I went to Pep Boys and they had some in stock, they are about $4.50 each, the rest I got from a buddy who owns a parts store and they cost a little less but not supper cheap. They are usually not an in stock item. Each one comes in a little plastic bag with the spring washer, a heavy flat washer and the lug nut. They are not any better than the ones you are replacing but you are starting out with a fresh lug nut. The torque for steel wheels is 65 to 75 Ft-Lbs. Aluminum wheels 80 to 90 Ft-Lbs. You have to use the anti-seize stuff for best results. Even now I get nervous when I change tires. Next time before they work on your tires make sure they hand tighten them. I strongly suggest getting a torque wrench, it will save a lot of tire hassle. You have to watch the tire people to keep them honest. Otherwise they will twist on those nuts till they are good and stripped and give them four more good blasts with the air gun for good measure!!!

If you break off a lug nut you may have to bite the bullet and take the wheel to a garage and have them drill out the offending beast or do whatever needs to be done. Running with five nuts is probable ok; I have a front wheel with five nuts. It does put a little stress on the other lug nuts but you really can't tell much unless you are running four lugs nuts as the tire most likely will start to run out of balance. Good luck.

Hope this info helps, Greg

I forgot to mention that the reason they strip is that they are some kind soft metal that if you over tighten the lug nuts they start to change shape inside the wheel threads and cross thread and do whatever soft metal does when it is stressed. So the nut goes in fine, it is after you twist the you know what out of them that they give you all of the grief. The wheel itself is tuff so no harm on those. Greg