i need your help. this is my story. i was driving my car a few months back and the steering wheel was shaking unusually.. everytime i would let go of the acceleration, it would shake even more. i didn't pay it any attention. i drove my car to work a few days later and while i was on the freeway, the actual studs on the left rear tire broke off (3 of the 5 studs). basically the whole tire was off the car (only two bolts were holding it on) while in motion on the freeway. so the inside wheel was grinding on the metal (rotor) while in motion. luckily i was going only about 60 on the slow lane, but my car came to a complete stop after about 15 seconds. i took it to big o tires and got my tire, wheel, bolts, and rotor replaced. i even took it to the dealership to make sure everything was okay. something like that isn't supposed to happen at all. that isn't right. i could have gotten killed on the freeway. i bought my car lowered but i've never even bothered to check what kind of suspension i have. what could it be? the thing is today i started to feel that shaking again on my steering wheel, and i hesitated to even go to work today because of it. i made it here safely, but i'm kind of spooked to drive home. can anyone possibly tell me what's wrong with my GS???

 

My guess is that someone did NOT tighten those bolts. Make sure whoever worked on your car torque each bolt. To be honest, I really dont think it has anything to do with your lowered suspension at all.

The shaking may be a sign that the tires/'wheels are unbalanced....have them re-balanced....check tire pressure too. Another reason for the vibration could be the steering pretensioners....they may need tightening. Vibration has been a documented problem with 98-00 GS models.

Good luck.

Pete

 

big o told me that the bolts may have been torqued on too tight.. that's the reason why the studs came off.. i still had two of the bolts that were on the tire and when you look at them, the actual stud is still inside the bolt (but broken in half).. i just don't want the same thing happening to me again.. i have to worry about it going home today.. my insurance paid for the damages the last time.. but still.. that kind of stuff should NOT happen.. especially w/ a car like that..

 

Removing lug nuts with an impact wrench saves time and knuckles. But if the guy working on your car doesn't tighten them down using a torque wrench, find another shop.

 

So what 's the correct torque value for lug nuts anyway?

There's no telling what the impact wrench could be set at.

 

between 80 to 95lb usually

 

That's why you don't ever use an impact wrench to tighten the lug nuts, only remove them.

 

The Toyota/Lexus cars typically like 76 ft./lbs. on the OE lug nuts.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I am fairly sure this applies to the GS...

In my experience, overtightening the lugs can contibute to brake rotor warpage, and it can certainly put the wheel studs into enough tension to stretch (and eventually break) them. I had it happen on my MR2, and I replace all of the studs on the affected corner.

 

I was told 76, so that's what I use.