Mysterious Wheel Flying Off

[Mpotheau@xxxxxxx]

There is nothing mysterious about this at all. Not a thing. Nothing, Nada.

You will notice lug nuts or lug screws have a bevel at the bottom, It is
intended to mate with the wheel. Simple concept. It is quite easy to "pinch"
the wheel with the bevel and not have it seat.  Wheel is bolted but not
properly centered. Procedure should be to hang the wheel on one bolt/nut and
run it in most of the way. Rotate the wheel and then install #2. The wheel
will then center itself on the first one which can be snugged. Then install
the remaining ones. Never ever tighten two adjacent ones in sequence.  At
night, on a dark road, you cannot perform visual inspection.

It is very easy to torque down a wheel which is improperly seated by the
fasteners. This is especially easy on Japanese cars which have a "deeper"
bevel to the larger fastener and wheel.  Torque will be correct but the wheel
is not in the proper position. Can happen with hub-centric wheels too.
Fasteners will loosen up, some will migrate others will snap.  In an emergency
you can take one off each of the remaining wheels to limp home. 

Bubba Michel

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