Plastic Pieces On Lug Nuts!?

[WarrENDeatH]

So, I re-listened to the voicemail, since I wasn't out to dinner.

Ford didn't blame the PP wheels, but the winter wheels, stating that the "Centric ring caused the damage, from friction, and was still left on." It literally sounds so made up, and doesn't make any sense. I'm going to call around to tire shops, and see what I can do about it. If nothing else, I know this is a 10 dollar in parts fix, and they've marked up labor considerably.

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[HeelToeHero]

It sounds like you need to go in and have a rational (read: calm) discussion with them. I'm sure they would be happy to explain things for you so you're comfortable with the required repair. It actually sounds like they have already prepared to answer your potential questions since they said they have some photos for you. Maybe go in an hear them out versus going in for a fight?

It sounds like you're jumping to conclusions and working youself up. Only so much can be explained on a voicemail.

I mean you had already jumped to conclusions in another thread for the same topic that people were removing your lug nuts...

 

[GTBOB]

You can clearly see the crushed plastic hub centric ring stuck on the hub. Quite blaming Ford. Those are from your aftermarket wheels. You left them on and put the factory wheels back on at some point, thus not seating the wheel to the hub. This equals broken studs. Case closed.

 

[DickR]

You can clearly see the crushed plastic hub centric ring stuck on the hub. Quite blaming Ford. Those are from your aftermarket wheels. You left them on and put the factory wheels back on at some point, thus not seating the wheel to the hub. This equals broken studs. Case closed.

I agree. Whomever did the swap back to summer tires/wheels overlooked the stuck centering ring. You really should check the other three wheels to make sure the rings are still in those wheels or better yet check the car itself and check the oem wheels to make sure no rings are stuck on the car or in the oem wheels. Be sure to torque the wheels to 150 lb-ft using a torque wrench.

FYI if you did the wheels swap don't feel bad since you don't have the background/experience to have "known any better". If a tire store did the work they have no excuse.

 

[jasonstang]

Trust me kids. Wheel studs are done the same today as they are on a fox body. Very easy job. You can rig a metal plate to put over the stud and pull the wheel stud thru the hub using the lug nut. Or you could do it right and buy a wheel stud installation tool for $20 bucks. I've done it both ways.

Or just a bunch of washers.

 

[jasonstang]

You can clearly see the crushed plastic hub centric ring stuck on the hub. Quite blaming Ford. Those are from your aftermarket wheels. You left them on and put the factory wheels back on at some point, thus not seating the wheel to the hub. This equals broken studs. Case closed.

Also given how crashed the plastic looked at the bottom, the wheels never seated properly and probably thus putting extra force on the lugs when cornering.
I am amazed he didn't feel any horrible vibrations.

 

[PJR202]

So someone isn't trying to kill him. He can probably save money even paying the full price for the dealership repair vs what it would have cost him to get out of his lease and put a deposit on another apartment. Win.

 

[Norm Peterson]

You can clearly see the crushed plastic hub centric ring stuck on the hub. Quite blaming Ford. Those are from your aftermarket wheels. You left them on and put the factory wheels back on at some point, thus not seating the wheel to the hub. This equals broken studs. Case closed.

This ↑↑↑ . . . and I've been there too (with a Subaru dealership rotating aftermarket wheels as part of a normal periodic service). Somehow they ended up giving me two metal centering rings under the RR wheel (none on some other wheel). Ended up with three broken studs, same as in the picture, caught it just in time because there was no warning at all that something was about to go really wrong.


Norm

 

[jstump2490]

So someone isn't trying to kill him. He can probably save money even paying the full price for the dealership repair vs what it would have cost him to get out of his lease and put a deposit on another apartment. Win.

I needed a good laugh this morning! I saw the crushed spacer in the first pic and him claiming someone "stole" his lugs and was shocked how long it took someone to point out the ring.

 

[AmericanLegend]

Trust me kids. Wheel studs are done the same today as they are on a fox body. Very easy job. You can rig a metal plate to put over the stud and pull the wheel stud thru the hub using the lug nut. Or you could do it right and buy a wheel stud installation tool for $20 bucks. I've done it both ways.

