Almost lost a new custom wheel on the interstate

[HangmanNY]

Fellas,

I replaced the entire front end and part of the rear suspension recently. Posted those pictures before.

I had purchased everything from Derrick at Custom Offsets. The wheels were nice and the Nitto Terra Grappler G3 tires were nice.

20x10 Black Milled
Wheel Xtreme Force
XF8 5x5.5 - 19

Right from the start I did NOT like the spline nut set that Derrick sent me! I could not get them hand started with the tool. There was “crud” inside the threads. I first blew them out with an air compressor. Then brake cleaner. Eventually, I got them all hand threaded on. Then torqued to 130 ft/lbs. these are the ones he sent me.

$54.99 - (1) 14x1.5 Bulge Acorn Spline Lug Nuts 1.38" 5 Lug Install Kit Black (SD-09)

I brought the truck to a Firestone dealer for an alignment. Since the truck was 2 1/2 inches higher in the front and 1 inch higher in the rear the mechanic came out and said they normally don’t work on lifted trucks. So we had to use a laser system to align it. My question is do they normally have to remove any of the lug nuts to attached this Laser Equipment??? if anyone knows the details please comment. Because I suspect they removed some of the lug nuts and never torqued them down again!!! I need to know if anyone knows what the process is when they do the laser alignment on these pickup trucks?

I had to pull off on the interstate because I heard a rattling noise. I had one wheel hanging on by one lug nut!!! I have lost four of them on the driver side front wheel. Luckily I packed a lot of tools, including a small Aluminum hydraulic jack. I did not bring a torque wrench, but I did have a breaker bar.

I removed one lug nut off the other three wheels. With the flying tool and a 19 mm socket. so that I could get four lug nuts on the wheel that nearly came off. And I went around with the tool, breaker bar on the lug nuts, and cranked everything down with the breaker bar.

I’m currently in New York State.

I contacted Derrick at Custom Offsets via the website and text. I told him that I mentioned that the outset I did not like these lug nuts!! he never replied back then to my concerns.
he has not gotten back to me yet. And I suspect that he has zero intention of contacting me.

When I pulled off on the interstate, there were metal shavings everywhere on the bottom of the wheel. So I suspect the wheel may have been partially deformed where the lug nuts attach.

Now it’s either that these lug nuts are crap or possibly that the people at the Firestone alignment shop never tightened the lug nuts on that one wheel. That’s of course, assuming that they may have removed the lug nuts to attach this Laser tool?


After doing a lot of research, I ordered a set of 20 McGard American made solid steel M14x1.5 black spline lug nuts. From American Truck website. Spoke with a guy there. After doind research he said these were the best. @ $190 for 20 black spline lug nuts.


I can borrow a good half inch torque wrench from a friend who lives nearby.

This event on the interstate happened around midnight Saturday night into Sunday morning. This could’ve been devastating if that wheel came off!

Thanks for any helpful information. if somebody could explain how they attach these Laser levels on lifted trucks when they do the alignment?

Thanks!

 

[04fxdwgi]

The new laser alignment equipment clamps to the rim of the wheel, and doesn't touch the lugnuts.

I would suspect the problem was the lugnuts themselves, not allowing proper torque, if the torquing was done correctly. Maybe damaged / out of spec / wrong threads / lousy metal composition, or grey market / cheapo lugnuts. Torquing to proper torque values may have pulled the threads on the lugnuts out.

$54 ones that failed vs $190 for the nuts that are good to go. See where this is going?

 

[HangmanNY]

my torque wrench is good. I suspect it was these defective, inferior lug nuts

So far, Derrick from Custom Offsets is AWOL. When I contacted him on the first day about these lug nuts, he never got back to me. And now since I nearly lost the wheel on the interstate, he has not contacted me. That speaks volumes about him.

 

[GeauxinUp]

You keep mentioning Derrick, is he the owner or something. If not, surely there's other people there who can help you out. Have you tried calling the number listed on their website to ask for a manager? Did you take pictures of all this?

 

[Daw14]

Did you retorque the wheels after a hundred miles or so after initial installation ?
With all the other parts you changed,it would be a good idea to go back over everything else you have worked on , and recheck the torque and an overall inspection.

 

[HangmanNY]

You keep mentioning Derrick, is he the owner or something. If not, surely there's other people there who can help you out. Have you tried calling the number listed on their website to ask for a manager? Did you take pictures of all this?

