Removing my right rear OEM AP2 wheel a couple hours ago I stripped a stud while using a cordless impact wrench. A year ago while removing the same wheel I sheared a stud while using the same cordless impact wrench. At that time I took it to a Honda dealer who replaced all studs and the wheel bearing. Since they were replaced last July I've swapped wheels with my RPF1 wheel set maybe a dozen times. Each stud failure was while removing the OEM nuts. In the last year I've always used the same impact wrench to remove but a torque wrench to install (84 ft-lbs) without fail.

Could I have a bad nut causing the failures due to high stress when removing with the impact wrench? Any other ideas? Could i be contributing somehow? A simple $5 wheel stud replacement costs $300-400 on our cars (including bearing).

 

You could have a bad lugnut that was over-torqued in the past which will mess things up. I would put them all on by hand and see if you can feel a bad lugnut. Are your wheels hubcentric ?, if not they could be putting stress on the studs.

 

You could very well have a bad nut on that wheel which is causing you issues. I'd toss them or replace them. Which lug nuts are you using on your RPF1's?

 

Didn't he say he was using OEM nuts?
Should he be using tapered seat tuner nuts instead of ball seat ones?

 

Last I checked enkei used tapered seat lugs, not ball seat lugs like the OEM.

 

If your lug nuts are bad, then yes, it will eventually ruin the stud. I've seen this happen many time where the threads on the nuts are stripping off. The sharp debris will cut into the stud and wedge itself between the threads. When you try to remove it, it gets stuck and you're left with a seized lug nut. An impact gun will just tear the thing off.

 

Thanks guys. I'm using OEM nuts on my OEM wheels, and the nuts that came with my RPF1s from Tire Rack several years ago. Just ordered all new OEM nuts for 4 corners. I think I'm gonna hand loosen nuts from here on out just to be safe. My cars a track queen now with no reg nor insurance, so seating the replacement bearing will be a pita, having to trailer it to some quiet place to drive it around and then have the mechanic retorque the axle nut.