Wheel fell off - oops

Fez_uk · 24-08-2012, 17:34

Happened today, Luckily I was not going too fast. Couldn't stop when I felt it as it was on a blind bend

stinka · 24-08-2012, 17:36

WTF ??

How you manage that ?

Fez_uk · 24-08-2012, 17:38

Didn't do them up tight enough I suppose, I sure I even torqued them up too.

firebobby · 24-08-2012, 17:50

There was a story on the radio today about some MP or other council type, who's wheel nut were all loose when he got to his destination

Here Fez, Your not some secret official/MP type are you

Lazy-Ferret · 24-08-2012, 17:53

Ouch, did you find the missing wheel?

I saw a lorry lose one once on the M25, it's amazing how far this thing went.. the trouble was after rolling for about 1/2 a mile, it bounced over the central reservation and hit a car coming the other way. After that, we never found where it went.

The car was a write off.

Fez_uk · 24-08-2012, 17:57

the wheel to the left is the wheel, was carrying no spare at the time

brake drum hub vanished though.

Paul · 24-08-2012, 21:08

Had the same happen to me last year, n/s front wheel, the nuts came of the wheel spacer.. Lucky for me they was still inside when it stopped up the road..

solarman216 · 24-08-2012, 23:02

in the 70s got a call out to a 16 ton tipper that lost both NS rear wheels, one was on the road the other disappeared down into woodland (a long way) and came to rest near a pile of old rags, while we were trying recover it the pile of rags moved, turned out to be a tramp a'kip, what a lucky escape he had 10.00 x 20 wheel is no light weight, Rick

96terrano · 24-08-2012, 23:10

yup, ive had the wheels come of my truck too

welcome to the club

Dynamics · 25-08-2012, 01:08

Following a artic' one evening and a left side trailer wheel came off. it ripped off into the side of the road and smashed into a fence.

It took about three miles of pulling out onto wrong side of road with hazards on flashing my headlights, before he finally pulled over into a lay-by.

He jumped out of the cab not to happy, until I explained what had happened.

If that had been a right hand side and had hit a oncoming car, it would have folded it in half.

I have changed quite a few lorry wheels as an apprentice mechanic. They are very heavy indeed.

rustic · 25-08-2012, 03:44

Aren't you supposed to check your nuts regularly

If you have alloys, the wheel nuts on my Mav are in fact a brass type material, so could easily strip if over torqued at some time in their life.

I have found 2 stripped ones over the years, but having some wheel locking nuts gave me a few spare wheel nuts.

I always insist that garages pre start the fitting of the nut by hand, but most will just shove it in the air wrench and press the button until the wrench gasps for breath.

I always use a torque wrench, as it is quite easy to over tighten them even with the standard wheel brace.

There is a chance of course that wheel nuts intended for steel wheels have been used for alloys, or vice versa, the wheel nuts are in fact different, as the angle of the countersink are different.

So go on then, check your nuts, you know you want too.

Or get someone else to do it for you.

supergnome · 25-08-2012, 07:36

I've got 4 alloy and 1 steel spare so I should use the sparewheel nuts on the car when used. Also locking wheelnuts should be in 2 sorts? David.

firebobby · 25-08-2012, 14:41

Didn't you feel it getting loose, I had a Ford Escort and a wheel came loose, by god it wobbled like a pig, when I looked around the car, I found the rear wheel was loose and tightened it

Fez_uk · 25-08-2012, 16:26

Felt it go loose but couldn't stop as it was on a blind corner where people usually go 60mph. So had to think fast and decided to carry on a bit to a straight then it dropped off. Happened within 20-30 meters.

Dynamics · 25-08-2012, 18:51

Just glad you are unhurt... Could have been a different story if it had happened on a Motorway!!!

24-08-2012, 17:34	#1
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	Wheel fell off - oops Happened today, Luckily I was not going too fast. Couldn't stop when I felt it as it was on a blind bend

24-08-2012, 21:08	#7
Paul Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North West Vehicle: 2002 Terrano 3.0 Di LWB Posts: 1,961	Had the same happen to me last year, n/s front wheel, the nuts came of the wheel spacer.. Lucky for me they was still inside when it stopped up the road.. __________________ 2002 Terrano 3.0 Di LWB..

