Anyone heard of all 8 lugs backing off and losing the wheel while driving? I've seen 1 or 2 back off, but never all 8.

Last night around midnight I was driving home. On one corner I heard some racket from the front left wheel. My bearing squeals so I thought it finally let go, and so I started to slow down (going around 65). Before I could get stopped another corner the opposite way and BANG,, wheel fell off and truck slammed to the ground throwing sparks everywhere. Mind you I'm still going 50, so I eased on the brakes and looked for where the wheel was going. It was coming down the road with me getting ready to pass me so I pulled into it's path to let it hit my rear bumper to slow down. All I could think of was it hitting another car at 45mph or going through the front of someones house. When it hit my bumper it slammed pretty good, bounced about ten feet in the air then started rolling again. I found a drive and pulled in making sure the tire would roll into the side of my flatbed,, that stopped it.

Only one bent stud, none broken. Wheel is beat up, but survived. I jacked it up, took three lugs off the other wheel and babied it home.

Now, Do I assume someone took my lugs off or is this something that could just randomly happen? I've never had a wheel fall off. I've been having issues with my neighbors shop, so that has me curious. I just put this wheel on last week and tightened every lug by hand to make sure they were tight.

On a side note, the wheel took out my front fender and running board,, fender was rust free.

 

I would suspect foul play. I have not always been a law abider.

Get a locking gas cap, locking hood, alarm and a shotgun.

 

It does strike me as strange, but to play it safe, get a set of locks for it and a locking gas cap as was stated. I always find a few loose lug nuts when I check them, but never have I found all the lug nuts on one wheel loose. ....I HAVE ripped all five studs off the axle of my Chevelle, but I think that had more to do with the fact I was sliding sideways with the back tires smoking at the time.

 

Foul play for sure. They will come loose but I suspect all 8. Time for some locking lug nuts. I have splined locking nuts on my truck.

 

It can happen if a wheel stud or studs are not seated all the way into the hub. The lug nut can appear tight, but if the stud seats itself later, the whole wheel can suddenly be slightly loose.

 

A buddy of mine had his left front wheel fall off not once but twice! He never figured out why. Messed up two front fenders. Somebody must've loosened em. Neighborhood he lived in wasn't that great and the truck was loud.

 

I bet foul play from your neighbors, get at least 2 locking lug nuts per wheel. Glad you are ok, sorry to hear still having crappy neighbor issues.

Invest in some solar powered motion dectector lights a mount them out of hands reach. Lights usually scare off the rats....so does a 12 gauge.

 

I had it happen on a '96 Bronco I had. Found out it was the aluminum rims I had. Was told the aluminum had reamed out oval holes which would move ever so slightly and work the lugs free. I was on the highway when it happened. Fortunately, i felt something going wrong and pulled to the side before it fell off. My understanding is that the lugs were loose at some point and caused the studs to ream the holes a bit. After that, no matter how much I torqued them down, they worked their way loose. This was on all four wheels. I immediately trashed them for steel rims.

 

here was the carnage. running boards have since been removed and I pulled out the fender best I could.

 

Anyone caught loosening up someone's wheel should be charged with attempted murder.

 

Or just shoot them and save all the taxpayers a lot of money.

 

Another thing, make sure the part of the lug nuts that come into contact with the aluminum wheel are not chrome plated.

 

Can't do that because it would violate the perp's rights. Remember, criminals have more rights than you and me.

 

Actually back in the 70s my grandfather had a 68 impala, did a brake job and put the wheels back on... it had aluminium rims with the mag lug nuts... took it for a test ride and all the lugnuts backed off the stud, and the wheel fell off...its good practice to check your lug nuts every so often, i check mine once a week, and they have definently got loose, but not too loose

 

I had a 67 with a set of unilug mags . I got a job 45 miles away . After having to stop and tighten the lug nuts almost each day ! , I put some steelies and baby moons on her . No more issues . What I am saying is , I have seen aftermarket rims give issues .