Had wheel come off while driving..
 

Hello,...

Sad sad day :(


I was heading to a grocery store 1.5 miles away, when all of a sudden on a straight away it just came off and there I was, riding on the rotor...Thank god there were no cars around, and also that the car still felt "controllable". My rotor actually looks okay, the same with the studs/lug nuts/wheel. The only thing that got damaged was my front fender, it's bent in a little, I'm thinking from the wheel? Everything just came off clean.

I had a fellow car enthusiast in a silver mazda hatch pull over and actually offer his assistance. I can't believe how helpful he was, everyone else, even fellow subies, just kept going and staring. The guy even ran 2 blocks down the street and found 4 of my lug nuts, so we just installed the wheel back and I drove home.

So it doesn't look like anything was even damaged, even the rotor, but what are am I looking at as far as damage goes? What should I be looking at? on the drive home the car felt fine, but I also took side streets and drove 5-10mph...Really scared to even drive my car now and don't know of any mechanics that would come check it out.

Wanted to get straight to the point, but earlier today I installed my new wheels, I did so without a torque wrench...I went to sears and bought one that was the incorrect size for my lug nut key, I was going to go back tomorrow and try to get a refund and get a proper one, not kidding! I just really couldn't wait to finally put the wheels on, since I was going to a shop tomorrow for a drop/alignment. I hand tightened all the lugs, and then used the socket and gave it a little turn with it. I even "kept note" of how much force was required to break the lugs loose, and tried to imitate that.

The first thing you want to look at is your brake rotor, then check the wheel bearing and lower control arm. All and all though it sounds like you got incredibly lucky in both safety and damages.

I have lost a couple of wheels over the years and never had any real damage from it. If the steering felt OK and no weird brake noises or wobbles I would say you got away with it. Drive it over to the dealer and have them check it if you want reassurance though.
A long time ago I learned that when you think the nuts are tight enough give them one more shot anyway. Not like you can over torque them really.

i would marry you if i could

LOL - i just went down to the garage and checked my lug nuts even though i torqued them down the last time i took off the wheels. this post brought out the paranoia in me haha.

:needpics:

Pics or it didn't happen!

dashcam vid plz

You gotta stand on that baby wrench in the trunk to tighten the lugs properly.

I literally bent the one that came in my Honda.

Glad you made out ok. :)

Harbor freight aint so bad for some tools, they have torque wrench for like $20.

I have to stand on it to loosen them, too. Measuring torque for the cylinder head, etc., is important, but the wheel lugs, subjected to so much shock and vibration as they are, just tighten the crap out of them!

;)

There ya go, @theman233 ......... :thumbsup:

I suggest you invest in a $10 lug wrench, like shown below.

For years we used one of these to tighten up lug nuts ........ waaay before folks kept saying that you needed a torque wrench to do the job. Most wheels stayed on....;)

So, with the wheel off the ground, hand tighten all lug nuts ..... then, snug all of them up with the wrench ..... always working in a "cross" pattern.

Then block the wheel and tighten each one down ....... then tighten them more till they "squeak" (if they are "dry").

Then let the wheel down on the ground and tighten each till they either squeak again or you grunt once.

OF course if you have a locking lug in the mix, always make sure it is the first one off and the last one on, in the tightening rotation.

Yep, wouldn't hurt to take it into a shop and have it checked out for any hidden damage.


humfrz

It's best to check them in the mornings ........... in case the trunk monkey gets out at night and loosens them up ....... :confused0068:


humfrz

I always thought that the torque wrench was for uniformity and not necessarily tightness. Not sure how much I've ever believed it but I've been told that differing torque can lead to prematurely warped rotors.

Well, yes ...... but "lug nut tight" is "lug nut tight" ...... for all lug nuts.

Again, "lug nut tight" is 2 squeaks (dry) and a grunt ....... unless you're over 70 years old, then it may be two grunts.

:popcorn:


humfrz

To those that said they stand on the wrench, pull up, don't push down.

good point. i'll check 'em again!
:D

don't forget to snug up the lugs after you drive for a bit too. there seems to be a problem of studs snapping due to over tightening the lugs though

What's the difference?

Don't ask. Just try it.

You have more control and can safely apply more force.

You can use your legs, back, and arms to generate force instead of just your body weight.

It doesn't help when your body weight outweighs the force generated by your legs, back, and arms Lol.:lol:

Ahh, what's this I hear? Why, it's the lovely sound of a wheel stud snapping!