24-08-2012, 23:02	#8
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,430	in the 70s got a call out to a 16 ton tipper that lost both NS rear wheels, one was on the road the other disappeared down into woodland (a long way) and came to rest near a pile of old rags, while we were trying recover it the pile of rags moved, turned out to be a tramp a'kip, what a lucky escape he had 10.00 x 20 wheel is no light weight, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

25-08-2012, 03:44	#11
rustic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staffordshire Vehicle: Maverick Mk I 2.7 TD LWB Posts: 7,825	Aren't you supposed to check your nuts regularly If you have alloys, the wheel nuts on my Mav are in fact a brass type material, so could easily strip if over torqued at some time in their life. I have found 2 stripped ones over the years, but having some wheel locking nuts gave me a few spare wheel nuts. I always insist that garages pre start the fitting of the nut by hand, but most will just shove it in the air wrench and press the button until the wrench gasps for breath. I always use a torque wrench, as it is quite easy to over tighten them even with the standard wheel brace. There is a chance of course that wheel nuts intended for steel wheels have been used for alloys, or vice versa, the wheel nuts are in fact different, as the angle of the countersink are different. So go on then, check your nuts, you know you want too. Or get someone else to do it for you. __________________ Ford Maverick GLX 1995 2.7TD LWB in illusion silver, 98k miles. Owned since new, for 22 years. Best car I have ever owned. Just wish I could drive it more.

24-08-2012, 17:36	#2
stinka Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Staffs Vehicle: '02 Terrano TDI sport lwb Posts: 3,787	WTF ?? How you manage that ?

24-08-2012, 17:38	#3
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	Didn't do them up tight enough I suppose, I sure I even torqued them up too.

24-08-2012, 17:50	#4
firebobby Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South Bucks Vehicle: Terrano 3.0 SVE 2005 Posts: 3,499	There was a story on the radio today about some MP or other council type, who's wheel nut were all loose when he got to his destination Here Fez, Your not some secret official/MP type are you

24-08-2012, 17:53	#5
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	Ouch, did you find the missing wheel? I saw a lorry lose one once on the M25, it's amazing how far this thing went.. the trouble was after rolling for about 1/2 a mile, it bounced over the central reservation and hit a car coming the other way. After that, we never found where it went. The car was a write off.

24-08-2012, 17:57	#6
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	the wheel to the left is the wheel, was carrying no spare at the time brake drum hub vanished though.

24-08-2012, 23:10	#9
96terrano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 2.7TD LWB Posts: 8,024	yup, ive had the wheels come of my truck too welcome to the club

25-08-2012, 01:08	#10
Dynamics Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Nelson's County Vehicle: TERRANO SWB 2.4 Petrol Posts: 568	Following a artic' one evening and a left side trailer wheel came off. it ripped off into the side of the road and smashed into a fence. It took about three miles of pulling out onto wrong side of road with hazards on flashing my headlights, before he finally pulled over into a lay-by. He jumped out of the cab not to happy, until I explained what had happened. If that had been a right hand side and had hit a oncoming car, it would have folded it in half. I have changed quite a few lorry wheels as an apprentice mechanic. They are very heavy indeed.

25-08-2012, 07:36	#12
supergnome Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Isle of Axholme Vehicle: T2, 2.7 TDI 2002 lwb Posts: 955	I've got 4 alloy and 1 steel spare so I should use the sparewheel nuts on the car when used. Also locking wheelnuts should be in 2 sorts? David.

25-08-2012, 14:41	#13
firebobby Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South Bucks Vehicle: Terrano 3.0 SVE 2005 Posts: 3,499	Didn't you feel it getting loose, I had a Ford Escort and a wheel came loose, by god it wobbled like a pig, when I looked around the car, I found the rear wheel was loose and tightened it

25-08-2012, 16:26	#14
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	Felt it go loose but couldn't stop as it was on a blind corner where people usually go 60mph. So had to think fast and decided to carry on a bit to a straight then it dropped off. Happened within 20-30 meters.

25-08-2012, 18:51	#15
Dynamics Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Nelson's County Vehicle: TERRANO SWB 2.4 Petrol Posts: 568	Just glad you are unhurt... Could have been a different story if it had happened on a Motorway!!!