half-size lug nut socket?

[jimmy12345678]

Yep, people just lose their minds over lug nuts. **** for all the nonsense "shop supplies" we're tacking on the ticket you'd think we'd stock some lug nuts.

Our shop would rather spend 5 bucks a piece from Napa "as needed" than buy in bulk. Same deal with drain plugs, and everything else.

How is your shop still in business? Better question is how are LOTS of shops still in business given this very IDGAF attitude that pervades the industry and most shops?

I guess my real question is, when is the sheer incompetence of so many shops and techs in the business finally going to bite it in the ***?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

How is your shop still in business? Better question is how are LOTS of shops still in business given this very IDGAF attitude that pervades the industry and most shops?

I guess my real question is, when is the sheer incompetence of so many shops and techs in the business finally going to bite it in the ***?

As a response to possible government regulation, ASE was created. It was to hold techs and businesses to a higher standard, similar to MAP guidelines at a lot of chain stores.

If the industry gets too out of whack, intervention will result. Nobody wants that, not techs, businesses, nor consumers. It's a dangerous game.

 

[dchawk81]

Yep, people just lose their minds over lug nuts. **** for all the nonsense "shop supplies" we're tacking on the ticket you'd think we'd stock some lug nuts.

Our shop would rather spend 5 bucks a piece from Napa "as needed" than buy in bulk. Same deal with drain plugs, and everything else.

I too would go nuts if a dealer tried to charge me $400 for lug nuts in 2004.

Heck I'd go nuts if they tried to charge me that today. Scam artists.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I too would go nuts if a dealer tried to charge me $400 for lug nuts in 2004.

Heck I'd go nuts if they tried to charge me that today. Scam artists.

They lose their mind at $110 for a entire new set including the extraction of all currently installed lug nuts.

If it's not free, they're bitching. If the customer needs explanation or basic education, your front desk folds and just declines them. I try to just "sneak" them into another labor line and hope it gets sold as a total price. Then I fix the lug nuts without a fight.

 

[dchawk81]

They lose their mind at $110 for a entire new set including the extraction of all currently installed lug nuts.

If it's not free, they're bitching. If the customer needs explanation or basic education, your front desk folds and just declines them. I try to just "sneak" them into another labor line and hope it gets sold as a total price. Then I fix the lug nuts without a fight.

This is why I DIY. I'd be questioning how many you had to extract and what effort it took.

Hammering a bitey socket one one and spinning it off isn't the same as drilling out 20.

I'm a **** like that though.

$110 for all 20 really isn't that bad though IMHO.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

This is why I DIY. I'd be questioning how many you had to extract and what effort it took.

Hammering a bitey socket one one and spinning it off isn't the same as drilling out 20.

I'm a **** like that though.

$110 for all 20 really isn't that bad though IMHO.

All extraction aside from drilling is covered. Usually it's all half sized sockets, and a few beat on with a sledge. Realistically it's like manifold studs. I can't have a price range between base labor time and 20 hours to pull then head and laser out 8 broken off extractors. Usually you just pick a price and win some lose some.


The only time I apply "excess" labor is when a bunch of them are fucked up. At that point it is literally someone's fault. Either a fool driving the car who refused numerous attempts to replace them, or a fool at the front desk who refused to attempt to sell them. That and if someone tried to get them off and fucked them all up.


Frankly I just want the damn things changed. I won't fight and battle them for stupid stuff like flat repairs or rotations. If sockets don't fit, they're replaced or the car can be someone else's problem. No, I'm not beating a socket onto every single lug nut with a sledge, then beating every single lug out of my socket, 20 times in a rotate I'm not getting paid for anyways.

 

[Steve_P]

100%. Makes the shop look bad, wastes everyone's time, just not worth doing. Generally when the techs fight back hard enough such things can't happen often. Work is a bit more adversarial as a consequence, but it's better than a free oil pan or stud replacement.

