Almost a disaster

[d_ford]

Yesterday a bunch of us decided to cruise our cars to a Sonic restaurant after a car show. I was in my 68 fastback and after about 20 miles I started feeling a very subtle vibration. I slowed to try to determine if it was in the engine or driveline and it seemed to be driveline related. I figured I could make it to the restaurant so I kept going. Before long the vibration got worse and it started thumping. I thought great, I'm getting a flat tire. I was almost there so I decided to drive it on in since I didn't think it was completely flat yet. When I got out of the car I walked around and to my surprise all the tires looked fine.
After looking closer I discovered two of my lug nuts on the Cragar SS wheels were gone! The other three were loose and the wheel on the opposite side on the rear were loose too! I hate to think what would've happened if that wheel had come off at 65 mph. I was able to get it home after finding some non matching lug nuts at a nearby Advance Auto store but I'm still sick to my stomach thinking about what could have been.
I don't remember ever checking the torque on them after initially installing them. You can bet I'll be checking them now.

 

[RapidRabbit]

A wheel flying off would mess a good day up in a hurry. Glad to hear you caught it before it was too late.

Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

 

[AzPete]

Be sure to verify the new lug nuts do not bottom out on the hub because of the hole in the wheel being beat out from driving with it loose.

 

[msell66]

Check those wheel studs real close, may need to replace some or all. I'm always paranoid about lugnuts getting loose. It's probably from all the track days and constant torque checking that gets done at the track, I always check them before leaving the house. Periodically check the DD's too.

 

[d_ford]

I'll check those things out. Thanks guys.

 

[RagTop]

I had a strange clacking sound coming from my right front wheel several years ago. I took it to a shop and the mechanic took me out for a drive in my car and heard the same noise. He removed the center cap on my right front rallye wheel and one of the lug nuts fell out. Did I ever feel like a douche bag! I turned about three shades of red and he just smiled and put the lug back on the stud and checked the others while I was there.

Did your wheels being loose and moving back and forth on the studs screw up any of the threads? Might wanna check.

 

[Horseplay]

17 years old and driving my first 65 to work one evening. Had the stereo cranked up and likely my mind fixated on some teenage hottie when the car jerked HARD to the right. About that time I see a wheel shoot off rolling ahead of me. Right front wheel had come clean off as I made a turn. Even stranger, it found it's way out without damaging the fender! At the time I never thought about how it could happen. In retrospect I'm thinking someone didn't like me very much.