Check Your Lug Nuts

[Brent13]

I had a very bad experience yesterday afternoon, my rear driver side tire fell off at about 45 mph. Every lug nut was gone. Somehow the tire stayed with the truck, maybe about five feet behind me once I got stopped. For the life of me I cannot figure out how this happened. I did have the entire rear end torn apart about two months ago, that was the last time the tire was off. I torqued the lug nuts with a monster 4-way, they were very tight. Before it happened, I did feel a bit on wander with the truck, like driving on grooved pavement, a little right and left action. That was my warning, about 60 seconds before the tire said adios! I think everything under the truck is ok, just need to get under there for a look. I was able to drive home once I got the tire back on. I do have some very serious body damage to the back corner, and fender is curled under. I will try and post a picture as I will be asking what will my best course of repair look like. Really upsetting, my Bronco body and paint was in overal very solid condition.

CHECK THE TORQUE ON ALL LUG NUTS

 

[okie4570]

Glad you're ok and nobody was hurt! Haven't made anyone mad or think it could have been tampered with?

 

[Slowleak]

Ouch........ Almost had that happen once on a pickup. I had the tires rotated and they didn't tighten the lug nuts on the left rear. A day or so later it started to wobble...

Your insurance should cover it if it is worth filing a claim.

 

[Jedhead]

Make sure your rear axle bearings are good, had this happen and the vibration of the bad bearing sent the lugs loose, not a good scenario with almost no tools in NYC

 

[Brent13]

I sure have given thought to someone messing with it! I mean these things just don't back off by themselves. I was on the interstate doing 70 Friday night, and this happened Saturday afternoon. I was working on the Bronco most of the day Saturday, but did not pay attention to lug nuts. For all I know, some of them may have already been missing.

 

[Skiddy]

Glad you're ok and nobody was hurt! Haven't made anyone mad or think it could have been tampered with?

what kind of wheels are they had this happen on my trailer last weekend, wheel tried to pass me I replaced the tire/wheel before we left. and with aluminum wheels recheck after a few miles, I know better but didn't do it:-[

 

[Brent13]

Axle bearings are brand new, replace when I did the R&P two months ago.

 

[Brent13]

Wheels are AL.

 

[rydog1130]

Man that would be scary...only thing I've ever had even remotely close to this is loosing a trailer doing 60! Glad your ok!

 

[sanndmann3]

I've heard happening, especially with aluminum rims. Watched a friend on mines rear tire wobble on the dunes. Quick call on cb and he shut it down before it came completely off...

found this on a google search... (not saying its true or not)

Constant heating and cooling from driving and parking the nuts will eventually work their way out slowly.

 

[okie4570]

what kind of wheels are they had this happen on my trailer last weekend, wheel tried to pass me I replaced the tire/wheel before we left. and with aluminum wheels recheck after a few miles, I know better but didn't do it:-[

Yeah but you and trailer wheels and tires have a history of not getting along

 

[Skiddy]

Yeah but you and trailer wheels and tires have a history of not getting along

hmmm you do have a point;D

 

[sprdv1]

Ouch.. Definitely something worth checking twice....

 

[grant_71]

Wheels are AL.

That right there.

Same thing happened to my FSB when I switched to AL wheels, crushed the Left Rear Quarter.

I religiously retorque aluminum wheels now

 

[stout22]

Definitely need to torque lug nuts on aluminum wheels. I had one set try to back off on me. I got paranoid and started carrying a torque wrench with me and checking multiple times.

 

[Brent13]

Well I am paranoid now, for sure.

Hey, anyone got a good tutorial for fixing a crushed rear fender? Been talking to some guys at work, and looks like my best option is to cut off the damage, buy a new rear fender, and cut the piece I need from the new fender. Think I will need a new tail light housing also. I have never done body work, but looks like I am about to get a crash course. And the body on this truck was really very solid. Was the paint perfect, no, bu it sure did not need paint. The cleanest part of this Bronco was the body, it was solid.........

 

[Bukin 67]

I've had experience with this. It was on the front and I was running a 44 with drum brakes at the time. Mine came loose because they were over-torqued at a tire dealer and it broke the studs loose from the drum. I was lucky as my aluminum rim was riding on the hub as I slowly pulled over on the freeway. Everything was gone except a few of the studs were still inside the drum. I had to replace all of them with over sized studs.

 

[muskrat]

Happened to a buddy w aluminum wheels also. Saw a post on here way back about the need to retorque aluminum wheels. Glad you or someone else wasn't hurt m

I had a full size spare drop out of the back of my F-150 once after having a tire rotation. Thank God it ricocheted,off my boat trailer or it would have ended up through the windshield of the mini van behind me. I was furious at that tire shop,for their negligence.


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[Boss Hugg]

Its good practice to torque lugs on aluminum twice or three times... maybe even every time you look at them.

 

[69broncofun]

This is scary. Glad you are ok. I hope this does not happen to me as I want to put new wheels on mine. On a side note when I was younger I had a 68 Camaro was doing some work and stupid me forgot to torque down lung nuts on all 4 tires!! I took it for a spin around the block... it was a harry ride. lucky I made it home with no damage. Young and dumb. I know better now!. HAHA