JKU lug stud problems

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dukeboy318

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So I’ve owned my 08 JKU since 3,400 miles. Now has 238,000. I’ve had one reoccurring issue and I’m curious if anyone has had this issue or not.

Lug studs. Ever since my first tire rotation, I’ve had at least 1-3 studs break per hub. At first, I chalked it up to tire shops just using pneumatic impacts and over torquing. So I started just taking the rims and tires into the shops to have them mounted and balanced and I installed them by hand and torqued to specs. But it still happens. I’ve tried various brands from all the local part stores and even some online.

Never had any other vehicle do this. Gets really annoying changing 20 lug studs every tire rotation or change. And I always replace all at once. Meaning expensive.

Anyone else have this problem and find a way to solve it?
 
BLACKJKU said:
Even the new ones your replacing are breaking? What are you torquing them at?
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Yes and 95 ft lbs. and not when torqueing. They hold fine, no issues until I go to take them off again at a later date. For example, I rotated my tires in July. had several studs break, so I pressed new ones in and used brand new lug nuts. Its now been just 3 months, went to replace the tires, snapped 3 of them on each of the rears, 2 up front. only passenger side front came off clean. Its like theyre rusting inside the lug nut. They are open nuts. Thinking out loud here, but I'm wondering if that could be part of the problem. So I've ordered closed nuts that fit my wheels, we shall see if that helps
 
dukeboy318 said:
Yes and 95 ft lbs. and not when torqueing. They hold fine, no issues until I go to take them off again at a later date. For example, I rotated my tires in July. had several studs break, so I pressed new ones in and used brand new lug nuts. Its now been just 3 months, went to replace the tires, snapped 3 of them on each of the rears, 2 up front. only passenger side front came off clean. Its like theyre rusting inside the lug nut. They are open nuts. Thinking out loud here, but I'm wondering if that could be part of the problem. So I've ordered closed nuts that fit my wheels, we shall see if that helps
Click to expand...


Your not putting any oil or anti-seize on them are you?
 
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Are you using aftermarket lug nuts or the crappy tin-capped sorry-excuse for a proper lugnut acorn shaped things Mopar thinks are just peachy? You know, the ones that trap water, strip at the worst time, and sometimes causes the lugnuts to seize on the stud?
 
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I've run McGuard and Gorrilla. On the 5 JK's and 3 KJ's the family has had over the years, I've eventually replaced all the OEM lugnuts. This is definitely one area where aftermarket is MUCH better.
 
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JerryD said:
Are you using aftermarket lug nuts or the crappy tin-capped sorry-excuse for a proper lugnut acorn shaped things Mopar thinks are just peachy? You know, the ones that trap water, strip at the worst time, and sometimes causes the lugnuts to seize on the stud?
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ive tried both OEM and part store lug nuts, not sure I'd call them aftermarket though
 
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The only time I've had to replace studs was when the nuts seized on from rust. When I replace the studs, I use Dana. This is a picture of the type of lug nut to avoid at all costs, if you aren't aware.

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Water gets under the cap and is trapped, rusting the lug to the nut. I don't know how long you go between rotations - might be enough to cause issues.
 
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JerryD said:
The only time I've had to replace studs was when the nuts seized on from rust. When I replace the studs, I use Dana. This is a picture of the type of lug nut to avoid at all costs, if you aren't aware.

View attachment 123153

Water gets under the cap and is trapped, rusting the lug to the nut. I don't know how long you go between rotations - might be enough to cause issues.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I try to rotate 2-3 times a year at a minimum. Just depends on mileage. But I usually try to buy tires in October or November before the winter months hit and then rotate them in early spring.
 
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There is something very strange here. Have you been using the same torque wrench for all of this? Even with cheap lug bolts you should not be breaking them at only 95 lbs.
I would borrow a torque wrench put one on at 95 an then set yours to 90 and see what happens. I'm thinking you are way over torqueing. Or somebody is having a laugh at your expense.
 
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BigAL07 said:
Hells yes on the 238,000 k brother 🍺
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I got 245k out of my '08 before I sold it ;)

Regarding the torque wrench, I read the post as when loosening the nuts. OP mentioned they initially attributed it to shops using an impact.. I guess the question would be are the studs breaking when removing the nuts or torquing them down? If it's REMOVING, calibration of the torque wrench is irrelevant.

That wrench would have to be off by a LOT to snap the lug. I've only broken one stud, but I've had shops break three on different occasions and different vehicles. I was using a hand wrench, but the shops were all using pneumatic to remove the lug nuts. Just my experience.
 
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Somethimg seems off . I don't think I've ever
had a stud bust on me , ever. For sure does happen
but the OP is saying it's happening everytime ?
Maybe the replacement studs you purchased
are garbage . This may one of those times when
OEM studs would be the way to go.
I'm using splined lug nuts . Pretty tough
and possibly a theft deterrent as don't know
if a lot people even know these things exist .
I didn't know till I stumbled upon .
 
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