They went to the same shop, perhaps?
Just witnessed a wheel fly off a car!
- Thread starter Kurtatron
- Start date
Not a wheel, but I saw a rear tire on a BMW start to come apart on the highway, thinking 'Uh oh, that's not good'. It delaminated and smoked as it started slapping the inside of the fender, then blew out. It all happened in a couple of seconds before the driver could do much. The rear end got squirrely but they were able to get it to the side of the road without any drama.
Funny how your first instinct is 'I need to give them space', immediately followed by 'but I want to be close enough to see what happens'.
Had that happen with the driver front on a 69 Camaro driving down I75 headed to Gainesville FL, tire had plenty of tread and was by appearances in good shape but proved otherwise and did some damage to the lower fender; amazingly the belt layer stayed intact as I drove down the grass median slowing down. I was happy to have a floor jack, full sized spare, and good tools to change that one.
I recall a guy with I think it was a Fairlane of that vintage, front wheel came off and went under the car when he tried making it somewhere with missing lugs. It was in acceptable shape, still drivable with a survivor body and paint job; he was selling it for 400 dollars back then; I miss cheap fun beaters. Edit: maybe it was 800, been a few decades; still a magnitude cheaper than one you'd get in half the condition these days.
Not impossible, but I'd bet that after the first shop goofed up, they made sure to have a 2nd tech check the lug nuts every time a wheel was reinstalled. It probably happens to a shop only once.
I was driving north in the left lane on the outer loop freeway in my Ranger and a wheel bounded over the concrete divider, bounced a couple of times in front of me and slammed into my hood. It bounced off the hood and landed behind me.
It set off my airbag and put a big dent in the radiator support, damaging the radiator and condenser and also breaking the IAC. I was able to limp back home (added water several times).
Later I was contacted by the police who found the owner of the wheel. They gave me his contact info. I talked to him, but it turned out that he was uninsured. I believe the wheel was off of a minivan, but it sure looked huge when it was coming at me. I guess the closing speed on the highway would be 120 mph..?
After that, I found out that "uninsured motorist" coverage on insurance may not actually cover you for property damage done by an uninsured motorist.
It set off my airbag and put a big dent in the radiator support, damaging the radiator and condenser and also breaking the IAC. I was able to limp back home (added water several times).
Later I was contacted by the police who found the owner of the wheel. They gave me his contact info. I talked to him, but it turned out that he was uninsured. I believe the wheel was off of a minivan, but it sure looked huge when it was coming at me. I guess the closing speed on the highway would be 120 mph..?
After that, I found out that "uninsured motorist" coverage on insurance may not actually cover you for property damage done by an uninsured motorist.
I watched as a teammates car lost a wheel and tire assembly, which bounced off the side of the car, bounced again in front of the grandstands, and then bounced over the grandstands, and hit a woman in the Pits. The results of which were fatal.
Losing a wheel/tire assembly, can be deadly.
Losing a wheel/tire assembly, can be deadly.
Agree. The wheel that hit the car I saw may have very well crushed the driver. I’ve seen it happen twice. Rolling at 70mph, the gyro forces keep it stable in motion, and it’s got both rotational energy as well as horizontal momentum stored up. They can effortlessly bound 20’ up in the air and wipe out whatever they hit, and it’s almost an illusion how they will unnaturally plow uphill.
370 foot pounds and get back with usView attachment 276687
Folks, these are my wheel studs, do you think my wheels can potentially pop off ??????
They do look kinda messed up near the drum. They are easy to replace, btw. You might need to pull the axle depending on your application, though. Get new lug nuts if you replace the studs.View attachment 276687
Folks, these are my wheel studs, do you think my wheels can potentially pop off ??????
This is going to get off topic, but I have had issues with lug nuts loosening if they are dry and corroded and torqued to spec. I would rather have them lubed a bit and potentially have too high of a cleaning force.
Yep, looks like a New York car.View attachment 276687
Folks, these are my wheel studs, do you think my wheels can potentially pop off ??????
-BF, former New Yorker
Dangit, there weren’t supposed to be any witnesses to my ex’s demise…
Happening to our AMC Eagle as a kid after mum took to Kmart auto service for new tires. All four wheels were loose apparently however only one tire let loose on a 30 mph drag. My mum was heading back as car sounded a bit off.
