Author Topic: Please go check your NUTS today! (Read 7509 times)

Gentleman Jack · « **on:** August 23, 2011, 11:41:32 AM »

Please let this be a lesson to all of you. Even those of you who think they would never do this. I am religious about checking my lug nuts after doing work to the car. A few months ago I did the springs and a few other odds and ends. Last night, I started to hear a funny sound from the left rear. I headed to my brothers house nearby to investigate. Two of the five lug nuts were finger loose and the other three were barely any tighter. I have driven the car about 200 miles since I did any work to it. I honestly don't know how I could have left them loose. I check, recheck and then wake up in the middle of the night and go check again.... But, they were loose.
The lessons to be learned are, check and check again. Then go back after a few drives and check again. The second lesson, even more important than the first is to listen to what your car is telling you. Mine saved my life and possibly the lives of others by telling me I was an idiot and didn't tighten the lug nuts properly. It used a click and some strange squeaking to tell me that. If I hadn't been listening, it could have been the misses driving when all hell broke loose.
All is well now and the wheel is fine. I checked again this morning. The bolts / threads were perfect, and no damage to the wheel.

The car is garage kept and never parked anywhere for very long. The only recent exception was a baseball game last week. It is possible, though unlikely, that someone was trying to take the wheels, but I really doubt that. If a pro thief wanted them, she would have taken them.

The moral of the story is: please go check your nuts today!

EarthNTX · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2011, 03:48:19 PM »

My nuts are perfect.

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2011, 04:00:38 PM »

Yep, just checked. Mine are still attached. (Though they were shakin' a bit in the quake a couple hours ago!)

Sly Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2011, 04:15:48 PM »

I have gotten new tires or tires rotated the last few years and they ALWAYS insist that I come back in a few days and have the nuts re-torqued. As I have never had an issue such as this, I always fluffed them off and although I have always re-torqued them myself I thought they were being overly cautious.

It's good that you caught it as the consequences could have been catastrophic. I'm glad you're all right.

ihawk95 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2011, 05:16:02 PM »

I've had to drive with a missing lug nut on 2 occassions.

Randy had to snap a stud when he did my brakes in Canton. Had to drive back from Ohio with a missing nut. 6 hrs. Seems like I also had to go on one of my runs with a lug nut missing. Yes...he did my brakes after my run the first day.

My Dad and I had to snap a stud when we painted my brake calipers. I drove from Iowa back to IL - 5-1/2 hrs with one missing. I have kept a wrench with me to check the nuts ever since.

Gentleman Jack · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2011, 05:20:18 PM »

Even the ladies need to check their nuts.....

tazz · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2011, 05:25:11 PM »

When I saw that you posted I thought "If she checks her NUT's" "HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM"
From the pics you look too attractive to have NUTS.

ihawk95 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2011, 05:46:23 PM »

Yeah...I'm definitely nutless!

Thanks Tazz!

Seriously though, I probably should check mine again since I've driven 1000+ miles over the last few weeks and had the tires rotated right before that. This is definitely a good reminder.

Brazen17 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2011, 06:50:16 PM »

The doctor is all booked up this week but I will get in as soon as possib...Wait. What? Oops, wrong nuts...

SHiNY · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2011, 06:53:22 PM »

I checked mine and you seem to be doing okay GJ

The other one in South Korea seems to be in rare form today also.

elff · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2011, 07:16:03 PM »

GJ

You are now the official Kappa Nut Checker.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2011, 08:44:37 PM »

Quote from: Sly Bob on August 23, 2011, 04:15:48 PM

I have gotten new tires or tires rotated the last few years and they ALWAYS insist that I come back in a few days and have the nuts re-torqued. As I have never had an issue such as this, I always fluffed them off and although I have always re-torqued them myself I thought they were being overly cautious.

It's good that you caught it as the consequences could have been catastrophic. I'm glad you're all right.

Most tire places do this with aluminum wheels because it can be a problem. If the owner brings the car in and the wheels are hot due to braking or whatever and they R&R the wheel while it's still hot then the aluminum could have expanded. If they torque the lugs and send you on your way later the wheel will cool off and contract, the torque will have then changed and could result in loose nuts. And since GJ is our resident "Loose Nut" we all know what dealing with that is like.

1LILNDN · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2011, 09:05:38 PM »

GJ , Did you take your loose Nuts off and check the Threads on your Studs . If they were that loose the wheel could walk around as it rotates

kennysabarese · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2011, 10:16:20 PM »

After forgetting to tighten up some of my suspension bolts recently (luckily the guy who aligned my car noticed it and fixed them) I have forced myself to always torque stuff immediately. But it's tough, you wanna get things together, then torque them later.

