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Wheel fell off
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
Wheel fell off
This past fall I was taking my 80 out for the final drive of the season (I live in upstate NY - Rochester) and the left rear wheel came off. I had been out driving for about 15 minutes and was doing 30 miles an hour.
The car suddenly felt as if I was driving over the slotted road markers on the right side of the road, then the wheel came off.
I had the wheels off in the spring and had driven about 250 miles all summer.
The lugnuts flew off, but did not break any bolts nor do any real damage that I can see.
As you can imagine, I am very unsure of myself at this point and am hesitant to take the car out. Is there anything I can apply that would help to prevent this in the future? Is there any advice anyone has to offer that may help.
I typically work on the car myself, however, I am hoping to find a good Tech in the area that would be willing to put it on a lift and inspect the whole car underneath for damage prior to the season.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
The car suddenly felt as if I was driving over the slotted road markers on the right side of the road, then the wheel came off.
I had the wheels off in the spring and had driven about 250 miles all summer.
The lugnuts flew off, but did not break any bolts nor do any real damage that I can see.
As you can imagine, I am very unsure of myself at this point and am hesitant to take the car out. Is there anything I can apply that would help to prevent this in the future? Is there any advice anyone has to offer that may help.
I typically work on the car myself, however, I am hoping to find a good Tech in the area that would be willing to put it on a lift and inspect the whole car underneath for damage prior to the season.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
I make a habit of torquing the lug nuts down just before I put the center cap on. That way, there is a visual reminder there, if the center cap is off, the nuts haven't been torqued. Center cap on=torqued nuts.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Every time you have the wheels off you are suppose to recheck the lug nuts after about 100 miles to see if they have loosened up at all. Most of the time they won't move, occasionally they one will need a slight adjustment.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Port Washington Wi
Was the wheel on straight before you torqued it? I once had a problem on my truck where I didn't get the wheel all the way on to the hub before tightening the lug nuts. Once on the ground and rolling the wheel seated itself and the lugnuts were loose as can be. Luckily my buddy spotted it before I got too far.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
I'm pretty sure the wheel was on properly. I suppose it's possible to gain access to the car, but it's in a locked garage, so I doubt that is what happened. I failed to check them since putting the wheel back on in the spring. I will be sure to check them more often.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
That happened to the guy that owned my 81 before me ...except it was the front L. wheel. It took out the L/F fender and ground down the A-Arm and rotor shield. Goofed up the bottom of the front bumper too (that's why I got a decent deal). So, you got lucky if you don't have much damage.
Mark G
Mark G
Melting Slicks
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From: West Kingston RI
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
How the heil do all the lug nuts unscrew themselves, sounds almost impossible to me. I have heard of someone driving with no lug nuts on at all, the wheel was stuck to the rotor, he made it home without the wheel falling off 
Safety Car
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From: Wichita KS
Burning Brakes
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From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Fort Pierce Florida
The other was a Nissan 350Z also on I-95 and he hadn't torque the lug nuts on one of his wheels at all. His wheel came completely off and did a ton of damage to his car.
I'm paranoid about making SURE I tighten them down now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Butler Pa