Don't make my mistake
11-01-2011, 12:44 PM
#1
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Don't make my mistake
Here is a rookie mistake I made. I wasn't going to post this because it's embarrassing, but it's good info so no one else has this issue occur. Ignore the geographical information, it was posted in Regions first.
When I was driving home I changed lanes in the tunnel quickly and noticed that rear of the car kinda slid into the lane oddly. I needed to pick up some wheel locks for Carries car at RTA on Canton Rd so I topped the hill and started coming down to the dealer. All of the sudden I had a weird vibration and pulled over into a gas station to check.
The right rear was loose, almost fall-off loose. I took out the jack and twisted her up off the ground, took off the wheel and nearly shit my pants. It looked like the hub was badly damaged around the centric ring. Then I looked at the hub closer and realized that it was the ring from the inside of the wheel.
It turns out that when I rotated the wheels/tires the hub centric ring spacer from the Breyton wheel had gotten stuck on the rear hub. I hadn't noticed it (because of the dark garage and angle of application) and put the other wheel, with spacer fully intact, right on top of it. There was just enough room for 1-1/2 spacers. When I tightened it up the wheel snugged up evenly and I didn't notice any gaps, but it was never touching the actual hub. So when I changed lanes the outer edge of that soft alloy on the spacer started to give and the wheel started wobbling. It got worse and worse until I pulled over.
The inside of the wheel was a bit chewed up as well but fortunately the other spacer was fine. And since the inside of the ring that got stuck on the hub was undamaged, I was able to file the excess aluminum away and salvage it and put it back on the front wheel where it belonged.
In the 20 years I've been swapping wheels out I've never had this happen, but I wanted to share in the hope that it never happens to any of you.
When I was driving home I changed lanes in the tunnel quickly and noticed that rear of the car kinda slid into the lane oddly. I needed to pick up some wheel locks for Carries car at RTA on Canton Rd so I topped the hill and started coming down to the dealer. All of the sudden I had a weird vibration and pulled over into a gas station to check.
The right rear was loose, almost fall-off loose. I took out the jack and twisted her up off the ground, took off the wheel and nearly shit my pants. It looked like the hub was badly damaged around the centric ring. Then I looked at the hub closer and realized that it was the ring from the inside of the wheel.
It turns out that when I rotated the wheels/tires the hub centric ring spacer from the Breyton wheel had gotten stuck on the rear hub. I hadn't noticed it (because of the dark garage and angle of application) and put the other wheel, with spacer fully intact, right on top of it. There was just enough room for 1-1/2 spacers. When I tightened it up the wheel snugged up evenly and I didn't notice any gaps, but it was never touching the actual hub. So when I changed lanes the outer edge of that soft alloy on the spacer started to give and the wheel started wobbling. It got worse and worse until I pulled over.
The inside of the wheel was a bit chewed up as well but fortunately the other spacer was fine. And since the inside of the ring that got stuck on the hub was undamaged, I was able to file the excess aluminum away and salvage it and put it back on the front wheel where it belonged.
In the 20 years I've been swapping wheels out I've never had this happen, but I wanted to share in the hope that it never happens to any of you.
Last edited by Mr Marco; 11-01-2011 at 12:47 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Mr Marco (11-01-2011)
The following users liked this post:
Mr Marco (11-01-2011)
11-01-2011, 12:55 PM
#4
Similar thing sorta happened to me when I was rotating my wheels last time. I tried and tried to put the wheel on the rear, but it just wouldn't fit over the hub. At first, I was like WTF? So I remove the wheel and look to find the hub ring from the other wheel (now on the front) stuck on the hub.
Now whenever I rotate wheels, I always make sure that the hub ring is still on the back of the removed wheel before I mount it.
Now whenever I rotate wheels, I always make sure that the hub ring is still on the back of the removed wheel before I mount it.
11-01-2011, 01:07 PM
#5
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
A lesson learned. If there wasn't room enough for 1-1/2 spacers I might have noticed. It was as if Breyton had meant for a wider spacer to be used, but the TireRack cheaped out and put a thinner one in place. I'll have to take a pic of the damaged wheel so everyone can understand what I'm talking about.
