When four of six wheel studs fail simultaneously and your tire falls off

[AZ4]

TLDR: sudden catastrophic failure of wheel studs on Detroit Axle aftermarket wheel bearing assembly. Tire fell off while pulling out of a parking space. Why? The fact that two studs didn't break off and I couldn't find the lug nuts for them suggests those two were loose and fell off. Did I over or under torque the nuts the last time I worked on the car?

Story: I had a loud, intermittent clunk on my 2007 Toyota 4Runner (4WD). I replaced a ton of things chasing the noise, including the wheel bearings. I used 2pc Detroit Axle set from Amazon ($160). Problem was solved.

Two months and two thousand miles later, I was driving down the road at 40 mph and noticed a slight thumping sound coming from the passenger's side. I thought it was a mudflap. Pulled over, parked, and did a visual inspection. Turned the steering to full lock on each side and looked at the suspension. I couldn't see anything amiss... but I did not look at the lug nuts.

As I was pulling out of the parking space, the goddamn passenger's side wheel came off and the car landed on the rotor. The tire lodged itself between the ground and the wheel well. Thank ****ing god I wasn't on the highway or off-roading.

I jacked it up to assess the situation and relieve the tire from it's predicament. Saw that four wheel studs snapped off the bearing. I found two lug nuts next to the car with the studs still inside. I could not find the other four lug nuts.

I was 200 miles from home. Quotes for a tow were $1200-$1600. I felt ****ed. Lots of people gawked, some and offered to help. I refused them all, not knowing what they could do. It was starting to get dark. I was panicking and felt helpless.

I called a buddy of mine for a consult. He offered to drive up with a new wheel bearing and tools to help me fix it. He is awesome.

But I calmed down and realized there was an AutoZone a mile away. I finally accepted the help of a stranger and got a ride. I bought a wheel bearing assembly, 200pc tool set, breaker bar, axle nut socket, LED work light, stole a lug nut from each of the other tires, and got to work. Less than two hours later, I was driving away. Success!!!!

I'm replacing the other wheel bearing today. I do not trust Detroit Axle.

 

[Too Stroked]

TLDR: sudden catastrophic failure of wheel studs on Detroit Axle aftermarket wheel bearing assembly. Tire fell off while pulling out of a parking space. Why? The fact that two studs didn't break off and I couldn't find the lug nuts for them suggests those two were loose and fell off. Did I over or under torque the nuts the last time I worked on the car?

Story: I had a loud, intermittent clunk on my 2007 Toyota 4Runner (4WD). I replaced a ton of things chasing the noise, including the wheel bearings. I used 2pc Detroit Axle set from Amazon ($160). Problem was solved.

Two months and two thousand miles later, I was driving down the road at 40 mph and noticed a slight thumping sound coming from the passenger's side. I thought it was a mudflap. Pulled over, parked, and did a visual inspection. Turned the steering to full lock on each side and looked at the suspension. I couldn't see anything amiss... but I did not look at the lug nuts.

As I was pulling out of the parking space, the goddamn passenger's side wheel came off and the car landed on the rotor. The tire lodged itself between the ground and the wheel well. Thank ****ing god I wasn't on the highway or off-roading.

I jacked it up to assess the situation and relieve the tire from it's predicament. Saw that four wheel studs snapped off the bearing. I found two lug nuts next to the car with the studs still inside. I could not find the other four lug nuts.

I was 200 miles from home. Quotes for a tow were $1200-$1600. I felt ****ed. Lots of people gawked, some and offered to help. I refused them all, not knowing what they could do. It was starting to get dark. I was panicking and felt helpless.

I called a buddy of mine for a consult. He offered to drive up with a new wheel bearing and tools to help me fix it. He is awesome.

But I calmed down and realized there was an AutoZone a mile away. I finally accepted the help of a stranger and got a ride. I bought a wheel bearing assembly, 200pc tool set, breaker bar, axle nut socket, LED work light, stole a lug nut from each of the other tires, and got to work. Less than two hours later, I was driving away. Success!!!!

I'm replacing the other wheel bearing today. I do not trust Detroit Axle.

Well, that truly sucks. Glad you were able to repair it and make it home. There is a reason Detroit Axle stuff is so inexpensive.

 

[rdruss]

This experience highlights the reason why many repairs involving removing wheels suggests re-checking the lug nut torque a few days/miles afterward. Not that I ever have, but I may now.
You might contact Detroit and let them know what happened, not in an accusatory tone and see if at least they would like the failed hub for their own analysis, you never know how they might respond.
Yes, glad it happened in parking lot, could have been real ugly!!

