I am sooo mad !

[birol]

Day before yesterday I took the windstar to the junkyard to get two used tired for the front wheels. The current ones are almost bald, and cracked on the sides a lot. as I carry a lot of newspapers I was getting edgy that they would explode on me one day.

Anywys, I found two tires, same model, the size I need and asked them to put them on. Tread on them is like half gone, maybe less, but at 35 bucks (28 US) it is better than paying 100 bucks (80usd). Besides I can't afford new ones. Anyways, one of the lugnuts was seized, and they could not loosen it, they tried to their best and messed the lugnut. They tried to chisel it out and couldn'
t

yesterday I went again so they could give another try, and they said they have to user a torch to melt the stud at this point. Having no alternative I said ok. They ruined my aluminum wheel (which they gaev me another one free). I asked about the stud, and they said, oh that is easy, few bucks and you can put it in. Now I am handy , and do some maintenance on the car so I said ok. Afetr all I had two newish tires ...

Well, I inquired about the stud today and it is impossible for me to do it. The whole hub has to come out and the melted metal has to be cleaned and so on. Dealer charged me 85 bucks

So, While trying to save money I spent almost the amount dealer would charge me for two new tires. Well, still cheaper but ....... Of course there was no gurantee that the dealer would be able to get that lug nut out without breaking the bolt. A seized bolt is not their responsibility ........ oh well


Good vent, I feel little bit better I am gonna go trucking after half an hour and did not eant to go with only for bolts holding the wheel with all that weight.

[B-flat]

I hate stuff like that happening and taking my hard earned dollars.:mad:   It seems like when I have a little extra money earmarked for something a big repair comes up.

[jpreiser]

WE just puchased a newer truck, they had to move the trailer brake thing from the old truck to the next.... needless to say the truck was at the shop for7 hours!!! They said it took 2 hours to get the old one off??? anyway of course they charge you by the hour!! then an hour to put it on the new truck.. guess what DH tried the brake today and nothing lights up!! Need less to say we are taking it back... but after all the money we spent we could have gotten a new one and installed at camping world for much less!!:(:

[tlhdoc]

Sorry to hear about your wheel problem.  I am glad you got the new tires for your TV   , and it will be safer for you to drive now.

[Miller Tyme]

I feel for you, Birol. About a month ago, I needed new ball joints and U-joints on the F-150. Normally, I'm a do-it-yourself guy, but I didn't have time to do the job myself. So, I bought the parts, and my partner's brother did the work at his place of employment. I'm thinking, I'm getting a deal. No way. He socks me $185 for the work, and tells me that any other customer would have been charged at least $700 for the same work!:mad:

[Danusmom]

In the future you may want to use a product called Kroil.  It "eat" rust & displaces water between the metals.  DH used it on some scissor jacks that he uses for his catamaaran's dock & he left them outside exposed to elements all winter...several times.  He also used it on the hitch/receiver which was rusted together.  In both instances, with a bit of "elbow grease", the parts became free & moveable.  Here's a link to a site that gives a write up as well as sells the product: http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/137203

There is another site I found which gives the techinical data & another site sells a 8 oz. can for $5.95, which is less than the above link.

[birol]

In the future you may want to use a product called Kroil.  It "eat" rust & displaces water between the metals.  DH used it on some scissor jacks that he uses for his catamaaran's dock & he left them outside exposed to elements all winter...several times.  He also used it on the hitch/receiver which was rusted together.  In both instances, with a bit of "elbow grease", the parts became free & moveable.  Here's a link to a site that gives a write up as well as sells the product: http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/137203

There is another site I found which gives the techinical data & another site sells a 8 oz. can for $5.95, which is less than the above link.

Thanks for the tip, I will keep it in mind when something like this happens next time. If I had time, I would try to change the stud myself, but with all the load I carry, I didn't want to risk running that wheel with 4 studs.  It is not rocket science for sure, what they did I could most probably achieve too, maybe it would take longer but I would be richer

[aw738]

The product from Midwayusa is probably a good product and I've heard good things about it. The problem is if you can't find it locally you can not order it from Midwayusa. They do not ship international orders. Another product you might try is PB B'laster found on the following link. I sell and have used it for years. I sell it to one of the local chemical companies that is in our area by the case. If you can't find it locally and it isn't to far to drive, anytime you come to the US you can find it at any Advance Auto Store in Michigan, Ohio or New York. You may even be able to order it directly from B'laster.

 
http://www.pbblaster.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1

[Danusmom]

Someone on PUX, who lives in Ontario, said they have found Kroil at the Canadian Tire store.  Hence, no shipping involved.  BTW, there are plenty of other online sites that offer Kroil.

