Sad, sad day.
What's next?
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 2
From: SE Mass
Story:
--kC
Originally Posted by go_speed_go View Post
Hello all,
I was at the event and know the guy who owns the car. (No it wasn't me)
I was in the paddock area next to him changing wheels at the same time as him. I watched him torque all of them. I even borrowed his torque wrench to tighten mine (I always forget something after I get on the road).
He went to a wheel/tire business and asked for spline drive lug nuts for his particular make/model/year car for the Enkeis, and that's what they gave him. He did not purchase the tires or wheels from them, just the lug nuts.
The lug nuts where sheared off the studs. Several members lifted a corner of the car to slide a jack underneath it. With a few more jacks, blocks of wood, etc, they were able to mount the stock wheels and stock lugs nuts (at least 3 per wheel) back on, torque them and drive the car off course. The design of the car, possilbly for aerodynamics, tucks all mechanicals on the underside a little higher than the body line, or lowest part of the brake rotors. Not even the exhaust was really scratched.
I'm not a mechanic, but the mechanics theories there was that the lug nuts where the incorrect size, but they were just small enough to grip the outer edge of the threads (as I mentioned, they torqued to 75-80 ft/lbs without complaint).
Hopefully, the only damage is to the body and brakes.
Hello all,
I was at the event and know the guy who owns the car. (No it wasn't me)
I was in the paddock area next to him changing wheels at the same time as him. I watched him torque all of them. I even borrowed his torque wrench to tighten mine (I always forget something after I get on the road).
He went to a wheel/tire business and asked for spline drive lug nuts for his particular make/model/year car for the Enkeis, and that's what they gave him. He did not purchase the tires or wheels from them, just the lug nuts.
The lug nuts where sheared off the studs. Several members lifted a corner of the car to slide a jack underneath it. With a few more jacks, blocks of wood, etc, they were able to mount the stock wheels and stock lugs nuts (at least 3 per wheel) back on, torque them and drive the car off course. The design of the car, possilbly for aerodynamics, tucks all mechanicals on the underside a little higher than the body line, or lowest part of the brake rotors. Not even the exhaust was really scratched.
I'm not a mechanic, but the mechanics theories there was that the lug nuts where the incorrect size, but they were just small enough to grip the outer edge of the threads (as I mentioned, they torqued to 75-80 ft/lbs without complaint).
Hopefully, the only damage is to the body and brakes.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 158
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This happened to me back in High School but the damage was not nearly as severe....Of course, it also happened on a public road so I'm lucky no one was hurt.
I had some wheels with a goofy offset but correct bolt pattern. I got them mounted but they were only held on by a few threads. Needless to say one day one of the wheels fell off while I was driving down the road... The wheel took off pass me while I was driving down the road
and the car immediately sat down on the brake drum (82 rx7). The wheels went up the road a few hundred feet and hit a tree sending it about 50 feet into the air. It was all pretty spectacular......
Anyway, I like to think I've learned from my mistakes and am now more careful when installing new parts
I had some wheels with a goofy offset but correct bolt pattern. I got them mounted but they were only held on by a few threads. Needless to say one day one of the wheels fell off while I was driving down the road... The wheel took off pass me while I was driving down the road
and the car immediately sat down on the brake drum (82 rx7). The wheels went up the road a few hundred feet and hit a tree sending it about 50 feet into the air. It was all pretty spectacular......Anyway, I like to think I've learned from my mistakes and am now more careful when installing new parts
Last edited by Cooper47; Jun 13, 2007 at 12:07 PM. Reason: spelling
thanks for the backstory Imp. Hmm, looks like it's time to research the EXACT size lugs needed for that car / tires.
If they're different from what he got...oh oh, look out...
If they're different from what he got...oh oh, look out...
Someone at the '05 Atlanta National Tour used spacers and (ahem) WASHERS to space their DSP BMW's wheels out to fit 285s and didn't have enough threads to fasten them. The wheel flew off the car as it braked for a corner. It was rather spectacular to see. Clyde and I were working course at the time.
