I just took of my wheels to put my sideskirts on and I snapped of 2 studs and stripped another two. I have this problem before also, am I the only one or does toyota just make these easy to break???

Sounds like its a problem with how you take off the lug nuts. What are you using? An impact gun or just one of those gay cross wrenches with the four sockets on them? I haven't had a problem with that before I don't know about anyone else though.

that has happened to me before. not that many lugs but before. i think its because auto shops, when they put wheels on cars they use impact guns which can cause cross threading. Time is also a factor, since you screw and unscrew them all the time (rotating tires, brakes, exhaust, etc.).

I've just been using my torque wrench. I have used an impact wrench before also. No matter what I use at least one breaks every time. >>

what do you torque your lugs to? You're probably put them on too tight.

103 ft/lbs or in/lbs, I don't remember which one, but its what my manual says to torque them too.

76ft/lbs

-95STHATCH+Jul 25, 2004 - 7:34 AM

76 is the correct torque. Most toyota's torque to this spec. I checked my manual and thats what it says. If you want send me your email and I'll send you the shop manual in PDF that gives lug torque specs.

i have taken my wheels off about a billion times and not a single one has broke off. I use a break bar also and tighten them down pretty tight.

I autocross my 6th gen GT extensively. I probably change wheels and tires at least 10 times a month. I have never had a stud break. I bust them loose with the tool in the trunk, unscrew with a cordless drill. The lugs go back on with the drill, and then finish with a torque wrench to 80 ft/lbs.

I think you are over-tightening the lug nuts.

That said, I will say that I have had a couple of the nuts want to crossthread on me. I suspect that if you blammed them on with an impact (like a tire shop might do), that could cause you some grief. I have also had some of the nuts want to bind on me. Basically, what I did was to put anti-sieze on all the studs, and anti-sieze on the washer on the lug nuts (7th gen OEM GT wheels), and that solved the problem.

I don't know if I would recommend anti-sieze to everybody, though. If you don't diddle around with the car a lot, I would worry that they might work thier way loose. Since I do 2 or 4 tire changes every weekend during the summer, I don't sweat it, and just check it every month or so during the winter months.

-95STHATCH+Jul 25, 2004 - 7:34 AM

Why doesn't any shops ever use a torque stick on the air guns?! >> I wouldn't go to a shop & get my wheels removed if they dont own a set...

I used to install tires at Sam's Club and we used torque wrenches on the air guns. I remember vivedly that we used 80 lbs. for every kind of Toyota.

-Meonspeed+Jul 27, 2004 - 2:52 AM

every toyota from the mid 80's too now torque's at 80ft/lbs except the new land cruisers! i take two or three sets of wheels off a day and put them back on with an impact gun and a torque stick, and have never had a problem with breaking them or crossthreading.