Lug nutz

[Builder]

That's only for the lawyers.

ehh, not really.

When I take my truck to the dealer and they pull a wheel for state inspection, all lug nuts are torqued back on with a torque stick.

You'll notice many trash trucks and municipal trucks have special precautions taken to make sure lug nuts are correctly installed & torqued.

One of the biggest causes of highway accidents are truck & trailer tires coming off trucks and rolling into the front of oncoming cars.

I lost a truck tire about 25 years ago that crashed through a fence and killed some livestock on a farm. I have also read many an article of lost tire/wheels killing drivers in oncoming traffic.

It's serious business.

 

[Bird]

I have a neighbor who lost his compact 2005 Chevrolet sedan last year when a wheel came off an 18-wheeler and hit his car hard enough to total it. And it was a miracle he wasn't injured. I'm not sure how many miles he had on it, but I was surprised to learn it was a 2005 model because I had thought it was almost new just from seeing it parked in his driveway.

 

[Willl]

One of the biggest causes of highway accidents are truck & trailer tires coming off trucks and rolling into the front of oncoming cars.

That's quite a statement.

 

[PILOON]

Driving on the hiway from Toronto to Montreal, a ten wheeler lost a left rear wheel which ran parallel to the truck, turned towards my lane, jumped the median and came straight at me!
Fortunately it hit a bump and cleared my hood by just enough to sail over the car!
With the speeds, velocity and angles you just don't know if to brake hard, swerve or accelerate.

I did, however make the best of the situation.
Stopped, backed up and loaded the tire/rim in my trunk and sold it at the next gas station.

Took me some time to stop shaking.

The truck never even stopped or slowed down.

 

[Wis Bang]

Actually Ontario made some laws a few years ago over this subject making the person responsible for tightening the fasteners responsible. They have backed off some but it was all over the ttrucking industry publications when it happened.

Torque sticks are good for production shops.

The biggest problem is no one goes back in 200 miles for the re-check!

 

[Diamondpilot]

The biggest problem is no one goes back in 200 miles for the re-check!

I do, and like I said I found loose lugs on the front of my Saturn last weekend. I will admit I had forgotten, but this thread made me take 10 minutes and go around and hit both trailers, and all 4 vehicles.

Chris

 

[Builder]

That's quite a statement.

Willl,

I don't want to come across as being arguementative with you, but I know a lot of cops, wrecking company owners & truckers. They tell me many accidents are caused by tire/wheel combinations flying off and striking cars.

Just trying to emphasize the importance of the torque wrench.

Which brings to mind the question-why not just do it and be safe?

 

[Willl]

We'll just have to agree to disagree.