Mistakes happen, but insistence on reusing stuff like junk lug nuts just creates more headaches. Although I do have sympathy for the front desk as the general public cannot handle being told they need hood struts, lug nuts, etc.

Not stocking basic **** like common lug nuts and drain plugs, when a shoe box full of both will cover 90% of the needs just shows a lack of respect by management for the workers. Because when you have a car on a lift and then have to wait even 20 minutes to get a basic $2 part from Napa is just ridiculous. Management is just saying, "F you, we don't care that you're inconvenienced and have to wait"

As far as the front desk goes, "here is the nut, drain plug, whatever, that we just replaced. It's not reusable, someone ruined it before us....." Yeah, I understand people will still *****, but it might also teach them to not go to those hacks again. Probably not, but you have to pay for new parts. Edit- and this can always be reinforced with a digital picture.

Lug nuts and drain plugs aren't shop supplies IMO; things like brake clean, two generic plastic 11 cent clips, and WD-40 are.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

20min? Try an hour or more. Customer waiting. LOL Oh, and the shop is down a bay now.


Local parts stores are charging closer to $5 each for singles, some common ones in the $3-$4 range. If you don't know how to check thread size you can be paying $10+ for "application specific" plugs like the 10mm headed M14x1.5 for the GM 1.4 turbo. Or you can be like me and order one for a 99 civic EX, aluminum pan, so you get the longer of the two plugs versus the stubby one for the stamped pan. It's a 17mm now but they're like $3 and easily sourced as nearly every aluminum pan honda uses that plug. You really only need M14x1.5, and M12 by 1.25/1.5. Outside of subaru and some weird stuff that'll work. I typically convert cars with rubber seals to crush washers, as the latter is much more available, cheaper, and the aftermarket rubber seals don't seem to last long before weeping. I change crush washers, so it's no big deal to me.

At the risk of complete thread derailment - automotive shops typically have ZERO respect for anyone doing the work. Z E R O. Don't care about wasting the customers time or looking stupid either. So yes, basic things like the half dozen common lug nuts, drain plugs, etc are not possible to stock. Can't be done, it's like pushing a rope.


Frankly, I feel bad for the people who just want their car fixed. Wastes everybody's time. But hey, I'm told over and over on GJ that I'm a dumb employee who doesn't know anything unlike the brilliant 300IQ business owner. So perhaps I'm not intelligent enough to understand. Your oil pan "wore out" because the shop refuses to supply crush washers. "Just snug it up". The RTV gaskets rotted out from acidity because "synthetic" is not VW508 spec and isn't going 10,000 miles. "It's still synthetic" The lug nuts need extracted because it's "not worth fighting over" for the front desk until the wheel can't be removed and lube-**** ruined several. "I don't care just get the ******* wheels off". Top down problem.

 

[visionguru]

Instead of getting tools that I won't use often, this is cheaper:


20 lug nuts for $10, expecting aftermarket lug nuts, but was pleasantly surprised the eBay seller is actually a local Acura dealer's parts department, those are OEM lug nuts. When I went there to pick up, I did make myself a nice cup of coffee.

 

[F-22]

That Astro set looks amazing! I've previously seen them sold in the lug nut sizes only but going all the way down to 9,5mm can come in super useful in certain situations. There were times when it was exactly what I was searching for!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

That Astro set looks amazing! I've previously seen them sold in the lug nut sizes only but going all the way down to 9,5mm can come in super useful in certain situations. There were times when it was exactly what I was searching for!

That 1/2 mm astro set is really nice for rotted hardware. Caliper bracket bolts on subaru come to mind. No local replacement option readily available, brakes grinding, of course it's a waiter. Makes re-torquing the bolts much easier.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

DRPD started carrying these half sized sockets by Ko-ken. I have no personal experience with them yet but my regular Ko-ken impacts have been really awesome.

 

[Outlier]

Man.... I've been down pretty bad this week. It has been nothing but Mondays all week. I ended up here from the new tool arrivals thread and I've just got to say how thankful I am for not having to deal with this type/level of foolishness anymore.