Near Disaster and wheel bolt torque settings!!

Ray-Vic

Ray-Vic

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Bailey
We had our E&P levelling system installed last week and thought we would go to a very local site (1 mile away) just for one night to try things out before heading to the Norfolk Broads this Thursday. Everything was great and the system is definitely everything we expected. However, on the way back to our storage I noticed a very faint knocking under braking from the rear nearside. As soon as I stopped I looked and was horrified to see one wheel bolt completely missing, two almost out and two just finger tight!

I was actually shaking thinking of what could/would have happened had we just headed off to Norfolk as we had planned without the overnight stop!!

I know in theory we are supposed to check things like this regularly, but do we actually do this with wheel bolts on every trip? I definitely don't (didn't) but will be more diligent now that's for sure!

I have checked the wheel for damage to the holes (elongation etc) and it appears fine, and have ordered a complete set of 5 replacement bolts as a friend said the others can now be stressed so should be replaced.

With regards to torque settings (yes I am going to loosen and retighten every wheel bolt before Thursday) I found it a nightmare to simply find the correct figure for my 16" alloy wheels, with suggestions of everything from 130 - 180 Nm, the majority seeming to plump for 160 Nm, so I phoned Bailey this morning and they were very helpful, quickly confirming that the 16" alloy wheel bolts require 180 Nm of torque.

I guess we definitely had a very lucky escape, so certainly worth a little check every now and then just to make sure all is in order on one of the most important bits.
 
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Scary. So I assume the installer had the wheels off last week? If so I would be on to them straight away. Apart from venting your feelings they need to know so the fitter does things better next time. Better for them if they get a roasting from you than the next guys wheel does come off!
 
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Think I would be having strong words with the garage who fitted the levelling system !

a good ''heads up"

I always check after a wheel has been off .. and watch tyre fitters torquing up correctly.

Mine are 15in steel wheels 160nm
 
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I work in road haulage and we had an incident a few ago which was recorded on the CCTV on the vehicle. Watching the wheel overtake our vehicle and bounce over the central reservation and narrowly missing oncoming cars coming the other way gave me sleepless nights for a while I can tell you.:eek:

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Ian_H said:
Scary. So I assume the installer had the wheels off last week? If so I would be on to them straight away. Apart from venting your feelings they need to know so the fitter does things better next time. Better for them if they get a roasting from you than the next guys wheel does come off!
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I can't see any reason they would need to take the wheels off to fit EP jacks.
 
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Ian_H said:
Apart from venting your feelings they need to know so the fitter does things better next time.
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I agree with this. You need to let them know so they can update their procedures. Perhaps have a 2nd person sign off on torque settings after the first has done it.
If you don't let them know, and in a few years someone dies I am not sure how you would feel about that?

Lenny HB said:
I can't see any reason they would need to take the wheels off to fit EP jacks.
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Perhaps, Perhaps not. But too close to the event for it to be 100% sure it was a coincidence.
 
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Ray-Vic said:
We had our E&P levelling system installed last week and thought we would go to a very local site (1 mile away) just for one night to try things out before heading to the Norfolk Broads this Thursday. Everything was great and the system is definitely everything we expected. However, on the way back to our storage I noticed a very faint knocking under braking from the rear nearside. As soon as I stopped I looked and was horrified to see one wheel bolt completely missing, two almost out and two just finger tight!

I was actually shaking thinking of what could/would have happened had we just headed off to Norfolk as we had planned without the overnight stop!!

I know in theory we are supposed to check things like this regularly, but do we actually do this with wheel bolts on every trip? I definitely don't (didn't) but will be more diligent now that's for sure!

I have checked the wheel for damage to the holes (elongation etc) and it appears fine, and have ordered a complete set of 5 replacement bolts as a friend said the others can now be stressed so should be replaced.

With regards to torque settings (yes I am going to loosen and retighten every wheel bolt before Thursday) I found it a nightmare to simply find the correct figure for my 16" alloy wheels, with suggestions of everything from 130 - 180 Nm, the majority seeming to plump for 160 Nm, so I phoned Bailey this morning and they were very helpful, quickly confirming that the 16" alloy wheel bolts require 180 Nm of torque.

I guess we definitely had a very lucky escape, so certainly worth a little check every now and then just to make sure all is in order on one of the most important bits.
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I think it may be a good idea to check that any wheels were removed, as most use a post lift on the wheels to lift the van! Before people jump to conclusions 👍
 
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Wheel nuts will almost never come slack on there own so if the fitter didn't have the wheels off then someone else has tampered with the wheel nuts.

To be honest you should never have to check and retighten your wheel nuts periodically, they just don't work themselves loose.

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Apologies, I meant to note that it was not the E&P installers that failed to tighten the bolts. I wrote to them immediately and they phoned first thing this morning and confirmed that they did not touch or remove the wheels. I mentioned the levellers as this is the reason we only went away for one night very local and not directly to Norfolk.
 
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Hi Ray
So going back do you have any idea when someone may have last had that wheel off?
Ian
 
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Ian_H said:
Hi Ray
So going back do you have any idea when someone may have last had that wheel off?
Ian
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Absolutely none. It's only done 6,000 miles and only had an oil change service so I honestly don't know. We were talking about it earlier after the garage had called and wondered about tampering, but we keep it in a CaSSOA Gold facility which is really secure and only take it out for trips so are at a bit of a loss. It's actually more worrying now knowing they didn't remove the wheels if I'm being honest.

