HELP my wheel fell off
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
HELP my wheel fell off
hey guys
The other day as i was pulling into my driveway the front driver side wheel fell off. I know this sounds kind of wierd but i believe someone loosened the lugg nuts and I have my reasons(kind of long to explain). Anyway, when the truck hit the ground at about 3 mph it landed on the disc for the brakes and the thin sheet metal plate behind the disc. All i could see on the disc was some white on the part that hit the gound, no cracks. the plate is bent to heck. and the fender is bent what all should i check and shoule i replace the disc.
Any help will be appreciated.
thanks,
David
The other day as i was pulling into my driveway the front driver side wheel fell off. I know this sounds kind of wierd but i believe someone loosened the lugg nuts and I have my reasons(kind of long to explain). Anyway, when the truck hit the ground at about 3 mph it landed on the disc for the brakes and the thin sheet metal plate behind the disc. All i could see on the disc was some white on the part that hit the gound, no cracks. the plate is bent to heck. and the fender is bent what all should i check and shoule i replace the disc.
Any help will be appreciated.
thanks,
David
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
HELP my wheel fell off
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Jan-02 AT 03:32 PM (EST)]Backing plates are usually readily available at wreckers.
No big deal.
I doubt anything happened to the disc.
Maybe take it to an auto place and have them check for the DISC still being Okay.
If it isn't okay, have them turn it.
The white stuff is just the cement/lime dust from the concrete.
OH ! And leave that guy's Sister alone until he leaves home.
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=144&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=143&.jpg
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
No big deal.
I doubt anything happened to the disc.
Maybe take it to an auto place and have them check for the DISC still being Okay.
If it isn't okay, have them turn it.
The white stuff is just the cement/lime dust from the concrete.
OH ! And leave that guy's Sister alone until he leaves home.
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=144&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=143&.jpg
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
New User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere
HELP my wheel fell off
Hello. my left front wheel has fallen off . Twice. I have a 73 F100 4x4. drum brakes all around. I thought someone was loosening my lug nuts because I found they were loose on the left fron ta couple times. The first time the wheel fell off, I was going about 5mph and I was turning right. the lugnuts came off and the tire messed up the sheetmetal when the truck landed on it. The brake drum got messed up so I bought a new one. From then on I checked my lugnuts all the time. A month or so ago I was driving through a parking lot and the wheel fell off again. This time it was different though. The lugnuts were still hooked to the studs. The studs had actually pulled out of the hub. I found out later, the reason why it happened was someone had replaced the studs with the wrong studs (too short or not wide enuff where they go thru the drum something). This is why I had always had problems with loose lugnuts and this is why they got pulled out of the hub. The studs were different on that wheel from the others and I only had loose lugnuts with that wheel. Now that I have the correct studs I should be ok. Sorry for the long post, I just thought I’d share my story.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
HELP my wheel fell off
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Jan-02 AT 04:46 PM (EST)]Can i get the plate off without taking the disc off? And to take the disc off do you take the cotter pin and berrings etc. in the hub out? My book is'nt very detailed. are there different types of lugg nuts? I was thinking that maybe the wrong ones were on it
thanks
David
thanks
David
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
HELP my wheel fell off
Yep,You have to Remove:Caliper,Disc.
The Backing plate is the furthest thing back.
I'm pretty sure All the DISC Studs are the same.
Don't know if the Drum Studs are but,they probably are.
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=144&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=143&.jpg
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
The Backing plate is the furthest thing back.
I'm pretty sure All the DISC Studs are the same.
Don't know if the Drum Studs are but,they probably are.
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=144&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=143&.jpg
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
HELP my wheel fell off
Dave,
Your accident happened at such low speed there is a high probability that you have damaged nothing. How are the wheel studs? Are they stripped? If not,go buy some lug nuts and put the wheel back on. If they are stripped/broken hammer them out and replace them. Get a hammer and bang that back plate back into place, its just a rain deflector! You drive a ford truck, its one of the hardiest vehicles ever built! Don't baby it! If the rotor is damaged you'll know in seconds of movement and/or you'll feel it in the pedal when you brake. You folk wouldn't believe what I've put mine through and its ready for more!
My Way is the Highway
KingFisher
Your accident happened at such low speed there is a high probability that you have damaged nothing. How are the wheel studs? Are they stripped? If not,go buy some lug nuts and put the wheel back on. If they are stripped/broken hammer them out and replace them. Get a hammer and bang that back plate back into place, its just a rain deflector! You drive a ford truck, its one of the hardiest vehicles ever built! Don't baby it! If the rotor is damaged you'll know in seconds of movement and/or you'll feel it in the pedal when you brake. You folk wouldn't believe what I've put mine through and its ready for more!
My Way is the Highway
KingFisher
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: U.S.
HELP my wheel fell off
Same thing happened to me the first time I drove my 75 f150. The guy I bought it from had replaced the wheels but forgot to tighten down the lugs.
Unfortunately since then I have a limp when I drive. I believe that the hub was damaged. You might want to check for any damage to yours.
Unfortunately since then I have a limp when I drive. I believe that the hub was damaged. You might want to check for any damage to yours.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
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From: yes
HELP my wheel fell off
have you ever used anything but just a wire brush on your studs? you should never use WD$) antiseize or anything on them, just use a wire brush to clean them and leave it at that, never use a lube
New User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Provo USA
HELP my wheel fell off
Hi,
This has happened to me on my '77 F150. I too think someone loosened the lugs (because my gas cap and hitch were stolen). But in talking to other people they informed me that if you have Aluminum or Mag wheels that you have to tighten the lugs periodicly...and I mean to the point you are standing on the breaker bar and it rolls the truck forward instead of moving the lugs...otherwise they seem to loosen up on me.
I was doing about 10 - 15mph when it came up and I gouged the asphalt good. The dust cover actually bent around the disk and prevented it from scratching and the person who towed the truck said not to worry about it.
My truck doesn't limp, but at certain speeds it has a horrible shimmy come through it (this seems to be caused by old, imbalanced Mud Terrain tires, but I'm not so sure).
Anyway, that is my story. Any suggestions on the shimmy...happens between 10 and 15mph and again about 50mph...that's it.
This has happened to me on my '77 F150. I too think someone loosened the lugs (because my gas cap and hitch were stolen). But in talking to other people they informed me that if you have Aluminum or Mag wheels that you have to tighten the lugs periodicly...and I mean to the point you are standing on the breaker bar and it rolls the truck forward instead of moving the lugs...otherwise they seem to loosen up on me.
I was doing about 10 - 15mph when it came up and I gouged the asphalt good. The dust cover actually bent around the disk and prevented it from scratching and the person who towed the truck said not to worry about it.
My truck doesn't limp, but at certain speeds it has a horrible shimmy come through it (this seems to be caused by old, imbalanced Mud Terrain tires, but I'm not so sure).
Anyway, that is my story. Any suggestions on the shimmy...happens between 10 and 15mph and again about 50mph...that's it.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: NE Oregon
HELP my wheel fell off
Click-type torque wrenches are plenty cheap (get the 1/2 drive one) and I'd use one when torquing lug nuts so you KNOW how tight they are. More and more tire shops are using them instead of just running down the nuts with an impact wrench.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 111
Likes: 1
HELP my wheel fell off
The garage where I work uses antiseize on every wheel we take off a vehicle and have never had problems with wheels coming off.We also torque the lugnuts with a torque wrench to manufactuers specs.I have found the antiseize saves alot of lug stud replacement especially for those who rotate their tires luke they should.i
