Beast55AMG

I have been having a recurrent problem with my driver side rear wheel snapping bolts. They seem to snap at the junction between the wheel and hub. I have had 5 bolts already snap and keep replacing them. The prior bolts have been aftermarket (chromed) but even some of the Mercedes bolts I am replacing them with have broken. Also, recently my alignment was off and I went through a set of rear tires in 4000 miles (no, I haven't been lighting up the tires at every stop light!). I got the alignment fixed so I thought this might fix the bolt breaking problem but it still seems to be occurring. Btw, the car was recently purchased used and was in a minor rear end collision that was fixed and looks great.


Anybody have any ideas what may be causing this problem??


Also, I recently had a whining noise from my rear differential and I replaced the rear differential with a used one and the noise went away.


My car is 2005 E55 AMG.


Thanks so much for any help or suggestions anyone could provide.

amdeutsch

From the pic you posted it looks like you are using the wrong type of bolt head.

Denroll

This might help:

SPatykAMG

Are you using oem wheels?

moosejaw

Is the same person torquing the wheels every time? Also are they being torqued to 96lbs/ft

Beast55AMG

Different people torquing each time but I have seen the tire shop using a torque wrench.

Beast55AMG

Yes they are oem wheels. I just checked and the other bolts are at least at 95 ft lbs torque. It's only happening to one wheel btw.

Beast55AMG

Yes they are after market chromed bolts, but I have been replacing the broken bolts with oem mercedes bolts and they are also breaking.

Roverron

Make sure hub isn't damaged
if it is all weight is on bolts

Beast55AMG

Could you tell me what to look for if the hub is damaged?

Roverron

take the wheel off and take picture of the center of the rotor at an angle. Or just compare drivers side to passengers you might be able to see it yourself

oh and post picture here

Beast55AMG

Ok I had just taken a picture and replaced wheel when I saw your post. I took some pictures but possible not enough angle.

Beast55AMG

Also, when replacing wheel it was able to hang on hub without falling off if that means anything...so I think if can support some weight.

stockC43

Your using the wrong seat bolts for oem wheels. You may of damaged the ball seat on the wheels by using the cone seat lugs. That's the only reason I can think of if oem bolts are breaking, even when torqued. Try swapping to all oem bolts and make sure your wheels are MB. They will have a MB star on them and a 12 digit part number starting with either 211, 219, 215, 230 or 220

Beast55AMG

Thank you for the advice I've already ordered the new oem bolts as I've been planning to replace the chrome ones. When I bought car used it came with the chrome bolts. I checked wheels and they are oem 211. When I compares the drivers side to passenger side one of the bolts on the passenger side appeared to be over torqued and it broke off (new for this side). So I think you definately right about the bolts and possible they have just been over torqued too much.

Beast55AMG

The passenger and driver side hubs appear the same.

Beast55AMG

Btw, I live in Monterey, CA and there is the Concours D'Elegance and many other car shows going on right now if anyone is in town I'd be happy to meet up. Thanks for all the advice!

Enigma94

If you don't have directional tires in the rear I'd suggest swapping the driver side rear tire to the passenger side and see if it follow the rim. If it does, the lug nut seat on that rim may have been damaged at some point. The use of the wrong style lug nuts don't help at all either.

Beast55AMG

That's a good idea, I'll try that...thanks!