Wheel bolts broken off in wheel hub

[plaztik]

Hi all,

This past week, I bought some new tires from TireRack, and went to the shop to get them mounted. Unfortunately, 4 of the 16 wheel bolts broke off inside my wheel hubs. This happened once before, but only on one bolt, and they were able to get it out in order to proceed.

This time, however, it seems as if I am hosed. The options I got were to spend $90/hour labor trying to get them out, or to buy 3 new wheel hubs and install them. Until this is taken care of, my car is not driveable, as my rear right wheel is only held on by 2 bolts.

So, my questions are:

1. Has anyone else had this problem? It seems to be a reoccurring issue for me, and I don't understand why.

2. How difficult is a wheel hub to replace? Basically, I need to have the front right, and both rear wheel hubs replaced because of this.

3. Which part(s) do I need to get? I found a listing for a 'Mini Cooper Wheel Hub Assembly', but I have no idea what exactly that is. Also, this says it's an OEM part, but it also says it's manufactured by Febi (and not BMW). What gives? Are there any other parts that would need to be replaced at the same time?

4. Is this something the dealer should be held responsible for? I have aftermarket wheels (with the same offset as stock), so it seems they won't do anything for me.

Please help!

I am totally out of commission until this gets fixed.

Thanks very much!

[ScienceGuy]

Bummer.

Did they break when the shop was putting the wheels on?
If so, they overtightened them, and they should replace them.

In my opinion, the shop should replace them since they broke
them one way or the other.

[captain]

this is just a thought but if you take of the brake callipers & then the brake disks you should be able to get to the back of the hub and screw the bolts back out as the hub is not that thick ,i am saying i think as i cannot remember if it is like that but it is on most cars , i think someone correct me if i am wrong but its worth a try on 1 wheel at least

[plaztik]

Thanks for the replies, guys. All of the bolts broke while coming out (taking the wheels off to mount new tires). As much as I don't want to pay for this, I have trouble seeing how the shop can be held responsible for it. It's hard to screw up turning something counter-clockwise, right?

[Capsaisin]

A trick which usually works is:

Drill down the centre of the broken stud with a small drill bit. If the stud starts to move at this point, try putting the drill in reverse and maybe the drill bit will screw the stud out. If not, then hammer in a pointed metal spike (preferably square section) into the hole. Now try turning the metal spike with grips. The stud should come out, as it is only held in by the threads.

If the bolts broke whilst being taken out, they were overtight in the first place. One of the dangers of pneumatic hammer guns, so favoured by tyre fitters.

[Root Ginger]

Yes, whoever has been fitting the wheels on the car in the past is overtightening the bolts by the sounds of things.

[Tonyt3]

This happened to me once. Take the wheels off, lossen the calipers, take the disks (rotors) off, and you can usually undo the broken bolts yourself - they are rarly 'welded' in place. A little WD40 works a treat too..... you wont need new hubs. Beleive me, you can extract them yourself.....

For the future. Get yourself a proper torque wrench, and in future, get the garage to use the torque wrench to tighten your bolts. Every few weeks, loosen and then re-tighten your bolts. Use some of that stuff for lubricating the bolts too.... (cant remember what its called)......

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3 (original)

This happened to me once. Take the wheels off, lossen the calipers, take the disks (rotors) off, and you can usually undo the broken bolts yourself - they are rarly 'welded' in place. A little WD40 works a treat too..... you wont need new hubs. Beleive me, you can extract them yourself.....

For the future. Get yourself a proper torque wrench, and in future, get the garage to use the torque wrench to tighten your bolts. Every few weeks, loosen and then re-tighten your bolts. Use some of that stuff for lubricating the bolts too.... (cant remember what its called)......

Copper grease.

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Root Ginger (original)

Copper grease.

, thats the one. I had 'bronze grease' in my mind, but knew it was wrong...

[Jon Chalk]

And I've got "CopaSlip" in my mind, for some reason; tradename???

[Root Ginger]

Yep, same stuff.

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3 (original)

, thats the one. I had 'bronze grease' in my mind, but knew it was wrong...

That's old age creeping up on you...

[plaztik]

Guys,

Thanks very much for all the suggestions and encouragement.

I was able to get these out myself last night! Whew!!!

Things were looking pretty scary there for a minute.

Thanks again,

Plaztik

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by plaztik (original)

Guys,

Thanks very much for all the suggestions and encouragement.

I was able to get these out myself last night! Whew!!!

Things were looking pretty scary there for a minute.

Thanks again,

Plaztik

Cool.
I had one break whilst changing my wheels at a track day - thought my day was ruined (it was at the beginning of the day) but with some encouragement from another more experienced guy there, had it done in an hour. One of the regulars even had spare bolts that he gave me too....
Interestingly, it was the locking wheel nut that broke on mine....

[plaztik]

Just for reference, what torque setting does everyone use?

I saw a chart once that listed 88, but I'm not sure how fitting that is for tuner bolts.