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[robc1976]

Got a stud conversion, then got some aftermarket forged aluminum B Blox extended lug nuts. I was driving down the road and felt a very slight vibration and thought it was probably the road. When I got off on my exit my tire started rubbing pretty badly. At first I thought that my shaved fenders had seperated so I pulled over. When I checked, three of my lugs were gone and the three studs they'd been on had snapped in half. I only had two still holding the rim on. I'm pretty sure that the three lugs came off and the weight of the rim and the wobble from having no lugs, snapped the studs.

Here's what I think happened:

I had no idea that these were aluminum (got them from a a good buddy for free) and had taken them off and on repeatedly (5-6x, maybe more - wheels were tightened and torqued to 90lbs, which may have been high for aluminum) since I've been painting calipers, doing suspension work, shaving fenders, etc. I've been told that when you have aluminum lugs on steel studs the aluminum gets messed up causing actual damage to the steel studs making them possibly come lose.

Any opions or has anyone else dealt with a similiar situation? This could have been really bad had the wheel come completely off with my kids in the car, not to mention I'd been running some logs the night before on a private road - topping out around 140mph.

Suggestions:

What are the best steel lugs I can buy - money isn't an issue:

Or would titanium be better? If so, any brands suggested?

Pics:

[#Tee]

wow glad youre safe rob, i would of thought the lugs would sheer and strip before the steel stud would snap like that...unless its a low grade steel. I removed and torqued (80ftlbs) my ti nuts with ti studs at least over 20 times with no issues. If you want a set of ti studs/nuts you can email ryan @ ryn_hammond@yahoo.com, he has a few sets left (75mm) and can have them shipped to you in 3-4 days....160 for studs only iirc.

im thinking they came loose somehow and the weight of the car snapped them off.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by ~XxTeexX~

wow glad youre safe rob, i would of thought the lugs would sheer and strip before the steel stud would snap like that...unless its a low grade steel. I removed and torqued (80ftlbs) my ti nuts with ti studs at least over 20 times with no issues. If you want a set of ti studs/nuts you can email ryan @ ryn_hammond@yahoo.com, he has a few sets left (75mm) and can have them shipped to you in 3-4 days....160 for studs only iirc.

im thinking they came loose somehow and the weight of the car snapped them off.

So you think the studs are low quality then? They are "Motorsports hardware" rated at 10.9 Hardness. I think the same, lugs came loose and snapped the studs. No damage to wheel holes at all thank god LOL!!

[#Tee]

ya i think the nuts came loose, i highly doubt a 10.9 grade bolt would snap on this type of application.

[TRUTH335]

Definitely the lugs and not the studs. I know many people using these studs on the circuit and they are quality.

But I think I already told you that Rob

P

[triggz]

Rob did you use loctite?

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by triggz

Rob did you use loctite?

not on the lugs.

[gtaccord]

I had some work aluminum lug nuts on my STI and never had an issue with them after removing them multiple times over the course of a year.

Are you sure you tightened them all of the way? It is easy to forget to torque them and they will work loose over time.

[ken1137]

I dont know...looks like the shear strength was too much for the studs since they broke off at the point in which the lug nut ends and is a clean break across the same plane. This is something I am always concerned with regarding longer studs. I bought mine from Turner motorsports and hope I never encounter this problem.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by gtaccord

I had some work aluminum lug nuts on my STI and never had an issue with them after removing them multiple times over the course of a year.

Are you sure you tightened them all of the way? It is easy to forget to torque them and they will work loose over time.

no chance of that, I torque them to 90 ft lbs....May have been a bit much for aluminium....didn't know they where aluminium lol! May also be possible Somone tried to steal the wheels and loosened them?

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by ken1137

I dont know...looks like the shear strength was too much for the studs since they broke off at the point in which the lug nut ends and is a clean break across the same plane. This is something I am always concerned with regarding longer studs. I bought mine from Turner motorsports and hope I never encounter this problem.

very good point, I had longer 82MM studs. What do you mean by "shear strength"?

[VMRWheels]

Wow, glad you caught that. I've never been a fan of aluminum lug nuts. After running them for years, they just felt so fragile. I upgraded to Project Kics R40 REVOs and have been very happy with them. Another great option are Volk Racing Formula lug nuts.

[#Tee]

what kind of seating were those lugs rob? ball or conical? theres nothing else that i can think of lol.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by robc1976

very good point, I had longer 82MM studs. What do you mean by "shear strength"?

It is the strength of the material to resist forces that attempt to cause it to become deformed by sliding against itself, in the same plane of the material, and the same direction of the force. That's why i think it is bolt failure, not the lug nuts.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by ken1137

It is the strength of the material to resist forces that attempt to cause it to become deformed by sliding against itself, in the same plane of the material, and the same direction of the force. That's why i think it is bolt failure, not the lug nuts.

why would they just snap? , I will say it is odd they broke at the same length and snapped at same place.....I just figured the rim hit then in the same place if it wobbled with lugs gone.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Wow, glad you caught that. I've never been a fan of aluminum lug nuts. After running them for years, they just felt so fragile. I upgraded to Project Kics R40 REVOs and have been very happy with them. Another great option are Volk Racing Formula lug nuts.

I agree.....they felt VERY light!

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by ~XxTeexX~

what kind of seating were those lugs rob? ball or conical? theres nothing else that i can think of lol.

conical:

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by robc1976

why would they just snap? , I will say it is odd they broke at the same length and snapped at same place.....I just figured the rim hit then in the same place if it wobbled with lugs gone.

Could be a number of reasons based on my experience with metal and composites; 1) studs not up to specification (it happens, each and every stud is not inspected, maybe one out of a batch of 100 or 1000) 2) load exceeding the specification 3) over torquing (not likely since your torque to 90 ft/lbs) 4) galvanic corrosion (not likely since they do not sit in a bath of water and salt). I can tell from the pic is was definitely shearing that caused the studs to snap. Unfortunately, it does happen so maybe we should replace the extended studs every so many years (?).

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by ken1137

Could be a number of reasons based on my experience with metal and composites; 1) studs not up to specification (it happens, each and every stud is not inspected, maybe one out of a batch of 100 or 1000) 2) load exceeding the specification 3) over torquing (not likely since your torque to 90 ft/lbs) 4) galvanic corrosion (not likely since they do not sit in a bath of water and salt). I can tell from the pic is was definitely shearing that caused the studs to snap. Unfortunately, it does happen so maybe we should replace the extended studs every so many years (?).

Very good points. These studs where a month old.