Wheel Studs

There's nothing technical about this post. I just felt I needed to vent. Here is my story: Today, I went to Wal-Mart to get some new tires for the front of my car. The previous tires were made by Firestone and with less than 20K both of the tires had huge humps on them. I thought about going back to the Firestone place I bought them and asked them about the 50,000 Miles warranty; but I figure they probably would slap another set of Firestones. So, I went to Wal-Mart and got a couple of Michellin tires. So I wait there for an hour and then the guy that changes the tires tells me to come out. Once I'm next to my car he tells me that the wheel studs are stripped and he can't get the lugs off (two lugs). Funny that the day before I took out the tire and the lugs come out and in nicely. I always make sure the lugs go in easy, if not I replace the lugs, and I also torque the tires to spec (learned this from warped rotor story). So anyway, the bastard stripped the two lugs. My question is, how is this possible? He was using an impact gun. Regardless, after that he only changed one tire and let me hanging... so I went back to my garage broke off the studs (rather difficult), and replace all of the studs and lugs (a couple of good hours, had to get the parts and everything). Anyway, the next time I am taking the tires off myself and driving them to whatever place, then putting them on in the car myself. Has anyone ever had any experience like this? Also, the reason why I did the job of replacing the lugs myself is the following: I could have asked them to replace them for free, but then again, do I really want the same grease monkey working at something even more complicated than changing my tire? Probably not.

- JR

Reply to
JR Lomas
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Impact gun set to "righty-tighty" instead of "lefty-loosey," maybe?

Reply to
Matthew Hunt

How could the so called "grease monkey" strip the lugs taking them off, I just don't see this as his fault It may not even be the fault of the person that removed the tire last time (but most likely) if someone in the past over tightened the studs they may have stretched a bit and never mind if you live in the rust belt.

It is too easy to blame the guy making six bucks an hour at wall mart, ignorant people like yourself suck, you come to this group and complain and insult a man just trying to do his job and can't except that possibility that you brought your P.O.S. in with two bad studs. and I'm sure that you didn't call him a grease monkey to his face you had to come here like a little bitch and do it.

With Love Anthony

Reply to
Anthony

Thank you for your enlightening discussion.

Well the poster above offer some good insight.

funny thing is that the day BEFORE I took out the tire to look at it for inspection. As I mentioned before the lugs went in easy and I torqued them to specs. No problem getting them off.

I feel sorry for him, making $6/hour. Is that my fault? Should I expect bad service because he can't get a better job?

Thank you for calling my ignorant. I guess that implies I have no knowledge. Let me say (childish that it had to come to this) that I have passed all the SAE tests, and I am currently working in my own shop to fullfil the working requirement to become "Master Technician" certified. Also let me say that I went to school for my double Bachelor of Science at MIT in Computer Science and Mathematics, and I am doing a master's at Georgia Tech for Mechanical Engineering.

You are right I didn't. I guess I should feel bad to not insult him to his face and post something so wicked as "grease monkey" on this newsgroup.

Such as yourself coming here and insulting me. Again thank you for your input,

Reply to
JR Lomas

Damn... That one sent me reaching for the dictionary...

*Very* useful word!

Amen!

The tests can be taken without the work requirement, but without the work requirement, there is no certification awarded.

A local fish-wrap reporter took the ASE tests a number of years ago, she passed with flying colors. Had she had the OTJ experience, she'd be makin' the big money now! ;-)

No siree!

Agreed!

Well worth saving!

Reply to
Neil Nelson

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