Cross threaded hub...

[jasonc23]

Need some help...

2 weeks ago I had some tyres balanced and fitted on my second set of rims by a local tyre shop. Between now and then, no one has touched my wheels. I tried to take off my rims tonight to inspect my brake pads but the bolts were TIGHT.

I could barely get them to loosen without using all my body weight and more - I've rotated and replaced my rims countless times and never have my bolts been this tight. I've always torqued them up to spec and always been able to loosen them without excessive force.

Thinking back, I'm 100% positive that the mechanic used an impact wrench to put the lug bolts on and then proceeded to further tighten the bolts using his entire 100kg body weight

Anyway, I discovered that one of the bolts has been cross threaded. I had no option but to keep loosening it - I am now down one lug bolt and have some mangled threads in one of the holes.

What do you guys think I should do? I don't see how I could've cross threaded the bolt by loosening it, the bolt was so tight I suspect it was already cross threaded.

I was going to contact the shop tomorrow morning and explain that no one has touched my wheels since they did and see what they have to say. I was also considering getting a m14x1.5 tap and trying to chase the threads from the other side...I've done this before on some other bolt holes (not wheel hubs) with success but not sure how well it will work with a hub...

I don't want to buy a new hub just because of a stupid tyre fitter, besides, I need the cash as my downpipe is absolutely broken at the flange due to some track thrashing

Thoughts???

[kaanage]

That's really bad - I wonder if they can use some sort of thread insert to fix it

I once snapped a wheel bolt that had been gorillad by a tyre fitter

[vwthunder]

, besides, I need the cash as my downpipe is absolutely broken at the flange due to some track thrashing

Thoughts???

On that part

Join the Club lol

[jasonc23]

On that part

Join the Club lol

haha, I thought you had an APR dp? Did that fail on you?

[pog]

I know I will sound pedantic, but when it comes to tyre fitters I always tell them to hand tight it. I don't care, I will stand there and watch them do it, and if I really feel they will make a mess of it, I'll do it myself.

Better safe than sorry I guess. Sorry to hear.

[jasonc23]

I know I will sound pedantic, but when it comes to tyre fitters I always tell them to hand tight it. I don't care, I will stand there and watch them do it, and if I really feel they will make a mess of it, I'll do it myself.

Better safe than sorry I guess. Sorry to hear.

I actually asked if I could change them over myself, they said I wasn't allowed cos of OH&S

[Jmac]

What the F happened to torque wrenches?????? dear oh dear i have 1/4 to 3/4 in my van man. Back in my Porsche days with magnesium nuts etc you never heard impact wrenches in the wshop. Torque it up and thats it, they have impact guns with torque bars now which are pretty good and i took a a fair but of convincing but anyway , no need for jumping on lugnuts serious lack of knowledge which itself is dangerous. Sorry to hear that mate but annoying at the same time

Cheers
Jmac

[vwthunder]

haha, I thought you had an APR dp? Did that fail on you?

Many times, even after they fixed it

[jasonc23]

Big shoutout to Dean @ Volkspower, repaired the hub for free whilst getting my minor service done! Drilled out the hole, inserted a helicoil and problem solved!

[vwthunder]

Big shoutout to Dean @ Volkspower, repaired the hub for free whilst getting my minor service done! Drilled out the hole, inserted a helicoil and problem solved!

What are you going to do about the downpipe

[jasonc23]

Going to try a catless mk4 one from ebay, and modify it to fit...

End of the day, it's just a pipe

[kaanage]

Drilled out the hole, inserted a helicoil and problem solved!

Cool I wasn't sure if a threaded insert would hold OK on this application but Dean would so it's all good.