Can lugnuts just fall off?

[oilpsi2high]

I noticed two lugnuts missing from my truck today. I put these tires/wheels on in May and torqued them all to spec. Both lug nuts are missing side by side (six-lug setup.)

Coincidence, or should I aim a camera at the truck at night?

 

[SirTanon]

I've seen them come loose, but I myself have never witness one just 'coming off'. Seems odd that someone would just take a couple though.

 

[kschachn]

The stud (or bolt) can certainly snap at the thread root. You're saying the entire stud is still there just the nut is missing?

I suppose it could be possible the nut would crack and fall off but I've never seen that happen on any of my cars.

 

[RooflessVW]

Did you retorque them after a drive or two?

 

[Number_35]

Alloy wheels? The lug nuts on them are way more likely to loosen up than on steelies.

 

[oilpsi2high]

Yeah, alloy wheels.

I just went out and checked the remaining ones and they were actually pretty loose. I guess I need to re-torque them after a few hundred miles since I didn't do that.

Studs are still there btw.

 

[Duffyjr]

After a rotate my tire shop always tells me to come back in 100 miles to have them re-torqued.

 

[spasm3]

I just put new alloy wheels on my travel trailer. I bought new black lug nuts that look powder coated.

Should i have used my bench grinder brush to get the powder coat off the lug face where it meets the wheel? I am going to take my wrench and re-torque at about 50 miles.

EDIT they are powder coated

https://recstuff.com/trailer-tires-wheel...l-1-2-20-ln002/

 

[irv]

Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
Yeah, alloy wheels.

I just went out and checked the remaining ones and they were actually pretty loose. I guess I need to re-torque them after a few hundred miles since I didn't do that.

Studs are still there btw.


I had those old style white wheels like what is being currently offered as special from some GM dealers and they were a bugger to keep tight!
I forget the torque rating on them but after a few times coming loose, they got some extra torque and then some!

It is especially important to check torque on these wheels and especially important to recheck after an install and a few miles.
I routinely check both my trucks and wife's car a few times after they have been swapped out.

 

[Dave1027]

Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
Yeah, alloy wheels.

I just went out and checked the remaining ones and they were actually pretty loose. I guess I need to re-torque them after a few hundred miles since I didn't do that.

Studs are still there btw.


You ever seen that movie Final Destination?

 

[HowAboutThis]

My dad had it happen when a shop hand tightened and didn't torque them down. I've checked after work is done. Never had an issue. Except for a couple years ago. Oddly, it was right after my divorce. I have always wondered if that was just a coincidence LOL

 

[HowAboutThis]

I should say, they didn't fall off, but I was able to EASILY turn all of them on two wheels. Front passenger and rear driver. Torqued them down and checked a week later and they were loose again. Torqued them down and didn't have an issue again. I felt like someone did it because I'd never had it happen in years of driving.

 

[Kestas]

I once drove to Florida on freshly mounted tires on alloy rims. I was the one who put them on and torqued them to spec. After the trip I checked the lug nuts and found a handful of them loose, the worst one three turns loose. The advice given on retorqueing after so many miles is not to be taken lightly.

 

[spasm3]

Should i grind the powercoat off the lug face?

 

[CT8]

use a toque wrench The nuts/ bolts hold by their stretching.

 

[JHZR2]

Sure can come loose.

We estimate this happened in less than ten miles of severe terrain:



Boat trailer. Not mine. Other side is just fine.

Two lugs gone, two lugnuts gone. One holding it on.

Did this to the wheel:



We’re pulling the trailer in the driveway and heard noise. Wouldn’t have gone over 25 moh, but glad we caught it.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: Dave1027
Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
Yeah, alloy wheels.

I just went out and checked the remaining ones and they were actually pretty loose. I guess I need to re-torque them after a few hundred miles since I didn't do that.

Studs are still there btw.


You ever seen that movie Final Destination?


Just watched it.
Terrible movie.
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Danno]

Seen a lot of missing lug nuts on commercial light duty trucks - Ford E350s, F350s and Sprinters.

Resolved with:
Proper retorque routine, Ford required 2 retorques, for rear duallies.
Wheel maintenance, no rust on mating surfaces
Daily pre, during and post trip inspections

Not easy in a fleet of well over 1,000 trucks, all maintained at 3rd party garages.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I had Pep Boys rotate the tires on my Eclipse years ago. About a week later, I pulled into a friend's apartment complex, and while we talked, standing next to my car, we looked down and saw that one of my lug nuts dropped off as I was pulling into the parking space.

Definitely re-check alloys after work is done.