Subject: car problems
Billy writes: I recently had my tires rotated by a reputable shop, when I went to drive away I heard a loud snap from the rear of the truck (a 98 ford ranger 4×4 by the way). I stopped immediately and told the shop Foreman who drove the truck back into the bay.
When they got it up in the air they found the center of my wheel had cracked around the lug holes. When they tried to take the wheel off the impact could not break the lug nuts loose, they had to lower the truck and use a 4 foot cheater bar on a big torque wrench.
I think they over tightened the lugs based on how hard they were to remove, but the Foreman told me that the snap I heard sent a vibration to the lugs and bound them up.
The shop won’t reimburse me for the wheel and basically told me to never come back. Does this sound possible or do you think they severely over torqued the lugs, do you think its worth taking them to small claims court? The wheels are an aftermarket billet aluminum and cost about 320 dollars apiece.
Thanks in advance, Dave you are the man!!!!
Billy, it sounds to me like they are not very reputable. Obviously they are not using a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts. And, NO WAY would a billet aluminum wheel, breaking as it did, ever make the lug nuts tighten and extra half or quarter turn to make them that tight. If anything they would loosen, taking the path of least resistance. Makes you wonder if the lug studs are stretched and about to break! Are the other wheels that tight also?
I would document everything concerning the work they did, get a wheel expert and take them to court. You may want to check the age of the tires also. Check out my article telling you how to find the age of the tires. It is easy, stamped right in them.
Billy, don’t go back to that auto shop and tell others not to. They don’t have the right to work on anybody’s vehicle with service like that!
Good Luck..
Dave..
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