Frank Castle

So I knew a sound was occurring and I just couldn't pin point it. I looked at the tires- they were fine. I had to make a trip so I headed out. Noise was bugging me, and planned on looking into it.

So as I was driving, I feel a snap and car sunk some. I rolled over to the side of the highway. I see my drivers side rear wheel has zero lugs in in. The wheel was basically held in place by the body. Holy crap I was lucky.

Rotor dug inside the rim some, and the dust cover of the brake a lil crushed down. I see 2 lugs sheared off and remain in the holes. The others are gone.

I was able to borrow some lugs off the other wheels and got home.

I hope to get some quick replacement lugs as I need to drive on it.

It seems fine- no noise etc. will it be safe on 3 alternating lugs for now? I need to get the others out of the holes and replace.

So you think iaam all set? Replace lugs and move on or is there other issues here?

I have no idea how they came loose other than my error last wheel change. I'm guessing I didn't go tight enough causin them to be loose?

importfan21

Ouch!

New lugs and probably a new hub are in order. By the way, the snapping could've been caused by either undertightening or overtightening.

6spd

Be sure to order OE ones....People use aftermarket lugs from wheel shops but have this happen often because of weaker material, & or over torqued bolts.

ECTurboGSX

Sounds like 3 loose lug bolts left the car and there was too much stress on the remaining 2. Driving on 3 per wheel is a very short term, as in just to get home, fix. You saw that 2 didn't survive, so 3 is a definite gamble. I would get replacements ASAP and use a torque wrench to set all of the wheel bolts to the correct torque. As mentioned above, over torquing can warp rotors, stretch and deform the bolts, etc. And you see now what under torquing can do.

Frank Castle

Well my guess is it wasn't tight enough. I used an impact gun with a torque stick. Guess I didn't hit it hard enough.

I was able to twist out one stud that was stuck and the other was loose but needs a little help with a dremel or something. I think maybe superglue a handle on it and twist it out. It's that loose.

Good enough for today. I visited a junk yard and got 10 lugs off an old Benz for $6- car riding fine. Think this was a very lucky way to learn this lesson. Hope someone else can learn from it too. Thanks all!

ECTurboGSX

I use a torque stick to control from over-tightening but always follow up with a torque wrench afterwards to dial in to a precise torque. Glad you were able to find some for a good price at the junk yard.

I would normally say that running on 3 is ok on a car with wheel studs (as a short term solution), since the lug nuts really only serve to clamp the wheel to the hub and you always have 4 or 5 studs to handle shear loading. However, with our cars having lug bolts, you lose that shear capacity when you only have three instead of five.

Frank Castle

Thanks- it's on four for now and will get the other one in this week.

What are the tourque settings for the C43 lugs? Ill make sure its good from here on out.

ECTurboGSX

80 foot pounds is a pretty good spec. I believe 110 Nm is the spec.

Frank Castle

Awesome thank you

Frank Castle

Well that wa easy. Remaining bolt threw itself out. Can't say I won't be paranoid and check these periodically.

DRBC43AMG

110 Nm is the spec. Never had a problem.

morganb

Wow, that was lucky. Will go and retorque mine in the next few days.