Tyre shop has stripped wheel bolt.
Discussion
I put my car in for a pair of front tyres yesterday. On collecting the car the guy on the desk casually tells me that when taking out one of the wheel bolts the thread just came out with it and he's not sure if there's any damage to the hub and he can't look at it because he doesn't have a tap and die set.
Now I changed the front brakes myself a few months ago and had the wheels off and a lot of the bolts were tight but don't remember forcing anything in.
I'll try to attach a picture but from me looking at it the thread has been pushed up, not come out like they suggested, I can't see how that wheel bolt would've ever been screwed in like that let alone come back out, I I tried a bolt with clean thread in the hub and the hub is also threaded.
So my theory is the guy has put it in cross threaded and used an impact wrench on it causing the damage you can see.
Let me know what you think, could I have done that and also managed to torque it to spec? I don't want to pursue them for damages if its something I've done myself but can't see how that bolt would've ever gone in like that
Now I changed the front brakes myself a few months ago and had the wheels off and a lot of the bolts were tight but don't remember forcing anything in.
I'll try to attach a picture but from me looking at it the thread has been pushed up, not come out like they suggested, I can't see how that wheel bolt would've ever been screwed in like that let alone come back out, I I tried a bolt with clean thread in the hub and the hub is also threaded.
So my theory is the guy has put it in cross threaded and used an impact wrench on it causing the damage you can see.
Let me know what you think, could I have done that and also managed to torque it to spec? I don't want to pursue them for damages if its something I've done myself but can't see how that bolt would've ever gone in like that
outnumbered said:
I would say that's cross threaded + impact gun, as you say. I guess they'll deny it, maybe worth pursuing with the manager though ?
This. Ask to see the manager/owner and explain that the man has pretty much admitted it and it's clearly their error because there can be no other explanation.That said, if the hub is still a clean thread then surely a new bolt is not that much?
You're far better off just naming and shaming them as your compensation so other people know to think twice before going there.
The alternative route of getting cross and wasting loads of time trying to extract remedy from the garage is definitely not worth it.
So long as it's not a 3-stud wheel on a Citroen I'd just make sure the remaining fasteners are properly secured and go and find yourself a good engineering shop (probably not a vehicle workshop, rather an actual engineering shop) who are happy have a go at straightening out those threads. In all likelihood the damage is mostly to the bolt given the state of it.
I know of a place in South East London who could probably help if you just by chance happen to be around there.
The alternative route of getting cross and wasting loads of time trying to extract remedy from the garage is definitely not worth it.
So long as it's not a 3-stud wheel on a Citroen I'd just make sure the remaining fasteners are properly secured and go and find yourself a good engineering shop (probably not a vehicle workshop, rather an actual engineering shop) who are happy have a go at straightening out those threads. In all likelihood the damage is mostly to the bolt given the state of it.
I know of a place in South East London who could probably help if you just by chance happen to be around there.
ingenieur said:
You're far better off just naming and shaming them as your compensation so other people know to think twice before going there.
The alternative route of getting cross and wasting loads of time trying to extract remedy from the garage is definitely not worth it.
So long as it's not a 3-stud wheel on a Citroen I'd just make sure the remaining fasteners are properly secured and go and find yourself a good engineering shop (probably not a vehicle workshop, rather an actual engineering shop) who are happy have a go at straightening out those threads. In all likelihood the damage is mostly to the bolt given the state of it.
I know of a place in South East London who could probably help if you just by chance happen to be around there.
This forum as home stupid rule that you can't "name and shame" company's is situations like thisThe alternative route of getting cross and wasting loads of time trying to extract remedy from the garage is definitely not worth it.
So long as it's not a 3-stud wheel on a Citroen I'd just make sure the remaining fasteners are properly secured and go and find yourself a good engineering shop (probably not a vehicle workshop, rather an actual engineering shop) who are happy have a go at straightening out those threads. In all likelihood the damage is mostly to the bolt given the state of it.
I know of a place in South East London who could probably help if you just by chance happen to be around there.
Sorry if not clear, the hub will not take another bolt so needs either fixing or replacing.