Well there is that possibility yes but that can happen by using the measured torque as well. Most studs are broke by pushing down or sideways on the stud instead of the actual torque being applied tough.

I had to re-torque my wheel's FOUR times before they finally stayed torqued. These weren't even new wheels either.

I have had lug nuts back-off on my other car in the past even after I torqued them to specs. At first I thought someone on my street did it, because racecar hater. But after it happened again, I always re-torque the wheels after driving it for a day or two.

Yeah I normally stand on it and bounce to ensure they are properly torqued if I am manually tightening them, I'm too light to do any damage but heavy enough to ensure it never comes undone.

...don't do this. It's not safe and you are putting weird loads on the stud. Do it right and lift the wrench.

I will re-torque my wheels when i get home even though i just had them off and torqued them. I use a cordless impact usually but still check with a torque wrench even though im sure they are already over tightened.

You say that but I have yet to snap a stud and really only do it when in a pinch (normally if I change a tire//wheel I have the proper tools).

I don't recall saying anything about breaking studs. I only said it puts side loads on it. The next step would be snapping or cross threading though. Just do it right and none of that would be a concern. Some people just love to justify an incorrect procedure.

I think there is also a certain number of rotations the lug nut needs to make for it to be considered safe.

I believe I also mentioned I do it with proper tools normally but I appreciate your concern (TBH I haven't had to change a wheel without a torque wrench in about 10 years so it isn't a real concern of mine).


Also, justification does not imply that I disagree with your method or that I think mine is correct. a justification is what it is, which is my rationalisation as to why I did it that way. Yes your technique is the correct one but some people may or may not have injuries physical ailments that prevent them from generating the leverage required to properly tighten the nut (aka my back and knees are fucked and depending on the day I may not be able to generate the force needed without suffering from back pain for the next few days or my knees letting go and winding up face first in a fender).


That being said in an ideal situation you are indeed correct

I love talking with sensible/intelligent individuals. I second every single point you just made.

I like to argue but I can also see reason ;)
I'm part troll part sensible reasonable person. Makes for entertaining conversations at times. As long as the person I'm having a discussion with is basing their arguments on facts I love arguments/discussions. My problem resides when people start using emotions, trivial shit and circumstantial evidence that I have issues. (In other words, I enjoyed our exchange)


Seriously though the faceplants are no fun... ask me how I know :)

Well, now lupindub, I reckon you didn't do it right the first time ...... or ..... you had the studs oiled up ........ ;)


humfrz

In those cases, I would suggest the "humfrz method".

Put key in ignition, drive up to a shop, have them switch/rotate/whatever the wheels, have a cup of coffee, read car mag, pay them, drive home, take a nap ..... :thumbsup:


humfrz

Tire shops have the worst coffee though.

+1 that's why I said in a pinch :) I'll always have a torque wrench to change wheels unless I get a flat tire in the middle of bumfuck nowhere and that's where my incorrect method can come in handy (as in stuck somewhere with no cell reception to call said shop or towing company).


anyways I'll take that situation anyday over my engine blowing up in -40 weather and me having to wait 3hrs for a towing and nearly getting frostbite on my toes.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there, TCoat. In fact, I think over-tightening of lugs is a big problem these days. On the FR-S/BRZ/GT86 Enthusiasts Facebook group (which is comprised mostly of morons) people are routinely snapping their lugs. The proper torque is less than 90 ft-lb, which is definitely less than "jumping on the wrench" as some people here have suggested.

In fact, if you're having to jump on the wrench to break your bolts loose, they were over-tightened to begin with. Everyone thinks these studs are weak, but I'm pretty sure people just are over-torquing everything.

I knew I wasn't the only one who remembered those ads!

Also, seriously, with the overtorquing thing. I've always put on and off wheels with an impact gun. Never broken a stud. Even rusty-ass 20 year old studs. Are people cross threading and side-loading and trying to crank them in with the wheel halfway off or what? WTF?

On that note, side loading. I can snap a stud clean off with a breaker bar. But not by turning it correctly. Set the thing parallel to the stud, or even 45~60 degrees off with the lug nut crossed up and not tight against the wheel, and push. SNAP. They aren't designed to take bending forces. Shear and tension. Not bending.

Buy an impact gun. There are many great uses for one. Torque the f*ck out of them.