Excelsior · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2011, 11:09:46 PM »

I have always learned that you should re-check them after 100 miles any time you do anything with them.

Gentleman Jack · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2011, 02:49:26 AM »

[/flash]

Quote from: Kenny on August 23, 2011, 10:16:20 PM

After forgetting to tighten up some of my suspension bolts recently (luckily the guy who aligned my car noticed it and fixed them) I have forced myself to always torque stuff immediately. But it's tough, you wanna get things together, then torque them later.

Kenny,
This is totally off topic and rude. Please go start your own thread about torqueing yourself.

Quote from: elff on August 23, 2011, 07:16:03 PM

GJ

You are now the official Kappa Nut Checker.

Ok, but be careful what you ask for.....

NUT CHECK ON ISLE 5....

Also, what do you bet someone like Arabas asks why my car has nuts... He'll undoubtedly mention that my car had a sex change or something like that. Crazy Greeks.

Arabas · « **Reply #16 on:** August 24, 2011, 02:54:39 AM »

GJ, glad to hear that you noticed that and nothing bad happened.
usefull advise indeed !

and now for the kind-of-joke part..
does you kappa still have nuts? i thought it had a sex change operation when you bought it, so she could have s3x with you

SHiNY · « **Reply #17 on:** August 24, 2011, 06:02:12 AM »

Quote from: Arabas on August 24, 2011, 02:54:39 AM

does you kappa still have nuts? i thought it had a sex change operation when you bought it, so she could have s3x with you

That's why his Sol has the rounded exhaust tips and not the square.

Arabas · « **Reply #18 on:** August 24, 2011, 06:09:42 AM »

Quote from: SHiNY on August 24, 2011, 06:02:12 AM

That's why his Sol has the rounded exhaust tips and not the square.

GJ, what about the exhaust tip diameter? is that stock or you changed to smaller? or maybe 5 inch tips???

kennysabarese · « **Reply #19 on:** August 24, 2011, 07:27:48 AM »

Quote from: Gentleman Jack on August 24, 2011, 02:49:26 AM

Kenny,
This is totally off topic and rude. Please go start your own thread about torqueing yourself.

You got me there

GXPinKC · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2011, 07:32:04 AM »

Quote from: Arabas on August 24, 2011, 06:09:42 AM

GJ, what about the exhaust tip diameter? is that stock or you changed to smaller? or maybe 5 inch tips???

Oh, my goodness the thread has brought about some amazing comments, all in the relative security of checking the lug nuts to be sure they have been torqued properly after service. Yes, this is a very good point indeed!!! As pointed out in the thread proper torqueing of the nuts is essential for safety. I do believe that I will head to the shop today just to have mine checked!!! As a matter of FACT, I have never checked mine! Now, I am seriously wandering if the Eagle is a time bomb just ready to go off.

Carol my wife says my nuts are just fine! That is conforting to know from a spouses perspective but beside the point when referring to lug nuts!!! Ah, I am thankful that GJ started this thread cause all the "Nuts" on this forum need the security of knowing that they are indeed tight for safety reasons, and please don't mistake my comments for anything but what they are... please carry on with the thread...bring it...

JoshMcMadMac · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2011, 11:25:18 AM »

Not only is it important to check your nuts, you should always be sure to torque them properly.

I am quite certain that the monkey who owned one of my vehicles before me tightened every nut/bolt he ever touched as tight as he could with a two foot breaker bar. Over-torquing lug nuts over and over again fatigues the studs...and resulted in me merging onto I-95 at one point, getting up to speed, then watching my left rear wheel pass me in the center lane.

ChopTop · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2011, 01:04:35 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc3a28ZXluU&feature=related

Critterman · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2011, 01:24:13 PM »

So when I got home after the earthquake and checked the house out, I decided to check my nuts.

That's when the wife got home........... standing there with my pants down to my knees

GJ expect a phone call

Gentleman Jack · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2011, 02:49:58 AM »

Quote from: Critterman on August 24, 2011, 01:24:13 PM

So when I got home after the earthquake and checked the house out, I decided to check my nuts.

That's when the wife got home........... standing there with my pants down to my knees

GJ expect a phone call

Critter,
The wonderful Mrs. Critter called and I explained everything. She told me she's been trying to tighten your nuts for decades. Apparently, they are often loose and barely hanging on. She promised me she would give you a good torqueing this weekend. No need to follow up with the forum.....

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Author Topic: Please go check your NUTS today! (Read 7509 times)