Disaster on way to Portugal!!

[Riverbankannie]

It’s only when you re-live the circumstances and realize that if the wheels had come off at motorway speed (although I tend to stick at 58, just above HGV speed) then the consequences could have been catastrophic but I’m here to tell the tale and learn from it. The key learning is NEVER assume a professional has done the job correctly and check for yourself so YOU and only you are satisfied that the job has been done correctly, however I didn’t have a torque wrench I will certainly carry one in the future

Glad you are ok, a scary tale indeed.
It is unfair for anyone to say that you should check them yourself and check with a torque wrench etc. What about those of us who rely on the professionals because we wouldn’t know where to start and wouldn’t have the tools. I suppose the only way is to go into another garage after the wheel change - but then you are reliant on those people.

 

[nicholsong]

It’s only when you re-live the circumstances and realize that if the wheels had come off at motorway speed (although I tend to stick at 58, just above HGV speed) then the consequences could have been catastrophic but I’m here to tell the tale and learn from it. The key learning is NEVER assume a professional has done the job correctly and check for yourself so YOU and only you are satisfied that the job has been done correctly, however I didn’t have a torque wrench I will certainly carry one in the future

Then you will need to find all the torque setting for anything that you might need it for.

I was lucky when I put a new head gasket on my boat's engine on a quay in Greece that a friend in the same place lent me a Draper torque wrench and I had the Mercedes workshop manual which gave the settings and bolt order for tightening.

Maybe get a manual if you have not got one, because even if you do not do a job yourself you can show the diagrams and figures to even a foreign mechanic.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Been an engineer and mechanic most of my life and never used a torque wrench… never had a problem with heads wheels or anything… again I just must be a lucky sod…

While that isn’t an issue for doing your own work, anyone working as an engineer or mechanic on paid work would be legally expected to do the job to the manufacturers specifications hence a torque wrench (calibrated) is a basic requirement.

 

[westhamman]

I'm completely out of my depth with regards to this subject, I would expect the professional to know his job, in this case I would reckon from what I've read the mechanic didn't know the job he was doing, in which case you call your boss and say so, without knowing the circumstances the mechanic may have not been able or reluctant to do this. Nobody has ever told me to check the torque settings when a wheel has been replaced, you live and learn.

 

[PaulW2]

It’s only when you re-live the circumstances and realize that if the wheels had come off at motorway speed (although I tend to stick at 58, just above HGV speed) then the consequences could have been catastrophic but I’m here to tell the tale and learn from it. The key learning is NEVER assume a professional has done the job correctly and check for yourself so YOU and only you are satisfied that the job has been done correctly, however I didn’t have a torque wrench I will certainly carry one in the future

Isn't that a bit tricky in this case?

If I understood how the mechanism works, you would have to hoist the vehicle up again, take the outside wheel off, check the torque of the nuts on the inside studs, reattach the outside wheel, torque it up, then drive for a while before stopping once more to check the torque of the outside wheel that you had removed in order to check the torque of the inside one...

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[dpsuk999]

Isn't that a bit tricky in this case?

If I understood how the mechanism works, you would have to hoist the vehicle up again, take the outside wheel off, check the torque of the nuts on the inside studs, reattach the outside wheel, torque it up, then drive for a while before stopping once more to check the torque of the outside wheel that you had removed in order to check the torque of the inside one...

Correct I’m lucky that I have E&P jacks fitted which allows me to jack the motorhome up, I don’t know what others would do as I’m sure not all carry a suitable jack to jack the motorhome up and check

My downfall is that I didn’t carry a torque wrench and also nut removal tools as he damaged one of my nuts removing them so no way could I have re-checked the torque of the nuts anyway

 

[125BEER]

Glad your safe and can move on and have some Fun.

Yamas

 

[DandJ]

A very fortunate ending for you...phew. ( But I'm now left with a head scratch of whether I check the wheel nuts at 30km, 40miles, 100 miles, half an hour of driving or half an hour of standing stilll...all have been cited....Continental Tyres say 50km...that'll do)

 

[PaulW2]

A very fortunate ending for you...phew. ( But I'm now left with a head scratch of whether I check the wheel nuts at 30km, 40miles, 100 miles, half an hour of driving or half an hour of standing stilll...all have been cited....Continental Tyres say 50km...that'll do)

It is tricky. And then we could ask whether the tyre manufacturer is the proper authority, or maybe the vehicle manufacturer, or the wheel manufacturer, or the manufacturer of the fasteners.

