Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes Brake heat = failed wheels studs???

A couple weeks ago two of the four studs on my right front wheel snapped off, leaving about 1 inch inside the lugnut. I got that repaired and all is fine, but my question is: How did this happen? If it was my aftermarket wheels, I'll buy others or go back to stock wheels. Or was it excessive heat from the brakes? I'm not hard on brakes other than 1 panic stop which warped my rotors. The reason I think it was heat-related is because the surfaces of the broken studs were rainbow-hued, not rough at all. I just want to prevent this from happening again. And yes, I used search and read all the topics about hub-centric/lug-centric wheels. Can the brakes get hot enough to fatigue the studs to the point of failure?

I had one rear wheel stud break over a year ago. I doubt the rear brakes heat up enough to fatigue anything. Just shoddy parts I think. I broke it trying to take the lugnut off. Don't remember having any trouble putting one on either. Keep them lubricated with some graphite or white grease too.

Simple answer, air impact wrenches f**k up studs!

Thanks, Terry, for the *concise* post. But these lugnuts have always been tightened by hand with a torque wrench, first to 90 ft-lbs and later backed off to 75 ft-lbs.

You are taking them past the yeld point by going to 90,they have 'waisted' hence failure.take them to correct torque, run about 5 miles and re torque with the wheel & brakes COLD.Alloy wheels are like an alloy cylinder head, you NEVER retorque hot.