Lost Front passenger wheel while towing

[prosys1]

I would like to see a closer photo of the lug seat in the wheel. In that photo you have it sure looks like it should take a shank type lug instead of an acorn style.

Here's a pic of the wheel hole.
The large c/bore is for clearance around the socket.
Then the chamfer for the nut, then the through hole.
Thru hole is .625 in diameter. Not large enough for a "shank" style nut.

 

[casadejohnson]

Here's a pic of the wheel hole.
The large c/bore is for clearance around the socket.
Then the chamfer for the nut, then the through hole.
Thru hole is .625 in diameter. Not large enough for a "shank" style nut.

I can see what you are talking about now. In that first photo it was hard to see the detail.

 

[73stallion]

Well, I've decided to do the chevy disc conversion.
I'll try and keep accurate records and pictures to post later.
I know it's been done allot of times and there's lots of post, but none are complete.
That's what I'm going to attempt to do. (Wish me luck).......LOL

if it makes you feel any better, the disc hubs will have a little longer studs, so more thread for the nuts to grab onto. torque them this time!!!! ;D

 

[prosys1]

if it makes you feel any better, the disc hubs will have a little longer studs, so more thread for the nuts to grab onto. torque them this time!!!! ;D

Be nice now Ben. They were tighten tight. Had to be something with flat towing the rig. Maybe the tow in was to much, I haven't measured that. And you know as well as I do that the studs are plenty long enough.

 

[kbldawg]

Ive heard people have problems keep their lug nutts tight with Aluminum rims. Something with the aluminum shrinking and expanding with temperature changes?

Just a thought

 

[prosys1]

Ive heard people have problems keep their lug nutts tight with Aluminum rims. Something with the aluminum shrinking and expanding with temperature changes?

Just a thought

Never had this problem before....lugs were very tight while it was snowing.

Marshall? I have a cousin in Springdale......and my uncle lived in Leslie until he passed away. He was a corporate pilot turned gun smith.

 

[broncnaz]

I really doubt it has anything to do with flat towing. Towing is no different from driving in fact probably less forces placed upon the wheels during towing. millions of vehicles have been flat towed if it was a issue then flat towing wouldnt be recommended. No matter how much you insist that they were tight well the fact is they were not tight enough. I also doubt that toe has anything to do with it either if it was off the tires would scrub and it would probably tow poorly as well you'd probably see it whipping behind the tow vehicle.
I know your looking for causes but I kinda think your in denial. basically here's your cause fornt wheel came loose on the trail most likely due to the wheels not being tight enough in the first place.(ok maybe someone was trying to steal your wheel only other real possible cause) no matter wheel was run loose for awhile lug nuts were retightened on possibly damaged wheel/studs and loosened again this time losing the whole assmembly.
I know a lot of people that have lost aluminum wheels or had them loosen even though they will swear up and down they were tight. Tight is one thing but properly torqued is another. each wheel manufacturer has its own specs and they should be followed. I would also caution against torquing to 130 ft lbs most 1/2 bolts are only recommended to be torqued to 120 ft lbs max over torquing can be just as bad or worse than under torqueing.

 

[kbldawg]

Never had this problem before....lugs were very tight while it was snowing.

Marshall? I have a cousin in Springdale......and my uncle lived in Leslie until he passed away. He was a corporate pilot turned gun smith.

I used to live in Springdale and I'm setting in Leslie now, work here. What was your Uncles Name?

 

[prosys1]

I used to live in Springdale and I'm setting in Leslie now, work here. What was your Uncles Name?

Bud Miller.

 

[prosys1]

I really doubt it has anything to do with flat towing. Towing is no different from driving in fact probably less forces placed upon the wheels during towing. millions of vehicles have been flat towed if it was a issue then flat towing wouldnt be recommended. No matter how much you insist that they were tight well the fact is they were not tight enough. I also doubt that toe has anything to do with it either if it was off the tires would scrub and it would probably tow poorly as well you'd probably see it whipping behind the tow vehicle.
I know your looking for causes but I kinda think your in denial. basically here's your cause fornt wheel came loose on the trail most likely due to the wheels not being tight enough in the first place.(ok maybe someone was trying to steal your wheel only other real possible cause) no matter wheel was run loose for awhile lug nuts were retightened on possibly damaged wheel/studs and loosened again this time losing the whole assmembly.
I know a lot of people that have lost aluminum wheels or had them loosen even though they will swear up and down they were tight. Tight is one thing but properly torqued is another. each wheel manufacturer has its own specs and they should be followed. I would also caution against torquing to 130 ft lbs most 1/2 bolts are only recommended to be torqued to 120 ft lbs max over torquing can be just as bad or worse than under torqueing.

We are beating a dead horse here. Lugs were tight the morning we left camp.
Wheel came off within 30-35 miles. Something weird happened. If it wasn't something to do with flat towing and alignment, then it was Mrs Secrest.....
or there was something wrong with the hub flange and studs that just didn't show up during dis-assembly and rebuild.....

 

[broncnaz]

We are beating a dead horse here. Lugs were tight the morning we left camp.
Wheel came off within 30-35 miles. Something weird happened. If it wasn't something to do with flat towing and alignment, then it was Mrs Secrest.....
or there was something wrong with the hub flange and studs that just didn't show up during dis-assembly and rebuild.....

Well its your dead horse to beat all we are trying to say is that it happens with aluminum wheels your not the first to have this happen and wont be the last. You want to go looking for a mysterious reason thats fine keep looking but really the fact is fact wheel came lose probably damaged wheel and hub you "tightened" the wheel again and it came loose again end of story. Trying to find a mystery reason well thats the dead horse. Now if this was happening on a constant basis then you might have a leg to stand on. Yes its always possible that theres another reason( weak wheel studs, bad wheel casting who knows) but will you ever really be able to prove it? Half the parts that had the issue are now gone or already damaged to the point you probably couldnt actually prove it. Just replace the parts and go on with life it will probably never happen to you again.