I think this unregulated status tells us that it is an area where some parties, e.g. tyre fitters, will tell us to do so, essentially as part of their risk management strategy. And it is of course good practice.

But how many people actually do it? I would be astonished if more than 5% of regular drivers stop after x distance to check the torque of their wheel nuts. (Do more than 5% of drivers even have torque wrenches?)

And how often do wheels come off? Pretty rarely I think, under normal circumstances.

 

[Bessy765]

If you didn’t want to seem disrespectful you shouldn’t have posted a reply like that



David’s only mistake was believing the mechanic was competent

Nothing like being wise after the event. Should have would have could off! There by the grace of god are the experts with unhelpful comments and no idea of your system chassis.

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[dpsuk999]

It is tricky. And then we could ask whether the tyre manufacturer is the proper authority, or maybe the vehicle manufacturer, or the wheel manufacturer, or the manufacturer of the fasteners.

I think this unregulated status tells us that it is an area where some parties, e.g. tyre fitters, will tell us to do so, essentially as part of their risk management strategy. And it is of course good practice.

But how many people actually do it? I would be astonished if more than 5% of regular drivers stop after x distance to check the torque of their wheel nuts. (Do more than 5% of drivers even have torque wrenches?)

And how often do wheels come off? Pretty rarely I think, under normal circumstances.

I agree, how many people, after picking their cars/motorhome up after having new brake pads fitted then after say 50 miles re-check the torque settings, not many I think

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

With your experience of the roadside fitternot being competent it's true for a lot of " professionals". I tend to be a real pain and watch where possible when work is being carried out.
You wete very unlucky with the repair person.

 

[Bessy765]

Nothing like being wise after the event. Should have would have could off! There by the grace of god are the experts with unhelpful comments and no idea of your system chassis.

I might add on this particular system the inner bolts are torqued up slacked off and torqued again on a dry thread. No further work is required, same with the outer bolts. The act of full torque backing off and re torque means they are settled and need no further adjustment as I am sure the OP but not the breakdown service we’re aware. More about sympathy for the predicament and grateful no one was hurt.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Isn't that a bit tricky in this case?

If I understood how the mechanism works, you would have to hoist the vehicle up again, take the outside wheel off, check the torque of the nuts on the inside studs, reattach the outside wheel, torque it up, then drive for a while before stopping once more to check the torque of the outside wheel that you had removed in order to check the torque of the inside one...

Now I've definitely got a strong preference for the more conventional arrangement on Iveco double rear wheels!

 

[Landy Andy]

The tyre didn’t completely deflate, I had a warning on my tyre pressure system that the tyre was deflating and it deflated to approx 65psi before I managed to get to the SOS stop.

View attachment 997057

View attachment 997060

The circle marks on the inside of the rim look odd to me. Do these show that the rim was fixed against the studs and nuts, rather then the flange? Or are they “normal”.?

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[dpsuk999]

The circle marks on the inside of the rim look odd to me. Do these show that the rim was fixed against the studs and nuts, rather then the flange? Or are they “normal”.?

The circle marks you refer to are from the bolts which attach the rear wheel hub see picture:

 

[funflair]

I might add on this particular system the inner bolts are torqued up slacked off and torqued again on a dry thread. No further work is required, same with the outer bolts. The act of full torque backing off and re torque means they are settled and need no further adjustment as I am sure the OP but not the breakdown service we’re aware. More about sympathy for the predicament and grateful no one was hurt.

That's a new one on me and not mentioned in the Morelo manual but I don’t doubt you and am always willing to learn, especially if it stops the wheels falling off

 

[stevewagner]

I think he's pretty sure he didn't tighten them properly.

I've just got back from coventry and I don't wish to be disrespectful, but you are a rude tw@t.

I think he's pretty sure he didn't tighten them properly.

I've just got back from coventry and I don't wish to be disrespectful, but you are a rude tw@t.

I hope you liked it there

 

[Silver-Fox]

Been an engineer and mechanic most of my life and never used a torque wrench… never had a problem with heads wheels or anything… again I just must be a lucky sod…

You must of been lucky as I used to shear bolts with ease

Many years ago I just started using torque wrenches on bikes and cars

 

[Silver-Fox]

That's a new one on me and not mentioned in the Morelo manual but I don’t doubt you and am always willing to learn, especially if it stops the wheels falling off

I don’t torque up, back off and re torque car wheels etc.

