C9RN

Had new tires (S03s) put on today--only the knucklehead tireman failed to tighten the lug nuts on the right rear wheel--the only thing that held it in place was the one locked lug nut... A friend of mine had picked it up for me as I was away on business trip--anyway felt the vibration pulled over to discover metal shavings on the wheel's interior and the lug nuts loose with a few missing. There are 3 "holes" that are out of round.

Bottomline--what additonal damage should I look for and what should I expect from the tire company to correct the situation?

[They did come out to replace the lugnuts] and are very apologetic and willing to do whatever it take to make things right. At the very least I think the wheel should be replaced. I'm not looking to gouge them but want to make sure I cover all the bases.

I appreciate your insight and guidance

<img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

STLPCA

Aggravating. It's nice that the shop owned up to its mistake. Many don't.

You should expect to be made whole: new wheel if needed, new studs if needed, any other direct consequential damage, related labor, mounting & balancing, ... and you already got the apology. Expecting more (loss of use, inconvenience, etc.) & you'd be a schnorrer.

Not much you could have done. First thing I do after anyone removes my wheels is recheck torque when I get the car home. Now, maybe I should bring my wrench to the shop. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

chris walrod

Its kinda sad that consumers in general are forced to recheck a "professionals" work when you get the car home. I am a basket case when any of my cars are being worked on by someone else Maybe thats what has driven me to do all the work I can myself.

Chris

tom_993

[quote]Originally posted by Dan 96C2 St.Louis:
<strong>First thing I do after anyone removes my wheels is recheck torque when I get the car home. Now, maybe I should bring my wrench to the shop. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I do this too. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found loose or over tightened lug nuts, even from high-end independent Porsche shops. Sometimes they’re not even hand tight (e.g. just placed on the stud and not even tightened against the wheel), and once they were torqued to probably 200 ft-lbs. It’s scary. Perhaps Dan is right, we should bring our wrenches to the shop. Maybe drive around the corner and check them there. While this might be a bit much, I recommend checking them when you get home. Loosen them first, and then re-tighten.

Tom
’95 993

Matt Vaughan

That is one scary thought. I never let tire places get their hands on my car. If I do a tire change, I bring in the wheels and tires loose. I put them on myself at home. It may be a little inconvenient, but I sleep better at night.

<img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

Craig W.

I'd insist on ALL new lugnuts. The ones that stayed on were subjected to side loading, tweaking and all sorts of stress that they were not designed to take. They will likely have been weakened in a way that you can not see visually. I had the same thing happen to a wheel on my trailer, and while the surviving lugs looked fine, under magnification you could see small cracks.

C9RN

I took the car in to my Porsche mechanic--no additional damage other than the 3 holes now somewhat oval in shape. The tire company is offering to repair the wheel i.e. fill in the gaps and redrill with a lathe? Will that do the trick or should I insist on a new wheel? I just don't want to get ripped off.

Thanks!

Robert Henriksen

[quote]Originally posted by C9RN:
[QB]The tire company is offering to repair the wheel i.e. fill in the gaps and redrill with a lathe? Will that do the trick or should I insist on a new wheel? QB]<hr></blockquote>

Yikes!! As one of the people who track their car, I would never feel safe w. that repair.

I'm sure it would be fine if you just cruised boulevards, but driving at the limit... no way.

Robert Henriksen

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Vaughan:
<strong>That is one scary thought. I never let tire places get their hands on my car. If I do a tire change, I bring in the wheels and tires loose. I put them on myself at home. It may be a little inconvenient, but I sleep better at night.

<img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Nice to know I'm not alone... Hey, did you get the rollbar yet?

Matt Vaughan

[quote]Originally posted by Robert Henriksen:
<strong>

Nice to know I'm not alone... Hey, did you get the rollbar yet?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I talked to Dougherty yesterday and they said it should be here Tuesday. I don't know if I can have it painted and in the car in time for the DE next weekend. We'll see...

Craig W.

I would NOT accept that repair under any circumstances.

Make them pop for a brand spanking new wheel. This ain't no Ford Focus they screwed up.

STLPCA

[quote]Originally posted by C9RN:
<strong>The tire company is offering to repair the wheel i.e. fill in the gaps and redrill with a lathe?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You should get a new wheel. The shop gets the old wheel. Apart from the safety issue, from an economic perspective your repaired wheel will have a reduced value so repair won't put you where you were before the shop's negligence. 2 reasons not to accept the cheap fix.

OT: on a related note - I also always check tire pressures after any shop visit. I frequently find well meaning techs change my pressures to factory values - even when I tell them not to change pressures.

chris walrod

please remind the repair place that a new wheel is a WHOLE lot cheaper than what could of taken place

I am shocked that they are wanting to 'fix' that wheel

Chris

Matt Vaughan

Kim -
I may just do that.

Thanks.

Robert Henriksen

Hey, Matt -- let me know if you want a hand installing it into your car. Mine is sitting on my garage floor & I need someone to help wrestle it into the backseat! The crosstube is in place, it's just four bolts to pop the rollbar back into place.