Lost rear wheel while on freeway

[Pritikin]

Wanna see a video walk through of the van afterward?

https://www.facebook.com/max.pritikin/videos/vb.1558339307/10212987630156307/?type=2&theater

You can hear in this video that I'm still trying to understand the mechanics of what happened.

I dunno if the wheel exploded or simply fell off. According to the following article "In fastening failures we have observed that wheel separations generally occur 175 to 3000 miles, and one to fifteen weeks, after a wheel was taken off and put back on" [it was serviced 140miles ago] and that "When a wheel separation occurs on a highway, the separated wheel is launched high in the air (because the weight of the vehicle pushing down on it is suddenly removed) yet is hardly slowed down. The approach speed between the now bouncing projectile and oncoming vehicles can easily exceed 100 mph". So where I was imagining the hub might have exploded to explain its disappearance perhaps we were just lucky that it flew off the road somewhere.

Speaking of lucky: "Rear wheel separations, however, can lead to control loss and rollover, especially in SUV’s. Rollovers have led to occupant ejections and other serious injuries.". I'm more relieved than ever that I kept it from rolling.

http://www.meaforensic.com/wheel-separation-investigation-metallurgical-expert-mark-bailey-mea-forensic

[Flux]

That's awful Max, you seem to be OK, and I am glad for that. Really sorry about your van. What happened to cause all that side damage?? You hit something??

You have 6 sheared off studs and two bent completely over. Loose lug nuts??

Did you recently have tires rotated or replaced or anything?

[Pritikin]

In case you don't do videos.

[Pritikin]

Van had brake job and full inspection 140miles ago.

We did a 180 and fetched up against a concrete wall in the breakdown lane.

Nobody was seriously hurt and we somehow missed all the weekend traffic.

[shenrie]

wow, what a ride! glad to hear everyone inside escaped without injury.

[Flux]

Oh man. That's awful.

Ummmmmmm........

Van had brake job and full inspection 140miles ago.


There was another incident like this recently. Forget who exactly it was, but they got tires done and were only 100-200 miles out and same thing. Studs sheared off etc from loose lugs.

I won't ever trust an impact wrench again. Keeping a beam style torque wrench in my rig from now on. Drive down the street and check torque. Drive another 50 miles and check torque........

Thanks for posting this up here and I am glad you guys walked away. I would consider contacting a lawyer. Those are sheared studs from loose lugs.

[REDOVAL]

What spacers do you have mounted in the rear? I have my reservations about spacers in general as they tend to use materials and hardware that is way underrated for most applications. I'm glad to hear you are okay though.

Scott

[Pntyrmvr]

Always the left side and usually allloy wheels.

Come on people re torque your nuts after service. At least the left side.


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

[rallypanam]

The fact that two studs are still intact certainly makes it look like loose lug nuts, as those two look to have come completely off before the wheel broke the others totally off.

I carry, and use every so often (and especially after wheels have been off - as soon as I get home) a torque wrench and socket to check lug nuts. I recommend everyone do this.

[Pritikin]

You can bet I'll be the re torque king from now on.

From the article above there is a reason it's often the left side.

The spacers are "CorrectTrack" but beyond reading that off the original invoice I don't know anything about them. Looks like they've been on there for the life of the vehicle.