There's such a big gap between the wheel mounting surface and the surface of the spacer that I wonder if the ring on the hub is as secure as it should be. It's at least a 2MM difference. That's a big dip on the inside of my wheel. It might just barely be touching, which could mean wheel balance issues for me in the future. I think I'll shop for thicker spacers this afternoon.
There's such a big gap between the wheel mounting surface and the surface of the spacer that I wonder if the ring on the hub is as secure as it should be. It's at least a 2MM difference. That's a big dip on the inside of my wheel. It might just barely be touching, which could mean wheel balance issues for me in the future. I think I'll shop for thicker spacers this afternoon.
Trending Topics
11-01-2011, 02:31 PM
#8
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Good excuse for me to clean off any corrosion and paint the brake rotor too.
11-01-2011, 03:27 PM
#9
Needs more Lemon Pledge
I don't know what any of that means but DAMN, glad you are OK!
11-01-2011, 03:50 PM
#10
registered pw
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: south central pa
Age: 49
Posts: 38,821
Received 354 Likes
on
252 Posts
wow, that was a close call. I thought it was going to be a "i crossed the white line in the tunnel and got pulled over" thread after reading just the 1st two line.
Good thing you were able to get stopped safely.
Good thing you were able to get stopped safely.
11-01-2011, 04:03 PM
#11
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
11-01-2011, 04:45 PM
#12
Senior Moderator
wow, glad you noticed the issue and were able to pull over in time!
11-01-2011, 05:09 PM
#13
Registered 3.5L Member
It's like changing your oil and not noticing that the gasket from the old filter had remained stuck on....only noticing once the new filter is installed and there is oil ALL OVER the garage floor...only happens once
Thanks for sharing your moment!!
Thanks for sharing your moment!!
11-01-2011, 05:59 PM
#15
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
11-02-2011, 12:00 PM
#16
teh Senior Instigator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
Age: 42
Posts: 44,090
Received 957 Likes
on
328 Posts
i've done it as well, when I was about 17 ad put my factory wheels back on a car...didn't notice the hub ring had stuck on. 
11-02-2011, 12:08 PM
#17
In the Mid-South meow
iTrader: (2)
As you can tell from all the responses Mr Marco, it happens to everyone, so just count your blessings and be thankful nothing worse happened. Now just as long as it only happens once, then you're fine. If it happens more then once, you need to stop working on your own car lol.
11-02-2011, 02:41 PM
#18
Honestly unless you do this yourself you'll have it happen to you too. Has happened to me several times. Getting new tires the monkeys don't realize the hub rig sitting on the hub & then mount the wheel with the one already on there to that. I had to take the wheels off a few times to correct this.
11-02-2011, 03:17 PM
#19
The sizzle in the Steak
Lucky
11-03-2011, 12:53 PM
#21
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
11-13-2011, 11:26 AM
#23
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
I had a similar wobbly wheel story a few years ago. I came out of the optometrists office, hopped in the car, and started to drive home. The rear shook like crazy above 40mph. I thought I may have lost a wheel weight. I got home, looked at the passenger side rear, and saw that I was missing three of the five lug nuts. One was loose, so effectively only one was holding that wheel on. 
That was back when the car was stock. I think someone tried stealing my lug nuts, it wasnt the best part of town.
That was back when the car was stock. I think someone tried stealing my lug nuts, it wasnt the best part of town.
01-14-2012, 03:08 PM
#24
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Update
Finally took the wheel off the RDX and put the snows on for our fast approaching winter storm.
Here is a pic of the damaged wheel. Not too bad, but you get the idea.
I plan on a BBK kit soon so I'm hesitant to deal with any rotor corrosion issues that seem to be worse on this side of the car (for some unknown reason?). I don't want to scrub my elbow off this winter only to toss these in the recycle bin in the spring.
Here is a pic of the damaged wheel. Not too bad, but you get the idea.
I plan on a BBK kit soon so I'm hesitant to deal with any rotor corrosion issues that seem to be worse on this side of the car (for some unknown reason?). I don't want to scrub my elbow off this winter only to toss these in the recycle bin in the spring.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cycdaniel
1G TSX Performance Parts & Modifications
8
12-17-2019 10:58 AM
1fatcrxnem1
3G TL Tires, Wheels & Suspension
22
06-01-2018 01:23 AM
johnpancakes014
2G TL Performance Parts & Modifications
4
04-08-2016 06:47 AM