Here is a YouTube video showing how to use a stud installation tool.
$20.
Easy cheesy.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Or just a bunch of washers.

This ↑↑↑

To make the job go really easy, use a little wheel bearing grease between at least two of the washers and on the contact face of the nut - you'll want to use a regular hex nut here for the larger contact area so it'll be even less likely to gall - and spray a little WD-40 on the new stud's threads. Wash the WD and any grease residue off the stud when you're done (acetone works for this, is cheap and readily available).

I also prefer to use stainless washers for the smoother surface. Less than two weeks ago I replaced all ten rear wheel studs on my '08 (upgrade to ARP) and they pulled up solid using only one hand on a standard-length 1/2" ratchet with hardly any effort at all. I'm not a big guy.


On edit - blow any rust out of the hole the stud goes through, and don't be afraid to squirt a little WD-40 on those splines.


Norm

 

[PJR202]

On this car is it expensive to just buy a new hub with the studs already on there? Pretty simple swap once the calipers are off.

 

[DickR]

This ↑↑↑

To make the job go really easy, use a little wheel bearing grease between at least two of the washers and on the contact face of the nut - you'll want to use a regular hex nut here for the larger contact area so it'll be even less likely to gall - and spray a little WD-40 on the new stud's threads. Wash the WD and any grease residue off the stud when you're done (acetone works for this, is cheap and readily available).

I also prefer to use stainless washers for the smoother surface. Less than two weeks ago I replaced all ten rear wheel studs on my '08 (upgrade to ARP) and they pulled up solid using only one hand on a standard-length 1/2" ratchet with hardly any effort at all. I'm not a big guy.


On edit - blow any rust out of the hole the stud goes through, and don't be afraid to squirt a little WD-40 on those splines.


Norm

I think the issue is not how to get new studs installed but is there room behind the studs to press/hammer the broken studs out.

In any case the OP clearly doesn't currently have the necessary knowledge to do it himself even if he has time, tools, and a place to do the work.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

You can clearly see the crushed plastic hub centric ring stuck on the hub. Quite blaming Ford. Those are from your aftermarket wheels. You left them on and put the factory wheels back on at some point, thus not seating the wheel to the hub. This equals broken studs. Case closed.

This is a very simple mistake to make. Short story. I loaned a friend my skinny front runners. (Race Stars) well he call me after his night of racing. And says I'm going to need to hold on to your wheels. I'm like you liked them that much? He replys. NO I CANT GET MY STOCK WHEELS BACK ON NOW! I went to his house the next day and found that he forgot to remove the centering ring. Completely crushed it. And his stock wheels wouldn't mount flush. He felt pretty stupid when I pointed out the plastic ring!

Or just a bunch of washers.

I've done it that way also. But learned that if you don't use thick washers. They will bend a little from the torque it takes to pull the std flush with the hub.. I made a 2in.X2in. metal plate that was over an 1/8 inch thick. And drilled a hole in it slightly bigger than the stud. But washer will work for sure!:cheers:

 

[jasonstang]

This is a very simple mistake to make. Short story. I loaned a friend my skinny front runners. (Race Stars) well he call me after his night of racing. And says I'm going to need to hold on to your wheels. I'm like you liked them that much? He replys. NO I CANT GET MY STOCK WHEELS BACK ON NOW! I went to his house the next day and found that he forgot to remove the centering ring. Completely crushed it. And his stock wheels wouldn't mount flush. He felt pretty stupid when I pointed out the plastic ring!

I've done it that way also. But learned that if you don't use thick washers. They will bend a little from the torque it takes to pull the std flush with the hub.. I made a 2in.X2in. metal plate that was over an 1/8 inch thick. And drilled a hole in it slightly bigger than the stud. But washer will work for sure!:cheers:

I think I used medium thick washers like maybe 1/16 ones.
You don't really need to pull it flush. Just get it on enough so you can put the wheel back on to pull it all the way with the wheel in place.

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