 

[Bluesky 07]

This experience highlights the reason why many repairs involving removing wheels suggests re-checking the lug nut torque a few days/miles afterward. Not that I ever have, but I may now.
You might contact Detroit and let them know what happened, not in an accusatory tone and see if at least they would like the failed hub for their own analysis, you never know how they might respond.
Yes, glad it happened in parking lot, could have been real ugly!!

Definitely a good idea. I check my spacers every time a wheel is off for any reason and double-check the lug nuts too.

Nice job on getting yourself home, OP.

 

[AZ4]

Nice job on getting yourself home, OP.

Thanks! My girlfriend was impressed.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Lady luck is a great mistress to have. Glad you're ok and no serious damage was done.

Just out of curiosity what torque number are you putting on the lugs?

 

[AZ4]

Lady luck is a great mistress to have. Glad you're ok and no serious damage was done.

Just out of curiosity what torque number are you putting on the lugs?

Re: Luck. Absolutely. Thank you for your kind words.

Working on my car so much, I got into a bad habit of not using my torque wench and guesstimating with my breaker bar. Never again.

But you would think a few extra foot pounds (plus or minus) wouldn't cause such a catastrophic failure.

If that is the root cause, so be it. But, if Detroit Axle is a known bad supplier, I would like to know and spread the word.

I proactively replaced my driver's side wheel bearing this morning with the same AutoZone part installed after the incident.

And I used my torque wrench.

 

[AZ4]

Someone posted this in a different forum today:

TikTok challenge has users loosening lug nuts to 'see what happens' | WSET

I have to wonder if I was a victim of this.

 

[AuSeeker]

Someone posted this in a different forum today:

TikTok challenge has users loosening lug nuts to 'see what happens' | WSET

I have to wonder if I was a victim of this.

That's really messed up :crazy: , do young people today really not think what could happen when they do life threatening things like this, it's one thing to endanger yourself but when you endanger others just for fun there's something gone really wrong with their thinking!!

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Tik tok challenge is gonna get these kids shot and innocent people in major accidents. SMDH

I would say the odds are higher that you were the victim of faulty parts, but you never know.

I actually went and upgraded my torque wrench today because of your post.

I've been using a Pittsburgh for way too long......

Also, 88 ft lbs is a number that has been good to me over the years.

 

[AZ4]

I actually went and upgraded my torque wrench today because of your post.

I've been using a Pittsburgh for way too long......

What did you get?

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

What did you get?

Icon
It did pretty well in this YT test

 

[mrblah]

a buddy of mine's wheel almost fell off, 4 out of 6 studs broke on a OEM hub assembly.... I was with him when it happened.

anybody wanna guess why?

Cuz the idiots at the tire shop used a impact gun on his wheels. Seriously, don't over torque the wheels man....

So it can happen to OEM manufactures too, if you don't follow the specs.

 

[AZ4]

a buddy of mine's wheel almost fell off, 4 out of 6 studs broke on a OEM hub assembly.... I was with him when it happened.

anybody wanna guess why?

Cuz the idiots at the tire shop used a impact gun on his wheels. Seriously, don't over torque the wheels man....

So it can happen to OEM manufactures too, if you don't follow the specs.

:thumb3:

 

[AZ4]

Update

I contacted Detroit Axle, and they made no attempt at a refund, warranty, or had any interest in inspecting the item. They told me to deal with Amazon, and the return window had already expired. Do not recommend.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Similar thing happened to me on a Jeep I owned except no studs broke. I did the same, noticed something odd so stopped and looked around not thinking to look at the lug nuts. Two miles down the road I turned onto another road from a stop and the last nut fell off leaving the rotor sitting on the rim. Jacked it up and grabbed a nut off the other wheels, I may have found one too. Since then whenever I have a wheel off I will check the lugs again after a test drive. Multiple times I've found a short drive shows that the lugs were not seated or something as they needed to be tightened. Permanent regimen now.

 

[importman]

I would just like to add that this style of lug/wheel setup is the easiest of all to cause problems if you're not very careful. These nuts with the shank can easily cause the wheel to bind up if you don't tighten them sequentially in a star type pattern. I teach my students to tighten all 6 nuts very slightly while watching to ensure the wheel is pulling back flush then go back over them for a final tightening again using a star pattern. When I do it myself I also lightly grease the shank portion of the lug nuts. The regular bevel style nuts are much more forgiving but IMO they aren't nearly as strong.

 

[KD5NRH]

So it can happen to OEM manufactures too, if you don't follow the specs.

Had it happen on several different vehicles back before I started loosening and re-torquing my lug nuts any time someone else put a wheel on, unless I personally watched them use a torque wrench on them *and* saw it turn before clicking. (Does no good if they've already rattled them to 150 then throw the wrench on just to make sure it's enough.)

That was probably 20 years ago, and I haven't had one of any brand strip or snap since. That's including a few I've put the cheapest studs that would fit in after buying the vehicle with a stripped or missing stud.