More damage from lack of use

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Thu 22 Sep 2005 11:10
More damage from lack of use - Roger Jones
To quote from an article (in a club magazine) on seized wheelnuts: ". . . tyre fitters usually cause the problem with air wrenches . . . the bolts being dry . . . The problem was compounded by the little use I was giving the car and the length of time since the wheels were last off (18 months and 1000 miles)."

In this instance, the whole hubs had to come out and a great deal of expensive work was done to rectify the problem. Lessons: use your car frequently, take the wheels off regularly, use correct torque settings. Interestingly, the specialist mechanics involved in this case did recommend applying copper grease to the nuts -- there is a thread about this elsewhere.
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Thu 22 Sep 2005 11:53
More damage from lack of use - artful dodger {P}
I agree that when studs are used to secure wheels, rather than nuts, the end of the studs can rust in place. Many Years ago I had this happen on a van and resulted in 2 studs out of 3 shearing off. I had a long slow drive home (N Yorks to Kent) after advice from the AA. After complaining to the tyre company who had recently changed the tyres they fixed it for me for free. Must have cost them a small fortune in new parts.


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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to add to the thread.
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Thu 22 Sep 2005 12:52
More damage from lack of use - 659FBE
I read the same article, with considerable interest. The manufacturer concerned, a prestigious German producer has recently publicly admitted reliability and build problems. What has not been admitted by them is the crime of poor design, of which this was a perfect example. In this instance, the seating cones on the wheel bolts are spaced from the bolt heads, which are on extensions of the bolt shank to bring the heads flush with the (alloy) wheel outer surface. The consequence of any excess torque here is that the head shears off the bolt, leaving the wheel firmly and immovably fixed to the hub via its seating cone. I wonder if the designer knew that bolts are available which do this as a design requirement? Why the owner of this vehicle chose to sacrifice the hubs rather than the wheels is a mystery to me; apart from paying a huge labour bill to drill out the hubs in situ, he will very probably have consequential problems with wheel bearings and other components later. On a more useful and general note, I would regard it as a requirement to lubricate the threads and particularly the seating cones of wheel bolts or nuts with copper loaded antiseize compound at least annually to prevent problems. I have never ever had a wheel come loose due to this. Extended servicing intervals, fast fit brake and tyre shops and a general lack of attention to detail during servicing all conspire to make this a common problem. 659.
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