Wheel bolts and........ wheel falling off!!

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Mountain Goat 7
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Had an interesting experience the other day and one I don't wish to repeat!

Just had two new front tyres fitted at local family owned place that I've used many times before and was on my way home when a horrible vibration started so I slowed down with the intention of pulling off to check when, next thing I knew, my nearside front wheel flew off and down the roadside embankment! Fortunately no other cars or people around and I managed to get the G safely to a halt. The wheel had obviously not been fully tightened and there was only one wheel bolt in evidence at the roadside - the others must have fallen off some distance before and the wheel held on with just one bolt!!

The tyre place accepted full responsibility without argument, picked up the G and gave me a lift home. Only damage was to the brake disc as it had ended up being a wheel as the lowest point!.

Tyre place have now fitted two new (MB OE) front discs and checked wheel alignment etc.

However, the tyre place also advised me that I had the wrong wheel bolts fitted; they were ones with a straight taper to the head rather than a radiused taper. Having checked on the internet, it would seem (hopefully it's right?) that most MB wheel bolts should be radiused rather than straight taper. The tyre place has therefore also fitted a complete set of radiused bolts also free of any charge.

The wheels are standard MB 18" Ashtaroths fitted from new so have either had the wrong bolts fitted from new or the one previous owner may have changed them?

 

cox.adrian
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Re: Wheel bolts and........ wheel falling off!!

  thank god you didnt damage the fender flaresurprise

   i have seen many times on ebay selling the same type of wheel bolts for alloy / steel wheels

   maybe wrong but think radiused taper   alloy

   straight taper   steel

    would think the previous owner cant see the factory making this error

   check your wheels that the wrong radius has not damaged the shoulder / seat 

    over time

      adrian

 

markhowes
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Re: Wheel bolts and........ wheel falling off!!

SCARY!

Just off (with torque wrench in hand) to check that one of my G's previous owners didn't make the same mistake.

gav.helme
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Re: Wheel bolts and........ wheel falling off!!

All MB Alloy and Steel wheel bolts as far as i know are Radius Seats, just differing lengths for Alloy and Steel etc

Lots on manufacturers use Taper Seats and also lots of after market wheel companies

Strange unless the previous had non OE wheels on it?

Like Adrian states, check the Alloy for Seat damage...sure the tyre company will have though?

I suppose a loose wheel could have worn the Radius Seat on the remaining bolt to look like it was tapered?

Luckier still that you recovered your wheel, that could have gone anywhere up there!

Glad all is well in the end...

Gav

Mountain Goat 7
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Re: Wheel bolts and........ wheel falling off!!

Thanks for the replies smiley

Have checked wheels - all seems ok - G now drives fine as well.

The non standard bolts are a complete mystery. I'm only the second owner and the first owner was the wife of the then owner of the biggest independent MB dealership network in Scotland.......

Adrian - fortunately the new fender flare is still hanging in my garage waiting a final coat of lacquer before going on the G otherwise I may have needed that replaced again!!

IanA2
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Re: Wheel bolts and........ wheel falling off!!

Wow....scary, glad your G's ok though....devil