Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

I have had a problem with front wheel studs breaking on my Fairmont. I have found 6 of them broken all the same way. I say found because they never break at the track, I find them on the shop floor after a race, usually 1 to 2 weeks after parking the car. They literally pop off the hub.
First time I suspected I had over torqued the lug nut, replaced the broken stud and torqued all the 1/2 lug nuts to the recommended torque 85-95, I use 85.
Previously I had used an insert on the wheel with a 12 point nut (See picture). After talking with Weld they recommended that I change to a shouldered lug nut which I did. Nothing changed, still breaking studs, sometimes the same one twice. The lug nuts are not bottoming out on the hub when tightened.
The hubs are Aerospace, studs are Moser. Lug nuts are from Weld.
I'm getting frustrated as I don't want this to happen going down the track!

Kelly Lane Stk 4991

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

From the pictures, it appears you have a very long stud and you may be stretching the stud beyond its yield point. Inferior fasteners will shear as shown in the picture when they are torqued beyond their yield. Therefore, I suggest you go with a shorter stud from either ARP, Mark Williams or Strange Engineering and shorter lug nuts. Also, looking at the cross section of the sheared stud, it appears to show inclusions, typical to inferior material or they may have been improperly heat or solution treated.

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

Just curious, do the studs thread into the hub OR are they a pressed fit ? I am not a big fan of Aerospace , but I have a hard time placing any blame on them. ARP is a pretty good suggestion. Absolutely nothing wrong with using the sleeve and 12 point nut..... what is the weight of the car ? I would go buy a few LOTTERY tix, you are very fortunate this didn’t happen while going down the track....

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

Make sure the stud doesn't have a slight chamfer where it transitions to the hex portion. Mine did...a slight chamfer on the hub was needed.

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

I used to bend/break studs on my dragster just like that, changed to Mark Williams studs and problem was gone.

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

Those thick Draglites typically use a 3" stud. 2" is too short.

I would definitely go to a Strange, ARP, Moroso maybe, stud. That broken stud looks awful. Just failed.

For what it's worth, right or wrong, I don't pull the front nuts that tight, especially on those 3 piece wheels. Light cars I'll go to 50. Doesn't distort or damage wheels. Never had one come loose.

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

“Just curious, do the studs thread into the hub OR are they a pressed fit ?”

Screwed in.

Car weighs 3030

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

I have the same hubs on my car. They are 1/2 inch thread in studs. I have never broken any on my car. I think he has been over torque them. I don’t put that much torque on my 5/8 rear studs.

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

Those things should actually be fine at 85. Unless they are junk. We pull most OEM street cars to 100 and they aren't 1/2".

When's the last time you checked your torque wrench?

Do you check torque between races? Do they loosen up, like the stud has stretched?

Re: Broken Front Wheel Studs
 

Iam wondering if the inner diameter of the wheel is interfering with the outer diameter of the hub causing a wedge effect.Can you unscrew the broken studs out of the nuts without much effort? If they wont i would think there is some kind of a wedge affect going on..