Don't over tighten your lug nuts!

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/13/2016 at 18:49 • Filed to: None

Today I did an autocross in the feels like 108 degree weather. My Hoosiers had tons of grip but oh man it was hot. Anyways, I witnessed a similar occurance on the course to this video. An Evo was rounding a big turnaround when the front wheel sheared off and flew across the course, into the street, up an embankment, and bounced around the lot across the street. Some nuts stuff, thankfully nobody was hurt and there was no cross traffic at the time. Shortly after, it was revealed that the cause of this disaster was over tightening the lugs with an impact gun! The lugs heated up and the pressure was too much so they sheared right off. So lesson learned, never over tighten your lug nuts!!

DISCUSSION (24)

MM54 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 18:54

There’s typically three things I use a torque wrench on: Engine parts, ball joints/tie rods, and lug nuts. It’s recklessly irresponsible to just slam stuff on with an impact gun and assume nothing bad will happen, especially with lugs since when that wheel comes off it can really wreck someone else’s day in addition to yours.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MM54
08/13/2016 at 19:01

I always retorque my lugs after shop visits just to be safe.

Urambo Tauro > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 19:03

Torque sticks are a great solution for someone who’s not willing to stop using the impact gun so much.

facw > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 19:06

Kinja'd!!!

I’m guessing these were undertightened, but fun either way right?

Urambo Tauro > facw
08/13/2016 at 19:17

I remember that video, but I don’t recall there being an explanation. I’d be inclined to guess that those were OVERtightened, because loose nuts would allow the wheels to wobble a bit before letting go.

EDIT: According to this 2007 video ’s description (not sure if original source), somebody cross-threaded the wrong nuts on.

facw > Urambo Tauro
08/13/2016 at 19:20

The youtube video claims they were the wrong size thread for the car, which seems like it could result in awful crossthreading, followed by a sudden letting go?

Urambo Tauro > facw
08/13/2016 at 19:25

“Great minds think alike, so do ours.”

Ha, you caught me in the middle of my edit.

Chasaboo > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 19:28

A friend over-tightened the lug nuts to his car and managed to warp his rotors in the process.

Urambo Tauro > facw
08/13/2016 at 19:31

Found an eyewitness account via this old Jalopnik post ’s comment section:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showpos…

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 19:50

This is why it freaks me out that the studs on the Mini require 88.5ft/lbs. Also stud type lugs are awful.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Urambo Tauro
08/13/2016 at 19:52

I retorque them when I get the car back and then I check them again after driving it.

dogisbadob > Chasaboo
08/13/2016 at 20:35

this happens a lot

dogisbadob > facw
08/13/2016 at 20:35

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

dogisbadob > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 20:36

well hopefully at least the A/C works!

GasolineLollipop191 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/13/2016 at 20:50

M12x1.5?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > facw
08/13/2016 at 20:55

Noooooo an FD!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/13/2016 at 20:57

This is a good idea. I always think that putting lug nuts on is so easy, how could you fuck it up? But yeah now I have more reason to always check myself.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MM54
08/13/2016 at 20:59

I mean the torque wrench is kinda unnecessary though. Just going "good and tight" by hand should generally be fine. The only danger when doing it that way is to be undertight but its really difficult unless you forget to turn one or something.

GasolineLollipop191 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 20:59

This chart is from Discount tire website. My understanding is M12 should be 65-88 ft-lbs and M14 is 88-104 ft-lbs. I see most people over torque bolts and nuts even when using torque wrenches. Anytime the hardware is greased the number is usually lower than when its dry. Also people usually go further than the click indicating the required torque has been reached. Digital wrenches are nice to see what the final value actually is.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > dogisbadob
08/13/2016 at 21:01

Oh yeah, I drove top up and AC on the whole way home. I definitely need a recharge at some point but it definitely also works. I was pretty comfortable with it on full cold and full speed. Much nicer to be home though with the thermostat at 73.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > GasolineLollipop191
08/13/2016 at 21:33

I believe that is what they are. From the one time I looked up wheel info.

MM54 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/13/2016 at 21:49

After doing it with the torque wrench a few times you can definitely get it good enough by hand/memory if you have a similar-sized ratchet or breaker bar.

NJAnon > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/14/2016 at 16:41

Or at least remember to put the lug nuts back on.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > NJAnon
08/14/2016 at 17:08

Yeah but forgetting to put the lug nuts on would fail tech. There is no way to know they are over tightened until they explosively leave the wheel.