[6Quigs]

Well Birol,
The lugnut on your Windstar that was seized,
had nothing to do with the fact you were getting used tires.
The same thing could have happened if you were buying brand new  tires.

Or worse,
you could have had a flat,
on a wet morning,
with the windstar loaded to the gills with newspapers,
waiting to be delivered :eek:

Sorry to hear about your misfortune,
but happy to know you are now driving around on safer tires.

[birol]

Well Birol,
The lugnut on your Windstar that was seized,
had nothing to do with the fact you were getting used tires.
The same thing could have happened if you were buying brand new  tires.

Or worse,
you could have had a flat,
on a wet morning,
with the windstar loaded to the gills with newspapers,
waiting to be delivered :eek:

Sorry to hear about your misfortune,
but happy to know you are now driving around on safer tires.

I agree, it could have been a lot worse. Also there is no guarantee that any other place would also be able to take that lug nut out without destroyinh the rim and the stud. That is why I didn't go back to the place where I got the tires installed with the dealer's receipt in hand and demand a refund. I think they did their best, and replaced the wheel which got damaged at no cost to me. It was their best, and I think fair. But of course that doesn't mean I can't get mad, I lost money    Thru nobody's fault , sigh ........ Well, had to get those tires changed, and got it done.  Cost me a lot more than I wanted but, safety first ....

[wiininkwe]

I sure don't mean for this to sound critical of what you did, i understand well the thought processes behind trying to save a buck.   But, my Dad always told me "you get what you pay for."    When I catch myself looking at something we need, and then trying to bargain down to the cheapest model, I think about that, and it reminds me of all the times the very thing that just happened to you, happened to us too.   We had so many bad experiences when we thought we got a bargain, that I couldn't begin to count them.    Finally, we decided to just take the good money out of our pocket right from the beginning, and make sure that we got a good product with a good warranty.   That's not to say we don't still run into some lemons once in a while, but we don't waste nearly the money we used to by having to replace the cheap one we just bought with the more expensive one anyway.   I hope you don't think this is a 'lecture', but just felt that I had to mention it.
T

[Gone-Camping]

I have to agree with wiininikwe on this one. You get what you pay for! I too have had too many bad experiences trying to save a buck, yet sometimes I still do (take my latest camper purchase for instance). Something like tires, I probably would have bought one this week, and the 2nd one a week or two down the road.
 
I also understand where you're coming from too. It's not always possible to buy something when you have no money to begin with! Too bad you didn't live closer, we throw away used tires...many of which still have enough tread to pass state inspection. Too hard for the dealership to sell a used car without at least good rubber on them, so they all get new tires. Sometimes the ones we remove are in great shape! So if you come to the Spring Fling in Richmond in April, maybe I can load you up with some free tires!!!

[Ab Diver]

Ok, maybe it's cuz I'm a California driver and we don't salt the roads in winter, but *why* was the lugnut seized? Do they have a habit of rusting tight in your area? Did the last guy who changed the tires cross-thread the nut with an air-wrench?  Were any of the other lugs rusted? If some kid had rotated your tires and jammed that nut on sideways with 150 ft/lbs of torque, I'd be raising h*ll with his boss and demanding they cover the cost of repairs. Just a thought.
 
That said... bummer 'bout the whole thing, Birol. Although I tend to subscribe to the "cry once" school of thought, it sounds like the lug problem would have arose whether or not you bought new tires. But using a TORCH to cut the lug?!?!?!? Gimmee a break-- ain't they ever heard of air chisels?

[birol]

I have to agree with wiininikwe on this one. You get what you pay for! I too have had too many bad experiences trying to save a buck, yet sometimes I still do (take my latest camper purchase for instance). Something like tires, I probably would have bought one this week, and the 2nd one a week or two down the road.
 
I also understand where you're coming from too. It's not always possible to buy something when you have no money to begin with! Too bad you didn't live closer, we throw away used tires...many of which still have enough tread to pass state inspection. Too hard for the dealership to sell a used car without at least good rubber on them, so they all get new tires. Sometimes the ones we remove are in great shape! So if you come to the Spring Fling in Richmond in April, maybe I can load you up with some free tires!!!

Hey , if you promise me good 215/70/R15's I will come for the spring fling It is motivation enough for me