Thread: Watch your nuts guys!!!

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Today while I was driving my 27 T tudor the left front wheels came off, passed me by and then veered off into a tree. All of the five lug nuts stripped off. I had all I could do to keep it going down the road straight. Like I was only going and estimated 25 mph when it happened. Soooooooooo guys tighten your nuts.

Didn't hurt anything else on the car did you Tom????

Wow....

Glad to see you came out ok.

Had that happen on a C4 vette about wo years ago..Ruined the hood..Guess it coulda been worse..

I'm going to order new studs and lug nuts tomorrow, they were the only thing that broke.
I drove it home yesterday from my son's place (10 miles) and it started missing, so today I replaced one of my newly rebuilt coils for the best of my old ones. Luckly I just took it for a spin around the block (really scooted) when it fell off. I was almost straight across the back of my house, went through the back yards, grabbed my floor jack, some extra nuts and put it back on. When I got home I checked the others and they ALL were some what loose. Lucky Me!!!!

Sounds like you were using Chinese repro wheel nuts. They look pretty, but they have all the strength of wet oatmeal. They're just good for rolling the car on and off a trailer. Get some ugly old Ford nuts for driving.

I had that happen on my 34 about 6 years ago. Left rear wheel, 4 of the 5 nuts came off, while driving about 25 mph. Got it stopped and pulled into a parking lot. Rear fender damage, 3 wheel lug holes damaged, two studs broken and two badly bent. Had to take one lug off each of the other wheels to remount the rim to get it on to a roll back.

Damages: repair one fender $300, new Corvette short axle/hub with studs and labor $875, 4 new wheels (damaged one could not be fixed or replaced) $800 plus dismounting and remounting 4 tires $80. That was a $2000 lesson to not trust anyone when removing or replacing wheels. Always re-torque wheels periodically and especially after wheels have been removed.

Could have been much worse, especially if I had been on the interstate at 70 mph.

Ah yes - the good ol' "calibrated" air impact gun. I had tires put on my '97 F150 a few years ago. The 'mechanic' swore that his air gun was calibrated for 85lb ft (supposed to be 105). Got home, got my torque wrench out and tightened them from his 45lb ft to my 105.

'Nother time, different vehicle, again, another "calibrated" air impact gun. I broke a standard 1/2 drive S-K socket as well as an impact socket. Who knows what they were torqued at - he had to replace both front rotors and nuts at his expense along with my 2 sockets.

Glad you are ok Tom - and also that there was no damage to the car either

The number 1 cause for this is improperly seated and torqued lug nuts, not crappy material from China. You are also supposed to retorque the nuts after 500 miles or so.

Kitz

Originally Posted by kitz

The number 1 cause for this is improperly seated and torqued lug nuts, not crappy material from China. You are also supposed to retorque the nuts after 500 miles or so.

Kitz

HEY MY NUTS ARE NOT FROM CHINA

Thx for the reminder.. I need a new set of lugs for the 64C10. Need to get the 'wide shoulder' nuts, as some of the lug holes on the wheels are getting a bit worn, and the lug nuts are close to popping right thru the holes. Do ya think Fastenall carries them?

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Thx for the reminder.. I need a new set of lugs for the 64C10. Need to get the 'wide shoulder' nuts, as some of the lug holes on the wheels are getting a bit worn, and the lug nuts are close to popping right thru the holes. Do ya think Fastenall carries them?

looking for a bigger body nut like Howe racing sell . for the circle track guys ?? but sounds like the rims are on ther way out

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Thx for the reminder.. I need a new set of lugs for the 64C10. Need to get the 'wide shoulder' nuts, as some of the lug holes on the wheels are getting a bit worn, and the lug nuts are close to popping right thru the holes. Do ya think Fastenall carries them?

I'd be real careful with those wheels - if the lug holes are wallowed out from being too loose you might just have some cracks in the center section radiating out from those holes then off goes a wheel and so do you!!!

my mom was having a problem with lugs loosening on her car ( '02 Concorde ).. ended up being the lug holes were worn.. a used set of '96 Intrepid aluminum wheels with excellent tires on it from the U pull it for $75 and it was all better..

I must be too much of a racer, I still use the torque wrench on mine, and the 500 mile re-torque.