Hello. I have a 92' Ford Ranger XLT with 4WD. Earlier today. I paid $209.00 to have three frozen lug nuts and studs drilled out and replaced. The brake components and wheel did not have to be replaced fortunately.

Well in April of 2004, I had brake work done in which the rotor and its accompanying studs were replaced. The mechanic told me today that the studs were too short for the original equipment wheel. He also noted that the threads didn't even extend to the end of the stud. I also talked to a service advisor at a local Ford dealer about this. I showed him one of the old studs, and he also said the studs were too short for make and model and that the threads should extend to the end of the stud. By the way, the stud in question is 2 and 9/16 inches long.

I think that this brake repair shop caused the seized lug nuts/stud problem that I had to pay over $200.00 to repair. The only time that wheel was removed since last April, was to have a new tire put on. And I was the one who mounted the wheel, because I don't want anyone putting a lug nut on too tight or cross-threading it.

Both service advisor and mechanic thought it was peculiar that three lug nuts were seized. The Ford guy believes that the brake place caused the problem. The mechanic does too, but was not as willing to say so.

I am tired of repair shops making mistakes that cause me to spend money needlessly. Back in 98' a guy at Firestone cross-threaded a lug nut on my truck. I know it was him because he did not hand-turn the lug nut first. He started it with the impact wrench. I did not discover this seized lug nut till months later, so I did not make a complaint.

This time, I am going to pursue this company to compensate me for the repair cost.

Does anyone have an opinion on this?

Thanks

Some time over tightening the lugs can cause them to gall up and cause that problem. I agree that you should ask the brake repair shop to repay you for your money lost by the problem they cause, if they cause the problem. But, I don't think your going to be able to prove to them it was them that caused the seized lug nuts. Good luck with this and let us know how it goes with them.

well daveranger, i am sorry this happened to you. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of your area or state against the brake shop! Look and see if other people have complaints against them. file that complaint and so other people know and it will help with your court case if it comes to that point!

Thanks to cctxfish and josser to replying to my entry "seized lug nuts, again!"

Is this a common problem with Rangers? I just had of MINE drilled here in Norfolk, VA at $60. Call me ignorant....never heard of/had that problem before. With any vehicle. And I've had several. This was the first vehicle I bought new (don't know if I would do it again), and have had more little things go wrong with this vehicle than with any of the old cars I've had, with the exception of the '72 SuperBeetle I drove before I got my truck (which ironically, maintains it's favorite status of cars owned thus far).
:eek:

I'm not having a lot of faith in any vehicle repair/tire shops ANYwhere anymore. HUGE ripoffs, for the most part. My motivation (well, besides the money I save ;) ) for doing it myself. That way, no one to blame but me.

:D

i worked as a tech for a while, and i never saw a lugnut that i couldnt get off...at worse, i would put a half inch drive gun and snap them, but thats different...

Stripped out a few myself,,,never the vihcle fault

I was able to get the repair shop to compensate me almost three hundred dollars for the problems they caused. In addition, I checked my receipts and records and remembered that the wheel with stuck lug nuts had not been removed at all since the brake repair place made the repair mistake. So I was able to make an even stronger case. I sent a letter to the manager and copied the letter to the company's corporate headquarters. I also talked to the manager on the phone. I received my check last week. It just goes to show you people can be held accountable.