The weirdest thing happened to me earlier tonight, maybe somebody here can figure out how...
Maybe 8 years ago, I installed a set of Moser 28-spline axles. At the time installed them, I also installed brand new press-in wheel studs. I ensured that the wheel studs were pressed all the way into the axle flanges. Since that time, I've taken the rear wheels on-and-off the car at least 20 times, and I've never had a problem. I always use a torque wrench when I install my lug nuts, and they would torque-up to 100 foot-pounds just fine. I've driven the car thousands of miles, and never had a problem.
Earlier tonight, I removed the rear wheels. The lug nuts seemed fairly tight when I took them off. When I put the wheels back on, I started to torque them down. After I hit about 60 foot-pounds or so, the torque wouldn't go any higher - the lug nuts just kept spinning. WTF? Thought maybe the threads were being stripped or something. So, I took the wheel and drum back off. All of the threads were fine. I then figured out the problem - every single stud had backed out of the axle flange by about 1/8". All ten of them (5 on the left, and 5 on the right). When the lug nut hit about 60 foot-pounds, it wasn't tightening the wheel, it was drawing the stud back into the axle flange. I was baffled. How did these things all back themselves out?
I found an M12 washer and nut, and I placed them on each stud, one at a time. After bottoming the nut/washer on the axle flange, I used a breaker bar and socket to keep turning the nut until the stud fully re-seated itself. Did all ten studs this way with no problem. I then remounted the drums and wheels, and everything torqued-up to 100 foot-pounds just fine.
I'm fairly convinced that the studs backed themselves out while I was removing the wheels. I tightened all of the wheel lugs not that long ago, and they all hit 100 foot-pounds with no problems. How the helk could these things have all backed themselves out by just loosening the lug nuts tonight? Has anyone ever seen that before? I'm baffled by this...
???
Maybe 8 years ago, I installed a set of Moser 28-spline axles. At the time installed them, I also installed brand new press-in wheel studs. I ensured that the wheel studs were pressed all the way into the axle flanges. Since that time, I've taken the rear wheels on-and-off the car at least 20 times, and I've never had a problem. I always use a torque wrench when I install my lug nuts, and they would torque-up to 100 foot-pounds just fine. I've driven the car thousands of miles, and never had a problem.
Earlier tonight, I removed the rear wheels. The lug nuts seemed fairly tight when I took them off. When I put the wheels back on, I started to torque them down. After I hit about 60 foot-pounds or so, the torque wouldn't go any higher - the lug nuts just kept spinning. WTF? Thought maybe the threads were being stripped or something. So, I took the wheel and drum back off. All of the threads were fine. I then figured out the problem - every single stud had backed out of the axle flange by about 1/8". All ten of them (5 on the left, and 5 on the right). When the lug nut hit about 60 foot-pounds, it wasn't tightening the wheel, it was drawing the stud back into the axle flange. I was baffled. How did these things all back themselves out?
I found an M12 washer and nut, and I placed them on each stud, one at a time. After bottoming the nut/washer on the axle flange, I used a breaker bar and socket to keep turning the nut until the stud fully re-seated itself. Did all ten studs this way with no problem. I then remounted the drums and wheels, and everything torqued-up to 100 foot-pounds just fine.
I'm fairly convinced that the studs backed themselves out while I was removing the wheels. I tightened all of the wheel lugs not that long ago, and they all hit 100 foot-pounds with no problems. How the helk could these things have all backed themselves out by just loosening the lug nuts tonight? Has anyone ever seen that before? I'm baffled by this...
???
