Twice I have had my wheel shop ring the wheel lugs off when taking my Accord for a tire rotation. They state they always torque to proper specs and that is not an issue while using an impact wrench.

I called B.S. and argued that they cross threaded and seated it with an impact wrench. I carried my car back today, and two more broke off.

They have fixed them for free both times but state they will have to charge if it happens again. They are claiming they are not doing anything different and suggest there was a substandard batch of lugs when the car was assembled.

My initial feeling are they are not telling the truth about proper torquing. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

 

Welcome!

I've never heard about any bad batch of wheel studs. But I'll move this over to General Tech where more people should see it.

 

I've never heard of that either, and I'd be really worried since the 3 Hondas I have here are 4 lug cars, that use the same size studs the 5 lug cars use. I'm not totally sold on those "torque sticks" that places like Discount Tire uses, but then they use them after sending the lug nuts home with an inpact. I still double check the torque afterward though (specs are given in the owners manual).

Now if the tire shop you're using IS cross threading the lugs, I think I'd look for a new shop.