2 Loose Lug nuts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-27-2015, 03:02 PM
  #1  
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
Frank1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 36
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
2 Loose Lug nuts

2003 TL 260k

Wife drove home last night complaining that car had thump, thump, thump noise coming from front of car. Took it out for a drive and, sure enough, noise was there - sounded like it might be wheel bearing.
Today, checked the front end and found 2 very loose lug nuts on front passenger tire. The 2 were right next to each other. Torqued them up, and bingo: no noise.

Questions:
1) Before I blame mechanic, is it possible that with all the ice, potholes, snow in the Northeast area that these lug nuts could have somehow worked themselves loose?
2) Any effect on alignment? - car was driven on highway for about 25 miles after noise was detected. Car rides smooth as silk now.

THANKS
Old 02-27-2015, 03:22 PM
  #2  
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
 
justnspace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 86,295
Received 16,260 Likes on 11,971 Posts
how long ago did the mechanic mess with the vehicle?

glad you caught it in time!
Old 02-27-2015, 03:37 PM
  #3  
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
Frank1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 36
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Car was brought into dealer for airbag recall 1/19/15, 1.5k miles ago - don't see how wheels were messed with - unless they decided to do a complimentary tire rotation.

Very Strange...
Old 02-27-2015, 08:20 PM
  #4  
Team Owner
 
01tl4tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Age: 64
Posts: 33,535
Received 1,137 Likes on 1,067 Posts
never trust anyone touching the car-
always ck your wheel lugs with a torque wrench, and make sure they are tightened correctly if its been near a shop
damage to the hub, rim and brake rotor can result from someone blasting a lug on too tight and uneven spreading of force

Yes they do loosen just by driving thru potholes and generally bad roads

A good thrashing on the backroads and mountains can loosen them 10 foot pounds
Spec is 80 foot pounds, not tighter not looser

for you in bad conditions, monthly would be a good idea
Old 02-28-2015, 11:13 AM
  #5  
uʍop ǝpısdn ǝdʎʇ uɐɔ ı
 
thelastaspec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,363
Received 47 Likes on 41 Posts
Originally Posted by Frank1212
2003 TL 260k

Wife drove home last night complaining that car had thump, thump, thump noise coming from front of car. Took it out for a drive and, sure enough, noise was there - sounded like it might be wheel bearing.
Today, checked the front end and found 2 very loose lug nuts on front passenger tire. The 2 were right next to each other. Torqued them up, and bingo: no noise.

Questions:
1) Before I blame mechanic, is it possible that with all the ice, potholes, snow in the Northeast area that these lug nuts could have somehow worked themselves loose?
2) Any effect on alignment? - car was driven on highway for about 25 miles after noise was detected. Car rides smooth as silk now.

THANKS
This happend to me and 2 actually came off on the road! Bumpy road + off calibration torque wrench did it! Luckily I caught it soon as I heard the click (sounded like a wheel bearing).
Old 02-28-2015, 04:35 PM
  #6  
Team Owner
 
01tl4tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Age: 64
Posts: 33,535
Received 1,137 Likes on 1,067 Posts
I had written a story the computer ate, involving race car trailer lugs not torqued after shop kid did the wheel bearing grease job
Driving up the big hill coming back from track when driver saw something flash in the mirror... 2 times (lucky to be going slow and watching side mirrors for passing traffic)

Discovered 2 lugs missing on each side of the trailer!!
luckily the ones on my truck/tow vehicle fit and were donated,,possibly without my full knowledge or consent
The other lugs were all loose, imagine the tires on the trailer coming off on the freeway!! Would be a great spark show!!
Old 03-05-2015, 04:32 PM
  #7  
Three Wheelin'
 
TLer trash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Age: 72
Posts: 1,470
Received 230 Likes on 194 Posts
Personally, I've never seen a wheel come loose for any reason other than installer error. I've never even heard of it happening for any other reason. And it wasn't always my fault either! That said, it's really unusual for a car to go 1500 miles and then develop symptoms. Is there any chance that someone was trying to steal your wheels and got interrupted? That did happen to a member here a while ago.
The following users liked this post:
Frank1212 (03-07-2015)
Old 03-05-2015, 05:09 PM
  #8  
Team Owner
 
01tl4tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Age: 64
Posts: 33,535
Received 1,137 Likes on 1,067 Posts
good call trash!
The following users liked this post:
TLer trash (03-06-2015)
Old 03-07-2015, 07:29 AM
  #9  
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
Frank1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 36
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Is there any chance that someone was trying to steal your wheels and got interrupted?

Hmmm...Tire valve caps have been stolen a few times - parked in a large open government facility - plus wheels are original and over 10 years old - but it's a thought.
Old 03-07-2015, 11:01 AM
  #10  
Team Owner
 
01tl4tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Age: 64
Posts: 33,535
Received 1,137 Likes on 1,067 Posts
when someone has a flat tire and no spare,,,your car may become a lot more attractive than you thought!

but chances are it was installer failure to properly torque the wheels
the shop kid gets assigned that job,,say the real techs swapped the wheels to inspect brakes (for selling you more work) and the correct procedure for re-mounting wheel to car was not followed

Many don't even know-or don't follow it = there is a special way to tighten any bolt- especially lug nuts- to spread the load and bring the tightness up in 2 or 3 steps
Old 03-08-2015, 04:13 PM
  #11  
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
Frank1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 36
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

How times have changed - I remember the days that lug-nuts were tightened by an air wrench to probably 150 ft/lbs (or more) and the only way to get them off was to attach a length of pipe to your lug wrench to get enough leverage to get the damn things off.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
neuronbob
3G RLX Tires, Wheels & Suspension
23
07-16-2019 10:48 AM
ITSJESTER
4G TL Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
17
12-06-2018 02:29 AM
dainmezron
4G TL (2009-2014)
16
10-16-2015 06:56 PM
Skirmich
2G TL (1999-2003)
4
10-01-2015 12:59 PM
MilanoRedDashR
3G TL Problems & Fixes
5
09-24-2015 11:04 PM



Quick Reply: 2 Loose Lug nuts



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:33 AM.