Hi there!
The subject -- my 2007 Subaru Outback L.L Bean. It has an appetite for wheel studs, almost always the rear wheels.
When I bought the car, the dealer had done some work on it before putting it up for sale, including new rear brakes. I've put 50k miles on the car since, and I've had to replace the rear pads and rotors, because the rotors were damaged. I remember mentioning this before, and someone told my why the brakes failed that quickly, but I'll have to dig through old posts to find that.
Right after I bought the car, I bought winter wheels and tires for it from Tire Rack (wheels are "Sport Edition", their house brand I suspect, but I've had that brand before on other cars with good luck). I've had them on the car every winter since winter 2011. They came with their own wheel lug nuts. So I've had the factory wheels on and off the car several times.
The car wears its stock wheels for three seasons. I do the swap myself. I always torque the lug nuts with a torque wrench, though I think I was using a too-high spec. the first few times :/ So it's possible I've just weakened the studs early on, but it seems unlikely. The highest they would have ever been tightened would be 100 ft.lbs. They now get the factory spec. of 88.5 ft.lbs. (120Nm).
The first time it happened, I figured the dealer used an impact wrench on the studs, or something like that. It's broken many more since them so I doubt that's it. I'd say I've replaced almost every stud since, though I'm not sure.
I just replaced one tonight. I'm getting faster at this job, which is not a good sign. I've got a spare box of Dorman wheel studs just for this purpose.
I replaced both front wheel bearings earlier this year, and while I was at it, I replaced all 20 lug nuts on the off chance that there might be a problem. Doubtful, but I was already buying parts in that area so why not? (I also replaced the wheel bearing bolts when I replaced the bearings. Bolts are cheap.)
Tonight I found another broken stud, on the back. I think I've replaced one broken one up front but it seems the rears are the problem area.
The wheels are original and look okay though I'm going to check them over again next time they're off. I have not checked the rear rotors for flatness, but I have a granite reference plate so I can do that the next time I have the rotors off (probably to replace another stud).
I am open to ideas on what's going on. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
The subject -- my 2007 Subaru Outback L.L Bean. It has an appetite for wheel studs, almost always the rear wheels.
When I bought the car, the dealer had done some work on it before putting it up for sale, including new rear brakes. I've put 50k miles on the car since, and I've had to replace the rear pads and rotors, because the rotors were damaged. I remember mentioning this before, and someone told my why the brakes failed that quickly, but I'll have to dig through old posts to find that.
Right after I bought the car, I bought winter wheels and tires for it from Tire Rack (wheels are "Sport Edition", their house brand I suspect, but I've had that brand before on other cars with good luck). I've had them on the car every winter since winter 2011. They came with their own wheel lug nuts. So I've had the factory wheels on and off the car several times.
The car wears its stock wheels for three seasons. I do the swap myself. I always torque the lug nuts with a torque wrench, though I think I was using a too-high spec. the first few times :/ So it's possible I've just weakened the studs early on, but it seems unlikely. The highest they would have ever been tightened would be 100 ft.lbs. They now get the factory spec. of 88.5 ft.lbs. (120Nm).
The first time it happened, I figured the dealer used an impact wrench on the studs, or something like that. It's broken many more since them so I doubt that's it. I'd say I've replaced almost every stud since, though I'm not sure.
I just replaced one tonight. I'm getting faster at this job, which is not a good sign. I've got a spare box of Dorman wheel studs just for this purpose.
I replaced both front wheel bearings earlier this year, and while I was at it, I replaced all 20 lug nuts on the off chance that there might be a problem. Doubtful, but I was already buying parts in that area so why not? (I also replaced the wheel bearing bolts when I replaced the bearings. Bolts are cheap.)
Tonight I found another broken stud, on the back. I think I've replaced one broken one up front but it seems the rears are the problem area.
The wheels are original and look okay though I'm going to check them over again next time they're off. I have not checked the rear rotors for flatness, but I have a granite reference plate so I can do that the next time I have the rotors off (probably to replace another stud).
I am open to ideas on what's going on. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.