LX570 Broken Lug, need advice

[mripper]

Hey guys. Had my '09 LX570 front brake rotors and pads replaced at Toyota dealer and also had 1 inch spacers installed (I know). A couple days later felt some vibration in the front LH wheel. Took the wheel off and one of my Hub Studs was broken, nut was just sitting there rattling around in hole, 3 other spacer nuts were loose. I had driven about 50 miles with the vibration getting progressively worse, heading straight home because it was late night.

Besides the fact that I need a new stud and am now reconsidering the spacers, I'm wondering if I should be replacing the wheel bearing as well since there must have been some pressure/wear during my last drive home. Thanks for any advice.

 

[grinchy]

New hubs include the wheel bearing and new studs as well. No harder than a brake job but does require the hub socket and a breaker bar.

Is the root cause that the spacer wasn’t appropriately torqued, if so Toyota dealer should be doing the fixing for free.

 

[mripper]

New hubs include the wheel bearing and new studs as well. No harder than a brake job but does require the hub socket and a breaker bar.

Is the root cause that the spacer wasn’t appropriately torqued, if so Toyota dealer should be doing the fixing for free.

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of just replacing the broken stud, not the entire hub assy, and was considering replacing the bearings if needed, just not sure how much I wore them by driving the 50 miles. I do believe the dealer broke the lug when installing the spacer but didn't notice cause it hadn't actually broke off, and driving made the other bolts loose.

 

[TeCKis300]

I'm with @grinchy. Definitely sounds like a case where the nuts weren't torqued properly. Much easier to break studs when they're under torqued than over. I wouldn't worry much about the bearing. I'd worry about the other studs. probably a good time to replace all studs and that wheel spacer.

Wheel spacers are fine. Just need to make sure one properly torques everything when using them. Including re-torquing everything after 50-100miles after installing new spacers. I have 1" spacers all around, and I rely on this setup with upwards of 14,000 lbs when under tow, and through the mountains roads.

 

[GordJ]

I'm with @grinchy. Definitely sounds like a case where the nuts weren't torqued properly. Much easier to break studs when they're under torqued than over. I wouldn't worry much about the bearing. I'd worry about the other studs. probably a good time to replace all studs and that wheel spacer.

Wheel spacers are fine. Just need to make sure one properly torques everything when using them. Including re-torquing everything after 50-100miles after installing new spacers. I have 1" spacers all around, and I rely on this setup with upwards of 14,000 lbs when under tow, and through the mountains roads.

I have had trailer wheels come off after new axles installed and have had friends wheels loose after new installations. The friend had his put on at Costco where they torque wrench every installation. Re-torque is important and I suspect that is the cause and not the faulty installation.

 

[mripper]

I'm with @grinchy. Definitely sounds like a case where the nuts weren't torqued properly. Much easier to break studs when they're under torqued than over. I wouldn't worry much about the bearing. I'd worry about the other studs. probably a good time to replace all studs and that wheel spacer.

Wheel spacers are fine. Just need to make sure one properly torques everything when using them. Including re-torquing everything after 50-100miles after installing new spacers. I have 1" spacers all around, and I rely on this setup with upwards of 14,000 lbs when under tow, and through the mountains roads.

Thanks for that, I ended up replacing the lug myself this morning since I hadn't used my air impact driver in a while and needed the Nascar pitstop noise to pump me up. Drives great, no vibrations or noise and the spacer is nice and tight on there. I'm pretty sure that the tech broke the lug but didn't notice cause it's been feeling off since I had the work done on Wednesday. I checked the other 3 wheels and they are fine. Glad I was able to deal with it at home.

I have had trailer wheels come off after new axles installed and have had friends wheels loose after new installations. The friend had his put on at Costco where they torque wrench every installation. Re-torque is important and I suspect that is the cause and not the faulty installation.

I had the work done on Wednesday, very little mileage and heard a popping noise a couple times right after the installation when I would pull out of a parking spot. At first I thought it was my tire hitting the mud flap, since it's much closer now with the spacer, but now realize it was the wheel hitting the loose spacer lug bolt between the spacer and wheel. It was most definitely broken on installation and the other bolts had worked themselves loose after that.

 

[bloc]

Personally I’d change all studs on that corner. The remaining ones might have seen well over designed loads, especially with multiple nuts loose.

 

[TonyP]

I agree, I'd change all the studs on that hub. I'm guessing the others were side-loaded a bit especially if vibration was occurring. You don't want all the studs to sheer at highway speed. It's been known to happen.

 

[mripper]

Thanks guys, will change the others next weekend, appreciate the feedback.

 

[GordJ]

I had the work done on Wednesday, very little mileage and heard a popping noise a couple times right after the installation when I would pull out of a parking spot. At first I thought it was my tire hitting the mud flap, since it's much closer now with the spacer, but now realize it was the wheel hitting the loose spacer lug bolt between the spacer and wheel. It was most definitely broken on installation and the other bolts had worked themselves loose after that.

Damn, I got it wrong again. Glad you got it remedied.

 

[mripper]

Damn, I got it wrong again. Glad you got it remedied.

It's all good info for anyone with future issues, never a bad idea to re-torque bolts when mechanic has wheels off/on. Appreciate the input