My only concern with getting the hub repaired is my "car" is a vw caravelle so a 2.3 tonne van derived car which the bolts should be nipped up to 180nm so quite a lot of strain on them.
I'll see how I get on with speaking to them, I've asked how to claim from their insurance. Luckily the wheels are 5 stud so still have 4 bolts which I've checked are torqued up so don't mind gently poodling around town in it but it needs sorting ASAP.
My only concern with getting the hub repaired is my "car" is a vw caravelle so a 2.3 tonne van derived car which the bolts should be nipped up to 180nm so quite a lot of strain on them.
I'll see how I get on with speaking to them, I've asked how to claim from their insurance. Luckily the wheels are 5 stud so still have 4 bolts which I've checked are torqued up so don't mind gently poodling around town in it but it needs sorting ASAP.
Yes, I'd say complain to them about it and go after them for the cost of having it repaired.
If you're lucky, it may be possible to just clean it up with a tap while still on the van.
If not, and you need to have the hub removed, it may be just as cheap to fit a new one as to have someone do a proper repair.
If you're lucky, it may be possible to just clean it up with a tap while still on the van.
If not, and you need to have the hub removed, it may be just as cheap to fit a new one as to have someone do a proper repair.
Cakey_ said:
To be honest though I don't think its specifically the shops fault, more the moron that did the work, you get bad eggs in every workplace. I'm sure 99.99999% of the time he gets away with whizzing bolts on with an impact.
I’m not sure the %age is that low. But their get outs are well worn and time proven.
Vintagejock said:
Obviously the hub will be fubar. Looks like the bolt hasn't been started in the thread by hand, just buzzed in with the windy/milwaukee. Not worth trying to repair the hub , would you trust it afterwards?
No I'm not sure I would trust a repaired hub, I've a garage I do trust who know a lot more than me so I will seek their advice tomorrow, but chances are it will be a new one going on. If it was a clio or something similar that's small and light it's a bit different but loaded up my van can weigh upto 3 tonne, it's the sort of thing I don't like to take chances with skodaphile said:
I've had similar, just used the correct tap (about 10 off ebay) and cleaned out the thread in the hub. New bolt was less than 3 and it went in and torqued up fine.
There are how-to videos on Youtube.
Exactly. I suppose I assumed in my original reply that the chap wasn't handy with the spanners but he did say he did brake work on the car so perhaps I should've said to do as you've suggested. There are how-to videos on Youtube.
You need to have a look at the thread in the hub, using a torch it will pretty obvious if it damaged.
What isn't clear is, did the tyre place leave the bolt removed so you could see the damage or did it up with damage and told you about and you removed it?
If the latter then I would expect they put an undamaged bolt in the damaged hole in the hub and the damaged bolt in an undamaged hole in the hub.
The wheel needs to come and all threads in the hub checked as you may have 2 damaged threads not just 1.
As for them not having thread cleanup tools I bet they have but they just wanted the problem i.e. you gone but at least they told you they screwed up which is them covering their arses.
What isn't clear is, did the tyre place leave the bolt removed so you could see the damage or did it up with damage and told you about and you removed it?
If the latter then I would expect they put an undamaged bolt in the damaged hole in the hub and the damaged bolt in an undamaged hole in the hub.
The wheel needs to come and all threads in the hub checked as you may have 2 damaged threads not just 1.
As for them not having thread cleanup tools I bet they have but they just wanted the problem i.e. you gone but at least they told you they screwed up which is them covering their arses.
Reasonably handy with the spanners, I've not used a tap and die before though and not sure I fancy attempting it on something so important for my first try.
I've changed a hub on a car before for similar reasons (different garage though) and struggled to beat the bearing/hub out of the steering knuckle with a hammer so not sure if I would manage to get it out of a van assuming it's heavier duty.
It will likely be a garage job, if the tyre place will cough up its a bonus but not expecting much to be honest.
I've changed a hub on a car before for similar reasons (different garage though) and struggled to beat the bearing/hub out of the steering knuckle with a hammer so not sure if I would manage to get it out of a van assuming it's heavier duty.
It will likely be a garage job, if the tyre place will cough up its a bonus but not expecting much to be honest.
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