Cone Killer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 124
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From: Dallas, TX
Someone at the '05 Atlanta National Tour used spacers and (ahem) WASHERS to space their DSP BMW's wheels out to fit 285s and didn't have enough threads to fasten them. The wheel flew off the car as it braked for a corner. It was rather spectacular to see. Clyde and I were working course at the time.
www.TeamWTF.org
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Registered
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 558
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From: Richland, WA
Registered
Joined: Sep 2006
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I've had two experiences with loosening lug nuts.
I borrowed my roomate's Rabbit with Enkei wheels, back in my college days, to take a girl home in the very early AM. As soon as I hit the freeway, the passenger's front came off, bouncing across the car (which was skidding on the brake rotor) and up the road (thankfully) staying out of oncoming traffic (I was in the fast lane, natch), coming to a rest in the median. The brake rotor was toast, but other than that, no problems. When I checked the other wheels, all the lugs were basically finger tight. The only thing we could figure is that someone was getting ready to steal the wheels and I interrupted them before they could finish the job.
I once lost three out of four lug nuts on the driver's rear wheel of my Tiger, after some, ahem, "spirited" back road driving, leading to a wobbly wheel that just barely stayed on...
Since then, I check torque on lug nuts probably more than is either normal or sane...
I borrowed my roomate's Rabbit with Enkei wheels, back in my college days, to take a girl home in the very early AM. As soon as I hit the freeway, the passenger's front came off, bouncing across the car (which was skidding on the brake rotor) and up the road (thankfully) staying out of oncoming traffic (I was in the fast lane, natch), coming to a rest in the median. The brake rotor was toast, but other than that, no problems. When I checked the other wheels, all the lugs were basically finger tight. The only thing we could figure is that someone was getting ready to steal the wheels and I interrupted them before they could finish the job.
I once lost three out of four lug nuts on the driver's rear wheel of my Tiger, after some, ahem, "spirited" back road driving, leading to a wobbly wheel that just barely stayed on...
Since then, I check torque on lug nuts probably more than is either normal or sane...
Apexing at Oak Tree
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 717
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From: The Blue, Educated State in the North
OMG I've never seen something like that ever. Wrong sized lug nuts? How the heck did he pass tech inspection? Was this an SCCA sponsored Auto-x? If so, shame on their tech inspection crew, but more shame on the owner for using the wrong sized lugs!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
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I've been at events where the tech inspectors checked to make sure the lug nuts were the proper shape and threaded down properly......Personally, I think the whole tech inspection process is a joke at most events. Ultimately it's your own personal responsibility to make sure you're equipment is correct and safe although I wouldn't mind seeing a more consistent process at various events.
Book em' Dano
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Smyrna, GA
I've been at events where the tech inspectors checked to make sure the lug nuts were the proper shape and threaded down properly......Personally, I think the whole tech inspection process is a joke at most events. Ultimately it's your own personal responsibility to make sure you're equipment is correct and safe although I wouldn't mind seeing a more consistent process at various events.
that was my tech inspection..
www.TeamWTF.org
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From everything that I've heard about it, the nuts were very close in size. Enough so that they were able to be torqued to whatever the spec was. If you believe that tech failed in some way, what do you suggest that they could have done to catch the problem?
doin' the bull dance
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 2
From: Quahog, RI
This was the 3rd line of Imp's post for those that were, um, too lazy to actually read it. The lugs were torqued.
"I was in the paddock area next to him changing wheels at the same time as him. I watched him torque all of them. I even borrowed his torque wrench to tighten mine (I always forget something after I get on the road)."
prlly cuz they're total loosers. 
"I was in the paddock area next to him changing wheels at the same time as him. I watched him torque all of them. I even borrowed his torque wrench to tighten mine (I always forget something after I get on the road)."
Mu ha.. ha...
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,361
Likes: 3
From: Cali
What the frick !!!!!
How in the hell did that happen? Then it looked like the first wheel had sheered off bolts. Umm ... how do ya get that when you don't tinghten the lugs?
Never thought of wrong size lug nuts.
What I really want to know is what was the driver thinking when he stopped?
That his car was going to go some place? He had the parking brake on.
How in the hell did that happen? Then it looked like the first wheel had sheered off bolts. Umm ... how do ya get that when you don't tinghten the lugs?
Never thought of wrong size lug nuts.
What I really want to know is what was the driver thinking when he stopped?
That his car was going to go some place? He had the parking brake on.
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