Derrick is the person I dealt with. I left several voice message with him and the main number. Also contacted Custom Offsets through the website asking for a warranty claim. So far, no replies.

This happened around midnight on the way up. I was less concerned about taking photos and getting to our destination safely.

I never had to worry about checking the lug nut torque on my original factory 20 inch wheels. Whenever I rotated those tires I torqued to 130 foot pounds.

And I didn’t drive the truck 100 miles with the new wheels/tires while it was in Florida. These were clearly inferior lug nuts.

When the new McGard USA made spline lug nuts arrive (here in NY State), I’m going to remove that wheel and examine it carefully. And hopefully the studs on the brand new wheel hubs haven’t been damaged.

I have a friend nearby who has a good torque wrench. And a set of dial calipers. I’ll be taking another wheel off and checking the tolerances for that compared to the wheel that nearly came off.

I got an email from Custom Offsets a while ago asking for a review. I never gave a review until yesterday. Then the joke of it is I get a reply, saying it has to be looked at by a moderator? What a joke! So if they don’t like the review, it doesn’t get posted?

 

[Dean2]

PHONE them and insist on staying on phone till owner or senior manager talks to you. Takes way less time than all this typing. No joy, do a Google review and warn others. Whatever you post here, hits a very limited number of people.

 

[Ret Navy CPO]

Years ago, I had something similar happen but without the drastic results. I had done some work on a vehicle that required pulling the wheels. A day later (all driving local), I had a wobble in the front end. I pulled the hub cap off and all the lug nuts were loose. I checked the other wheels and found the cause on one. The rim, when mounted on the hub, caught a raised edge at the base of the center spline. Torquing the lug nuts was enough force to hold the rim in place.

Now, thinking back, the vehicle was a 75 Datsun B210 with custom aluminum rims. These rims required special lug nuts to ensure the rim fully seated on the hub.

 

[Dean2]

Fellas,

I replaced the entire front end and part of the rear suspension recently. Posted those pictures before.

I had purchased everything from Derrick at Custom Offsets. The wheels were nice and the Nitto Terra Grappler G3 tires were nice.

20x10 Black Milled
Wheel Xtreme Force
XF8 5x5.5 - 19

Right from the start I did NOT like the spline nut set that Derrick sent me! I could not get them hand started with the tool. There was “crud” inside the threads. I first blew them out with an air compressor. Then brake cleaner. Eventually, I got them all hand threaded on. Then torqued to 130 ft/lbs. these are the ones he sent me.

$54.99 - (1) 14x1.5 Bulge Acorn Spline Lug Nuts 1.38" 5 Lug Install Kit Black (SD-09)

I brought the truck to a Firestone dealer for an alignment. Since the truck was 2 1/2 inches higher in the front and 1 inch higher in the rear the mechanic came out and said they normally don’t work on lifted trucks. So we had to use a laser system to align it. My question is do they normally have to remove any of the lug nuts to attached this Laser Equipment??? if anyone knows the details please comment. Because I suspect they removed some of the lug nuts and never torqued them down again!!! I need to know if anyone knows what the process is when they do the laser alignment on these pickup trucks?

I had to pull off on the interstate because I heard a rattling noise. I had one wheel hanging on by one lug nut!!! I have lost four of them on the driver side front wheel. Luckily I packed a lot of tools, including a small Aluminum hydraulic jack. I did not bring a torque wrench, but I did have a breaker bar.

I removed one lug nut off the other three wheels. With the flying tool and a 19 mm socket. so that I could get four lug nuts on the wheel that nearly came off. And I went around with the tool, breaker bar on the lug nuts, and cranked everything down with the breaker bar.

I’m currently in New York State.

I contacted Derrick at Custom Offsets via the website and text. I told him that I mentioned that the outset I did not like these lug nuts!! he never replied back then to my concerns.
he has not gotten back to me yet. And I suspect that he has zero intention of contacting me.

When I pulled off on the interstate, there were metal shavings everywhere on the bottom of the wheel. So I suspect the wheel may have been partially deformed where the lug nuts attach.

Now it’s either that these lug nuts are crap or possibly that the people at the Firestone alignment shop never tightened the lug nuts on that one wheel. That’s of course, assuming that they may have removed the lug nuts to attach this Laser tool?


After doing a lot of research, I ordered a set of 20 McGard American made solid steel M14x1.5 black spline lug nuts. From American Truck website. Spoke with a guy there. After doind research he said these were the best. @ $190 for 20 black spline lug nuts.