But I always torque wheels up off the floor.
No lateral forces acting on the wheels then.

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[Derbyshire wanderer]

It might not be obvious to anyone not mechanically minded but it’s worth bearing in mind that when roadside assistance arrives, the vehicle they are in can be a good indicator of their skill set.
Recovery trucks are usually manned by someone who knows how to get your vehicle onto their vehicle but may have a limited ability to actually repair anything roadside.
The guy in a van full of tools, jacks and a diagnostic machine that looks nothing like the one you bought from Amazon for £20 is very likely to be a trained mechanic or technician.
If it’s the recovery truck, watch carefully and don’t assume that they know more about your vehicle than you.

 

[dpsuk999]

It might not be obvious to anyone not mechanically minded but it’s worth bearing in mind that when roadside assistance arrives, the vehicle they are in can be a good indicator of their skill set.
Recovery trucks are usually manned by someone who knows how to get your vehicle onto their vehicle but may have a limited ability to actually repair anything roadside.
The guy in a van full of tools, jacks and a diagnostic machine that looks nothing like the one you bought from Amazon for £20 is very likely to be a trained mechanic or technician.
If it’s the recovery truck, watch carefully and don’t assume that they know more about your vehicle than you.

This was the van he turned up in

 

[Puddleduck]

This was the van he turned up in
View attachment 997252

No wonder it didn't inspire confidence.

 

[TeamBandS]

This has been an informative thread and I am relieved that the ending did not end in an accident. The issue of retightening wheel nuts is, I suspect, not fully known by many members. I have just had all new brake pads fitted and the garage presented me with a form stating the tightness they had torqued the wheel nut to and stated they had to be checked after 30 or so miles and I had to sign their copy of the form. My moho is a 3500 kg ducato and the nut tightness is quoted as 180nm or approx 132 ft lbs. This I duly did having bought a suitable torque wrench. My point is how many motor homers know to retighten wheel nuts and carry a torque wrench? 50 years of motoring and using garages I have never been informed of the torque setting and the need to retighten nuts before. Never to old to learn I guess.

 

[BaileySteve]

Glad you are ok and are getting sorted. Everything else you can put down to experience.

Maybe consider a set of wheel nut retainers in plastic or the metal clip versions as this would cause me concern going forward.

The repairing garage should be able to source for you and the plastic ones are available in several colours.

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[Carpmart]

The tyre didn’t completely deflate, I had a warning on my tyre pressure system that the tyre was deflating and it deflated to approx 65psi before I managed to get to the SOS stop.

View attachment 997057

View attachment 997060

Deflated to 65psi? I only run that as a cold pressure on mine!

 

[meanders]

Hadleigh Tyres, a regional tyre and exhaust company now invite you to go back for a free check the following day after having anything done. (or at least the one I use does). I have also noted of late that having removed and replaced a wheel, a second fitter now uses a torque wrench to manually check each nut once the wheel is back on the ground. Reassuring.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

This was the van he turned up in
View attachment 997252

Oh s**t, doesn’t even look like a decent tyre fitter’s van as it looks empty.
You really have had a very lucky escape and unfortunately experienced the worst having a bit of bad luck made worse by being sent the incompetent fool masquerading as your safe pair of hands.
I would be inclined to claim all of the costs against your breakdown supplier as your photos clearly show the damage post call out was due to poor workmanship.

 

[DerryW]

I have to admit, in 60 yrs of mechanicing on heavy vehicles, I have never seen rear wheels with TWO securing nuts, spacers yes, but not two nuts!

The inner wheel is held on by bolts (actually nut on a stud) that go through the spacer, the outer wheel is then bolted to the spacer effectively covering the inner wheel studs.

What a poor design on any vehicle never mind one as prestigious as the OP’s although value should not come into it.
Although inconvenient to the OP and his family traveling with him, this could have been a completely different story altogether.

PS. by the way I don’t think fellow Funsters and contributor L’Hobo was being intentionally rude to the OP, in fact his comments and experiences may just have saved others from the same dreaded experience of that of the OP’s.

And I’m speaking as someone who’s experienced the nightmare of losing a wheel of the back axle on a 32ton articulated HGV.

 

[Bessy765]

You could always ask a helicopter pilot who tightened his nuts (on the rotor shaft) never known them to come loose !! Same principle applies as previously stated.

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