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Ray-Vic said:
Absolutely none. It's only done 6,000 miles and only had an oil change service so I honestly don't know. We were talking about it earlier after the garage had called and wondered about tampering, but we keep it in a CaSSOA Gold facility which is really secure and only take it out for trips so are at a bit of a loss. It's actually more worrying now knowing they didn't remove the wheels if I'm being honest.
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Might they have had the wheels off to check the brakes during the oil service? It might be worth ringing them up and asking what is included.
Your experience has made me go out today and check our month old van, including that I can locate the spanner and undo all the nuts (so now I'll know who to blame...)
 
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Ray-Vic said:
Absolutely none. It's only done 6,000 miles and only had an oil change service so I honestly don't know. We were talking about it earlier after the garage had called and wondered about tampering, but we keep it in a CaSSOA Gold facility which is really secure and only take it out for trips so are at a bit of a loss. It's actually more worrying now knowing they didn't remove the wheels if I'm being honest.
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Then they were either not tightened properly on the pdi inspection prior to you collecting it or someone has tried to steal your wheels. If tightened they do not just work themselves loose .
 
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Well I just went and checked all the other bolts. The fronts were very tight, and I would say well over 180 Nm, but the other rear was also loose, albeit not as loose as the other side clearly, but definitely very loose (at least a couple of flats turn on a couple of bolts)!

What are thoughts on locking wheel bolts as I don't have these, but can't imagine where or how someone would have even tried to pinch them?

It's certainly a mystery and definitely one which has opened my eyes.
 
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Ray-Vic said:
What are thoughts on locking wheel bolts as I don't have these, but can't imagine where or how someone would have even tried to pinch them.
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I have always used locking wheel nuts on all our vehicles whether they be ally or steel wheels as the scrotes are just as likely to nick one if they need a spare or want tyre with good tread.

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Normally if a vehicle is in a garage and the wheels are removed then when you get the bill it should state on the bottom that wheel nuts should be checked after 30 miles. That's the garage covering themselves after work has been completed
 
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Ray-Vic said:
We had our E&P levelling system installed last week and thought we would go to a very local site (1 mile away) just for one night to try things out before heading to the Norfolk Broads this Thursday. Everything was great and the system is definitely everything we expected. However, on the way back to our storage I noticed a very faint knocking under braking from the rear nearside. As soon as I stopped I looked and was horrified to see one wheel bolt completely missing, two almost out and two just finger tight!

I was actually shaking thinking of what could/would have happened had we just headed off to Norfolk as we had planned without the overnight stop!!

I know in theory we are supposed to check things like this regularly, but do we actually do this with wheel bolts on every trip? I definitely don't (didn't) but will be more diligent now that's for sure!

I have checked the wheel for damage to the holes (elongation etc) and it appears fine, and have ordered a complete set of 5 replacement bolts as a friend said the others can now be stressed so should be replaced.

With regards to torque settings (yes I am going to loosen and retighten every wheel bolt before Thursday) I found it a nightmare to simply find the correct figure for my 16" alloy wheels, with suggestions of everything from 130 - 180 Nm, the majority seeming to plump for 160 Nm, so I phoned Bailey this morning and they were very helpful, quickly confirming that the 16" alloy wheel bolts require 180 Nm of torque.

I guess we definitely had a very lucky escape, so certainly worth a little check every now and then just to make sure all is in order on one of the most important bits.
Click to expand...
I have been setting on this and the last 3 vans (250 290) 120ft/lb googled told me :cool:
 
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Ray-Vic said:
Well I just went and checked all the other bolts. The fronts were very tight, and I would say well over 180 Nm, but the other rear was also loose, albeit not as loose as the other side clearly, but definitely very loose (at least a couple of flats turn on a couple of bolts)!

What are thoughts on locking wheel bolts as I don't have these, but can't imagine where or how someone would have even tried to pinch them?

It's certainly a mystery and definitely one which has opened my eyes.
Click to expand...
Just a thought but is it alloys or steel wheels you have?

If alloy just check they have the right alloy wheel bolts fitted as you get domed and coned and if the wrong bolts are on then there's a chance they could work loose. It's a slim chance but worth checking.

It's strange that both rears are slack but not the fronts .
 
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I picked up a brand new motorhome and on the way home a wiper arm fell off. Got home and went over the van. The wheels had been upgraded to alloys by the dealer and on checking the wheels were all different torque settings. 2 wheels were far too loose for comfort
 
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Pablo19 said:
I work in road haulage and we had an incident a few ago which was recorded on the CCTV on the vehicle. Watching the wheel overtake our vehicle and bounce over the central reservation and narrowly missing oncoming cars coming the other way gave me sleepless nights for a while I can tell you.:eek:
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I had almost the exact happen to me many years ago when traveling along the A505 just before Duxford, very frightening seeing a supper single undertake you on the near side. New tyres were fitted a couple of days and 350 miles previously. We put it down to some scrouts trying to nick the wheel when parked in lay-by over night near Hatfield and getting disturbed.
 
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I’ve lost a wheel on my bobble box last year and didn’t realise until I hit the site. Found the wheel 2 mile down the road.

Had to source a new alloy, wheel hub, bolts etc and came to close on £700 and a week of a 2 week holiday in panic mode.

Plus on my way to Halfords looking to buy a torque wrench I clipped a car in the car park and that was a £1200 hit as well.

Not a good week for us so I understand your frustration.
 
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