Check Lug Nuts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
From: Grafton WV
Check Lug Nuts
Just a friendly reminder guys. I took my 81 out for a spin yesterday after sitting in the garage all winter. After a trip down the highway at 70 MPH I was coming home and was in a residential area so my speed was like 20 MPH and I heard this noise coming from the rear and I thought it was a wheel bearing or something of that nature when all of a sudden I felt the rear drop down. I thought OH ***** got out and took a look and all of the lugnuts were gone and the wheel had come off and was up under the fender. Luckily no damage was done to the fender. Jacked it up and took 3 lugs nuts off the other wheels and limped it home. One stud was completely broken off and one has the threads all boogered up so time for some new studs and lug nuts. Thank God this happened at a low speed.
I have never had a wheel come loose before and I am 70 years old.
Will check the lugs from now on....
Thanks
Ken
I have never had a wheel come loose before and I am 70 years old.
Will check the lugs from now on....
Thanks
Ken
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,452
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
Don't ask what happens when you forget to tighten them on all 4 corners, it's a FUN but short ride ...
Was't me, my friends 65 GTO, just about the time it started to shimmy I saw a lug flying off to the right of the car, like I said, short ride.
Frank
Was't me, my friends 65 GTO, just about the time it started to shimmy I saw a lug flying off to the right of the car, like I said, short ride.
Frank
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
Could have someone tried to steal your wheels?
This happened to me once with my 71 Mustang Boss 302 back in 72.
Went to get into the car, and just happened to look at the rear wheel and noticed all the lug nuts almost all the way off. Just a couple threads holding them on. I checked the other three and the same thing. During the night someone tried to steal my wheels or KILL me.
Glad nothing serious happened.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Be glad you weren't this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_eF1TxsipI
I know of a few guys who have had their wheels come off due to loose lugs. If you check them with a torque wrench, they shouldn't come off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_eF1TxsipI
I know of a few guys who have had their wheels come off due to loose lugs. If you check them with a torque wrench, they shouldn't come off.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
A friend of mine released a vehicle after welding a 1/4 panel onto the car, He did not tighten the wheel and to only have the client drive the car for 50 miles and the wheel came off. He got the chance to repair this quarter panel again free of charge.
Check your nuts.
Check your nuts.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: York Pa.
So glad everything is ok..easy fix with the stud..you may want to replace all of them as there may have been some stress on them that they were not designed for..I keep one of my good torque wrenches at home just so I can remove and install the wheels on my car without being worried..yeah I have done it..that why I always do that warm up the tires nascar turning when I am done with a car and pull out if my bay at work..but still I have seen aluminum wheels loosen after being off and driven for 25 miles..