I can borrow a good half inch torque wrench from a friend who lives nearby.

This event on the interstate happened around midnight Saturday night into Sunday morning. This could’ve been devastating if that wheel came off!

Thanks for any helpful information. if somebody could explain how they attach these Laser levels on lifted trucks when they do the alignment?

Thanks!

So @HangmanNY, what was the outcome.

 

[HangmanNY]

So @HangmanNY, what was the outcome.

Still going on. We also have a dodge caravan. Drove up to Albany, NY for my granddaughter’s baptism

Got back earlier today. It’s been raining all day.

I’ve been going back-and-forth with these people via email. They will never call me back. They want me to send photos of the wheel.

I have to take that wheel off and take photos of the back. A friend loaned me a set of dial calipers.

I have to take that wheel off and take photos. Also take measurements with the calipers. Then takeoff another wheel and compare that in the photos.

I have an attorney who I’ve already contacted. If they want to continue to play games and drag their heels then I’ll sue them. This could’ve destroyed my truck and we could’ve been killed.

I’ll take the photos along with the measurements and I’ll send them all back to this person at Custom offsets via email

I did receive the 20 McGard American made spline lugs nuts. Much more heavy duty and a bit longer. Even the tool that I bought separately is heavy duty.

There was a break in the rain so I went out there and changed all the old lug nuts to these new ones. And went around twice and torqued every wheel to 130 foot pounds. I saved all of these old lug nuts (minus the 4 that I lost).

I’ll post an update when I hear back from these people again

 

[SouthernBornRebel]

I'm going to say that some "shops" or "persons", when doing alignments, especially laser, either loosen or tighten a lugnut because there is absolutely no way to do one of their ".018" changes --- which is the width of two human hairs, yet they'll tell you it needs it because their machine will mark it as "out of alignment", old school correction is a solid whack or two from hammer on tire, which only moves the tire on the rim that small amount... reading this took me back to Ron White "...he obviously missed 'Lugnut Day'...."

 

[04fxdwgi]

Interesting. I worked in a front end shop off and on for many years and never resorted to wobbling a wheel on loose lugnuts to get a miniscule adjustment. Kind sounds shade tree to me.

Doing that tells me the wheel to hub mating is not good. Perhaps correct the problem instead of Bubba'ing it.

 

[EdGs]

I'd be woried that the lug stud holes in the rim are wallowed out.

Not sure how to tell who did what, but it's a damn good thing you caught it. Could've been so much worse.

Praying for the best outcome for you.

 

[HangmanNY]

We are driving back to Florida this weekend

I borrowed a friend’s Proto 1/2 inch torque wrench. I’ve been driving quite a bit up here. I’ve been checking the torque every day. So far, everything is staying tight with the new McGard American made lug nuts. They are heavier, thicker, and longer.

I have a Mitotoyo dial calipers in Florida. When I get back, I’m going to pull that wheel off and check it from every angle with those dial calipers. Then I’m going to pull one of the good wheels off. Then take those pictures.

I will be taking photos of everything. Yes I’m concerned for the same reasons. I had thousands of little Aluminum filings on the bottom of the wheel (outside bottom edge). I found some of the same filings on top of the lower ball joint.

 

[EdGs]

Hopefully, all is ok. What a scary situation. Could've went sideways very easy.

Have a safe trip back to FL.

 

[Marshall]

Many years ago I bought some custom wheels for the kids truck.
no idea what brand they are now , they have sloted holes for different diameter on wheel studs. Universal fit . Poor idea.
One came loose and wallowed out the hole, had to buy a new wheel.
the nuts had to be checked quite often and kept tight. He still uses them on one of his old trucks, 30 ys later.

My winter wheels use a splined wheel nut and seem OK , other then the chrome finish is not great. I would have to check the brand.

 

[SouthernBornRebel]

Here's a video for you guys doubting what was said.... these things happen all the time.

New Tires With Wheel Alignment Scam - Avoid Rip Offs

Be careful when offered a free alignment check when buying new tires. It's easy to scam you into paying for something that may never be done.

youtu.be

 

[EdGs]

@HangmanNY, any updates on your wheel dilemma? Hope you got it sorted and are doing well.

 

[HangmanNY]

The summer in Florida is scorching hot.

Have to wait for a cool day to take the tire off, then measure all the tolerance compared to one of the other wheels

I’ll post an update when I do it