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ByronClink1's avatar
ByronClink1
Explorer
Jan 03, 2016

lost a wheel and tire

Got home last night from a long weekend trip for New Years. Realized when I started to back into the driveway that I was missing the rear tire and wheel on the passenger side--all the lug studs were sheared off. Had nothing strange on the drive home and was blown away that it was missing. Minimal damage to the camper. Pulled the hub this morning. Still had some bearing grease. Bearings appeared intact. Brakes appeared normal. Saw no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. Can't believe we drove 85 miles, and have no idea where we lost the wheel. I retraced the last 7-8 miles this morning just to see if it was laying along the road with no luck. What would cause this to happen? Of course I'm nervous about getting back on the road after having it fixed because I don't see anything out of the ordinary. Even if I replace the bearings and repack them I don't know what went wrong. Any advice? I'd appreciate your input.
  • RVcircus's avatar
    RVcircus
    Explorer II
    Jan 04, 2016
    I check the torque every trip for this reason. Whatever the cause (too tight or loose) I'd personally replace all of the studs. If that wheel was torqued incorrectly it's likely that the other wheels were as well. Wheel studs are cheap.
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Jan 04, 2016
    You may have to have them pressed out if no luck with a punch and hammer. It's a easy job with a press. Any machine shop should be able to press them out for you for just a few bucks. If you are not familiar with the shop better ask for a price to be certain they don't over charge you.
  • TenOC's avatar
    TenOC
    Nomad
    Jan 03, 2016
    Been there -- Done that. I was driving on the interstate at 70 MPH when a car pass me and waved me down. I had lost the wheel about 5 miles back -- 50 miles from home on a 1,000 Mile 6 month trip. Never knew it.

    I think that I lost my wheel because I had removed the wheel (at home) to check the bearings before I started the trip and when I tighten the lug nuts I lowered the wheel to the ground to keep the wheel from turning as I tighten the nuts. But this prevented the wheel from seating properly against the hub.. So when I pull down the road and the wheel seated properly the lug nuts were not tight.
  • ByronClink1's avatar
    ByronClink1
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    Mont G&J wrote:
    Traveling through an interstate construction zone often times having the right side wheels on the rumble strip, about six miles down the road pass the construction a trucker pulled alongside and motioned I had a problem. The picture below is what I found. Never heard or felt a thing when the wheel came off. The studs were sheared straight and even with the brake drum. That occurred in 2008, in 2014 found one stud broke all the rest were fine, and again in 2015 had two break. Like the OP I’m at a complete loss as to why, I always use a torque wrench and check the lug nuts frequently. Thinking the drum may have a crack or other defect I replaced it after the last two broke.
    With the drum laying flat, holding a heavy duty center punch with vice grips, a two pound ball peen hammer and a good solid blow, the broke studs will pop right out.

    Looks exactly like what I'm dealing with. I did get off on the rumble strip several times yesterday, and that's probably what did the deed. I tried several times today with a maul and heavy punch and had no luck. I've got a friend who said he would take care of it at work tomorrow for me. Live and learn. Thanks for the pic.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Jan 03, 2016
    Just curious but what are the odds of someone messing with tires?

    Sounds like over tightened lug torque. But that is admittedly a guess.
  • Searching_Ut's avatar
    Searching_Ut
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    Walaby wrote:
    Funny... bunch of answers that lugs were too LOOSE, a bunch they are too TIGHT.

    One thing is for sure, they failed.

    I check the torque on mine every trip both when I depart and when I head back home.


    It would be fairly quick and easy to determine why they failed by inspecting the remaining portions of the studs. Since that isn't an option for us here on the internet, you can only speculate. When I was going through training on aircraft crash investigation we learned that fastener/bolt failure was caused by over torqueing far more often than under torqueing. Unfortunately, the damage could have done prior to the last time the nut was installed, and by checking the torque of your wheels as they stand now you can only tell if they are under torqued. Fortunately, while not unheard of by any means, shearing all of the wheel lugs and loosing a wheel doesn't happen all that often.
  • IBcarguy's avatar
    IBcarguy
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    Like everything else in this country, the bolts were probably made in China.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Jan 03, 2016
    Mont G&J wrote:
    Traveling through an interstate construction zone often times having the right side wheels on the rumble strip, about six miles down the road pass the construction a trucker pulled alongside and motioned I had a problem. The picture below is what I found. Never heard or felt a thing when the wheel came off. The studs were sheared straight and even with the brake drum. That occurred in 2008, in 2014 found one stud broke all the rest were fine, and again in 2015 had two break. Like the OP I’m at a complete loss as to why, I always use a torque wrench and check the lug nuts frequently. Thinking the drum may have a crack or other defect I replaced it after the last two broke.
    With the drum laying flat, holding a heavy duty center punch with vice grips, a two pound ball peen hammer and a good solid blow, the broke studs will pop right out.


    since trailers are almost all lug centric, lugs are taking all vertical and horizontal loads, and they are pretty high on a trailer. Unlike a TV with hub centric rims where the hub takes all the vertical load, lugs just hold it on the hub. So, over time the lugs are continually stressed. overtighten them, run them loose, etc. keeps adding to the load and stress. That could be why this does happen on TT.
  • Mont_G_J's avatar
    Mont_G_J
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    Traveling through an interstate construction zone often times having the right side wheels on the rumble strip, about six miles down the road pass the construction a trucker pulled alongside and motioned I had a problem. The picture below is what I found. Never heard or felt a thing when the wheel came off. The studs were sheared straight and even with the brake drum. That occurred in 2008, in 2014 found one stud broke all the rest were fine, and again in 2015 had two break. Like the OP I’m at a complete loss as to why, I always use a torque wrench and check the lug nuts frequently. Thinking the drum may have a crack or other defect I replaced it after the last two broke.
    With the drum laying flat, holding a heavy duty center punch with vice grips, a two pound ball peen hammer and a good solid blow, the broke studs will pop right out.
  • IBcarguy's avatar
    IBcarguy
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    Walaby wrote:
    Funny... bunch of answers that lugs were too LOOSE, a bunch they are too TIGHT.

    One thing is for sure, they failed.

    I check the torque on mine every trip both when I depart and when I head back home.


    If you check them twice every time you tow, are they always okay or are you finding that they have required more tightening to maintain the proper torque? In other words, are they loosening every time out??

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