Can someone help me figure out why in the hell this would happen?

[BigWhiteSnake]

Sounds like either you used cheap chinesium replacements or someone torqued incorrectly. I absolutely smoked a curb drifting once and nothing bad happened to the hub (de-beaded tire only), you didn't say what you were doing but assuming normal use, there is no reason they should break unless something was wrong to begin with.

We were driving down the highway in Fairfax Virginia. Looked like the asphalt was fresh. 70MPH tops in traffic. Quite a subbed tumble presented itself. Though I was getting a flat.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Breaker Bar ≠ Torque Wrench

 

[4xdad]

Somehow the studs were over stressed. Driving on the edge improper torque crappy studs could be the cause. That’s why I try to buy the best parts I can get for stuff like that wheel bearings brake parts etc don’t cheap out

 

[4xdad]

Did you jump it

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

After market wheels?

No, fully stock.

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

Did you jump it

No, wish I could blame it on that, but no.

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

Sounds like either you used cheap chinesium replacements or someone torqued incorrectly. I absolutely smoked a curb drifting once and nothing bad happened to the hub (de-beaded tire only), you didn't say what you were doing but assuming normal use, there is no reason they should break unless something was wrong to begin with.

Bought them at Napa. Going to put in a claim. Wish me luck

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

Somehow the studs were over stressed. Driving on the edge improper torque crappy studs could be the cause. That’s why I try to buy the best parts I can get for stuff like that wheel bearings brake parts etc don’t cheap out

SKF from Napa. The mobile mechanic I found here in the area where I’m visiting used a Moog. Dropped by the Costco tire center where I get my tires and they verified my torque. I barely backed the lugs off for them, and they re-torque them. The amount that I backed them off, was less than what it took for them to torque them. I’m starting to think that either I had loose lug nuts, or the lugs on that hub were junk.

If there’s any mechanical engineers in here, I will post pictures when I get home of the hub. I did saved the part so as to address this through Napa.

 

[Travelin Ram]

Not to pile on the OP, but to inform anyone who may be unaware; it’s recommended to not just torque lugs properly, but recheck them after the first day or drive. Often they will take a little more tightening after being driven.

 

[indept]

Now OP knows why they call it a "Breaker" bar

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

Now OP knows why they call it a "Breaker" bar

Haha! You know it.

 

[RamDiver]

Often they will take a little more tightening after being driven.

I've always thought that the recheck was more related to legal advice to corporations and companies covering their a$$.

I've never seen or heard of a wheel spontaneously loosening after being properly torqued.

I have heard several accounts of wheels flying off vehicles while driving but there's no proof that they were installed correctly.

When this silly recheck concept first started, after runaway wheels paid big $ in litigation, I rechecked for many years.

Still haven't seen one come loose on any of the vehicles I've maintained.

.

 

[turkeybird56]

OP, just a side note. Could it be possible some type of "local" "t hug" in the area messed with your truck. Just another option to think of.

Or other causes as stated above by various members: makes me think of cheap parts or over-stressed. Hopefully your situation be resolved.

ADDED: If you have not done, I sure as heck would check all the other wheels, I am just assuming U did. U not in a cheap place to live, so hopefully U do not have any "clowns" running around playing with trucks.

 

[Zoe Saldana]

I've always thought that the recheck was more related to legal advice to corporations and companies covering their a$$.

I've never seen or heard of a wheel spontaneously loosening after being properly torqued.

I have heard several accounts of wheels flying off vehicles while driving but there's no proof that they were installed correctly.

When this silly recheck concept first started, after runaway wheels paid big $ in litigation, I rechecked for many years.

Still haven't seen one come loose on any of the vehicles I've maintained.

.

That is proper proceedure.

Also, recommended with RV Trailer Wheels.

 

[4xdad]

The missus lost a wheel on my old jeep jk but I was running wheel spacers. My self I never use a torque wrench but I use an adjustable breaker I use it set short to tighten a long to loosen. I also always recheck them. I turfed the stock lug nuts and got solid steel ones.

 

[4xdad]

There’s lots of reasons that you could lose a wheel and you probably won’t find out why. Stuff happens that is one of the reasons I do a lot of my own wrenching that way I don’t have any one to blame but myself. But I screw up too. If I have something done on my truck by someone else I always check the work

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Not 100% sure what the deal is. Going to get with Napa to see what I can figure out. I don’t see any signs of deformation. Just a clean break on each

OP, just a side note. Could it be possible some type of "local" "t hug" in the area messed with your truck. Just another option to think of.

Or other causes as stated above by various members: makes me think of cheap parts or over-stressed. Hopefully your situation be resolved.

ADDED: If you have not done, I sure as heck would check all the other wheels, I am just assuming U did. U not in a cheap place to live, so hopefully U do not have any "clowns" running around playing with trucks.

OP, just a side note. Could it be possible some type of "local" "t hug" in the area messed with your truck. Just another option to think of.

Or other causes as stated above by various members: makes me think of cheap parts or over-stressed. Hopefully your situation be resolved.

ADDED: If you have not done, I sure as heck would check all the other wheels, I am just assuming U did. U not in a cheap place to live, so hopefully U do not have any "clowns" running around playing with trucks.

The thought crossed our minds. Could have made an attempt and realized they weren’t getting the locking nut off.

 

[Marshall]

Back in the old days we spun the nuts on , usually with a air wrench or a universal x wrench.
Never lost a wheel or stud.
Now I am running 2 sets of wheel winter studded , and stock in summer and I have the tire shop do it and store as I am in town now.
They would have you come back after 100km or so and recheck them.
Last 2-3 yrs they put them on tighten, drive around the block, lot and recheck them.

If you want a challenge play with the old Budd wheels with the double nut that have been on for 40 yrs or so

My Duetz tractor rear wheels spec. was 400 fp at night with a standard tool set , that an't happening.

 

[Hardracer]

Sounds like either you used cheap chinesium replacements or someone torqued incorrectly. I absolutely smoked a curb drifting once and nothing bad happened to the hub (de-beaded tire only), you didn't say what you were doing but assuming normal use, there is no reason they should break unless something was wrong to begin with.

Boy I did a "de-bead" one time,actually ripped a gash in the tire.....doin a power slide off road on a nice thin layer of almost dried up mud. ...nailed a stump that definitely couldn't be seen....so pissed on that one.
On another note,
Few tire rotations ago I rechecked the local tire shops work a day or 2 later and did get some movement on probably half the nuts...dunno if shotty work(i watched them them do it and a 2nd guy rechecked that,their policy) ,differances between 2 torque wrenches,differant spec used than mine or what i dont know...have been doin my own rotations since.

 

[62Blazer]

Likely they were either over or under tightened. That is the primary cause for the studs to fail. I've installed a lot of wheels over the years without using a torque wrench and have never lost a wheel or broken a stud...just use some common sense on how you tighten them up. Always have used an impact except for few times when one wasn't available, but always check them by hand.
There is a pretty big safety factor in how low or high the torque can be on a wheel stud before it should cause any problems. Not like the factory calls for 120 ft-lb and if you only torque them to 110 they will fall off or the studs will all randomly break at 130.
I have seen where on a new hub, or installing new studs, where they did not get full seated. You can torque them initially but after many miles the studs will full seat and essentially make the lugs loose. You can also get the wheel offset some and get some false readings....not real common but it has happened to me once or twice. Kinda' why they recommend tightening one lug and then going the opposite side to tighten one, then go in a criss-cross pattern.