Check your wheels (1 Viewer)

[joka250]

This really brings us back to the subject of carrying a spare and all the discussion that went with it. I have had this problem constantly with main dealer serviced vehicles the wheels are not removed until the vehicle has its first out of warranty service at a non franchised workshop and yes it needs care but a sledge hammer is sometimes the only option. Copper slip on hub face, not wheel studs or bolt holes and all is well in the future.

 

[Ivory55]

I have washed and polished the wheels inside and out, cleaned up slight corrosion where wheels go on and put on thin smear of copper grease so it's easier next time.

 

[lindyloot]

Having run my own garage business with my late husband the wheels do not come of at a service unless it states on the service sheet to do so. As stated previously brakes can be checked with the wheels on. My husband was a firm believer in using copperslip. There have been times he has had to use a hammer to remove wheels never a sledge hammer though but a rubber head one.

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[Infinity31]

Rubber mallet didn't work for me. On a recent trip to Germany whilst doing 80-85mph on the Autobahn I suddenly heard a loud 'clack-clack-clack' sound from the front o/s tyre, much to loud for a stone in the tread.

I slowed and stopped at the first opportunity. The pic shows the cause and i could hear air slowly escaping. The wheel had been on for 5yrs and after 1/2hr of bashing and struggling it still was.

It was red hot and sweat was dripping off me when up strolled a very big German guy offering to help, He bashed the top of the tyre with the heel of his hand, putting his considerable weight behind the blow, followed by grabbing the tyre and pulling.

I joined in and after 30-40 blows and pulls the wheel came off. He pointed at the wheel and hub and said 'clean' then walked off. I did clean it, the wifes emery board came in handy, as did her vaseline lip therapy

So it is a good idea to periodically remove the wheels, much easier at home on the drive, but I guess it would be good if a very helpful big German guy is walking past as you do it

 

[PhilG]

That's not a good idea. (fitting wheel spacers) That hub centre is what is supposed to take the weight of the vehicle, not the studs and wheel nuts'

Exactley... that's scary right there. The hub centre is there for location, the studs generate the clamp load.

 

[tonyidle]

Exactley... that's scary right there. The hub centre is there for location, the studs generate the clamp load.

The studs have to cope with much more than the weight of the vehicle during cornering. Each individual stud shear strength far exceeds the total weight of the van, never mind the proportion that each wheel supports. The centre is indeed there to aid in locating and centring the wheel but thereafter plays no part. Each wheel stud fits into a tapered seat that ensures that the wheel remains centred.

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[PhilG]

The studs have to cope with much more than the weight of the vehicle during cornering. Each individual stud shear strength far exceeds the total weight of the van, never mind the proportion that each wheel supports. The centre is indeed there to aid in locating and centring the wheel but thereafter plays no part. Each wheel stud fits into a tapered seat that ensures that the wheel remains centred.

So why bother then?

Where wheels fit on to studs, the load of the wheel is taken by the studs, where the wheel is retained by bolts the wheel centre is there to locate the wheel centrally, and the bolts then centre it radially.

Many alloy wheels have a flat mating surface as the alloy frets causing the clamp load to reduce and the wheel to vibrate loose.

I would go as far to say that if this was to cause an accident, which it well might , then negligence could be proven.

 

[TheBig1]

back when the rs mexico was the brand new ford escort that all the young lads aspired to owning, i went on a recovery call out with a mate. some young idiot had fitted cheap spacers to his basic escort's wheels to make it look the part. whilst cruising with his girlfriend he decided to show off by doing a burn out. the result was both back wheels sheared their studs and departed the car. this was right in the middle of bournemouth on a busy friday evening, it caused chaos with the traffic. did a fair bit of damage to the car too

imagine losing your front drive wheels on your motorhome, it would not be pretty

 

[tonyidle]

So why bother then?

Where wheels fit on to studs, the load of the wheel is taken by the studs, where the wheel is retained by bolts the wheel centre is there to locate the wheel centrally, and the bolts then centre it radially.

Many alloy wheels have a flat mating surface as the alloy frets causing the clamp load to reduce and the wheel to vibrate loose.

I would go as far to say that if this was to cause an accident, which it well might , then negligence could be proven.

I'm not advocating the use of spacers (although thin ones will have little impact on bearing life) just suggesting that the bolts are capable of supporting the loads presented to the wheel. It's only in the last 25 or so years that close fitting hub to wheel arangements have become almost universal. Prior to that the hub to wheel fit was never an issue. It certainly makes re-attachment where bolts are used and fitment to wheel balancing machines much simpler - in the past wheels were attached to balancing machines using the bolt / stud holes.

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[Donkster]

Hi All
If you have alloy wheels and a steel spare wheel, that you carry the right size wheel nuts/bolts studs call them what you like. Because my spare wheel studs are different to the alloys which mean the alloy ones would be to short for the spare wheel (Puncture). Luckily I found this out before I needed them and now I carry both.

Hope this helps.