My Lady's New Car Just Tried To Kill Her - Again

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 01/19/2015 at 20:26 • Filed to: OMGWTFBBQ

1

25

She was just driving along, minding her own business, when the car started shaking. It got worse and worse. She got off the highway near home, and suddenly felt the car drop and a nasty scraping sound. All four lug nuts on the left rear wheel had worked their way loose and terminated their employment with her Focus, taking the center cap with them.

She got a tow home, where I zoomed up to take a look for myself. Her remaining lug nuts were pretty old, and the threads weren't as good as they should be. So we made a trip to the parts store, and at my recommendation we replaced ALL 16 lug nuts.

My friend who sold her the car felt terrible, and assures us he torqued them three times before she took the car. Considering that the remaining lug nuts were, in fact, torqued properly before I removed them, I believe him. Still, it's cheap insurance to just replace them all. We took the car out to dinner and it drove fine. I retorqued the nuts when we got home anyway. I'll check yet again in a few days.

(Photo credit: ElanaA, because she really wanted a photo credit on this one.)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 20:30

0

Were those things torqued down properly? I remember driving a car with loose lugnuts, it was scary.

Xyl0c41n3 > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 20:30

1

JFC! Glad she's ok.

Justin Hughes > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2015 at 20:32

0

The other wheels were fine, but the nuts were old, rusty, and the ones I inspected didn't have very good thread. I suspect they were torqued properly, but because the thread wasn't good they worked themselves loose. Worst case, the wheel studs on that corner will need to be replaced, too, if their threads are also messed up.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 20:32

0

How terrifying. I panic about the possibility of something very bad happening to my wife when she gets behind the wheel...

Justin Hughes > Xyl0c41n3 01/19/2015 at 20:32

1

Thanks - me too!

86notchback > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 20:33

1

are those saab rims?

Justin Hughes > 86notchback 01/19/2015 at 20:35

0

Good eye!!! Yes, they are!

ElanaA > 86notchback 01/19/2015 at 20:41

1

Those wheels are the classiest part of my car!

deekster_caddy > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 20:47

0

Replaced just the nuts? I'd be taking a close look at thise studs too.

Might not be the sellers fault, last shop to work on the car probably had a n00B with an Ingersoll Rand and a 200 PSI air line "torque" them on... Happens all the time. If you want to get the wheels balanced or it's time for new tires hit me up. I have my own tire machines at home so crap like this doesn't happen to people I know!

Justin Hughes > deekster_caddy 01/19/2015 at 21:14

0

The lug nuts were a quick fix I could do immediately as the sun was setting. We're going to watch that wheel closely, and if it loosens up at all we'll have to replace the studs too. If they weren't bad before, they might've gotten messed up from the loose wheel bouncing around on them.

She's all set for winter and summer tires, but I've got a new set of OZ Ultraleggeras that need new summer rubber before I take off my snow tires. Where are you?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 21:16

0

How are the lug holes? In my experience, if the lugs work their way loose, you may have deformed lug holes now. If the lug holes deform, the lugs won't seat properly, won't torque down, and will come loose again. That's definitely something I'd take a good look at, especially since they're not the original wheels.

Amoore100 > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 21:23

0

Can we get a pic of the whole car please? I kinda wanna see a Focus w/ Saab rims... :P

Justin Hughes > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 01/19/2015 at 21:33

0

They looked OK to me, but I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip.

Justin Hughes > Amoore100 01/19/2015 at 21:34

0

I'll ask my girlfriend to take a picture in daylight.

Xyl0c41n3 > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 21:50

1

Also, I love what you tagged this post. I'm a fan of BBQ, but I don't think I can be a fan of OMGWTFBBQ. It doesn't sound like there's any brisket involved in that. Heh.

ElanaA > Amoore100 01/19/2015 at 21:57

0

I will get a picture tomorrow morning :)

Justin Hughes > Xyl0c41n3 01/19/2015 at 22:31

2

I do enjoy a good brisket!

deekster_caddy > Justin Hughes 01/19/2015 at 22:41

0

Reading MA. I've done tires for a few opponauts. Mostly family friends and neighbors, lots of seasonal swaps, troubleshooting tough balancing wheels for people, that sort of thing. had the home machines for almost 5 years, my brother did tires for about 25 years before we got our own machines!

My email is my username here at the Y! Domain.

Justin Hughes > deekster_caddy 01/19/2015 at 23:26

0

Sweet - I'm in Acton, so that's not far at all. I'll drop you an email so we can keep in touch. Thanks!

Amoore100 > ElanaA 01/20/2015 at 00:16

0

Cool, Thanks!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Justin Hughes 01/20/2015 at 05:16

0

i've never heard of that happening.

very weird!

ElanaA > Justin Hughes 01/20/2015 at 05:24

0

I make you very good brisket ;)

Justin Hughes > ElanaA 01/20/2015 at 07:54

0

Yes, yes you do!

Rico > Justin Hughes 01/20/2015 at 08:10

0

The car seems like a death trap and your friend probably should've done a better inspection before selling said death trap to you.

Justin Hughes > Amoore100 01/20/2015 at 16:30

0