Jump to content

Garage Issues


Flex

Recommended Posts

So just had all the suspension replaced on the Zed.

 

2 days later I find a wheel nut on the drive and check all of the nuts, they are all loose!

 

Went back today and guy said they where are tightened to 130 ftb ( I think manual is 120 or 80NM) not sure without checking manual and might have my units mixed up, sorry!! :)

 

Is it even possible that after they tightened them that they became that loose?

 

I mean I've changed wheels over winter and NEVER had this.

 

They seem nice enough but FM that's a bit of school boy error.

 

Perhaps I'd be less p1ssed off if it wasnt the Mrs car.

 

Anyway not like I havent had issues with other garages but....

Edited by Flex
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some vehicles recommend a retorque but not many. If they didnt scrub the wheels and hubs before refitment it can cause them to appear tight at garage but loose later. But unlikely to be all four. I'd say they weren't done properly, human error/oversite. It shouldnt happpen. We have to do a quality check once the technician has done them, a road test, then another recheck of torques.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any time you have a wheel off it is generally recommended that after 100 miles or so you check the wheel nuts to make sure they haven't come undone. This is safe practice.

 

In saying that every single time I have checked the wheel nuts after a wheel was removed and then put back on the wheel nuts haven't come undone in my experience. Doesn't mean it can't happen though.

 

It could be though that the garage put your alloys back on whilst the car was in the air, nipped them up and then forgot to fully tighten/torque them up once the vehicle was lowered back down to the ground. Seen that happen before.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

School boy error but it should never happen.

 

Think of what the consequences could have been.

 

I would be looking for the garage to take your complaint seriously and sweeten you accordingly.

 

Talk to the dealer principal and not his monkeys and be polite but assertive.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I leave my torque wrench in the car (of course not set!), so if I've had the tyres done or whatever, I drive around the corner and check it myself :lol:

Also after they have been taken off it's worth torquing them, drive a little and check again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drove the missus car home after MOT and wheel bearing replacement... the bonnet had not been shut correctly.

Unfortunately these things can happen as most garages struggle to pass on experience until it bites them in the face. Usually learning the hard way.

Hence why I don't trust anyone with my car.... shame the missus doesn't trust me / is impatient. :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to have a chat with a wheel refurb guy in Swansea last year and whilst we were discussing what I wanted, he took a phone call, went as pale as any person can whilst listening to something being said .............. and as he ran out the door, over his shoulder he shouted gotta go, wheel has just come off a car he'd just done on the M4 :scare: :scare:

 

needless to say, I didn't go back

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Crap, but this is why you should always check your nuts are tight (fnar) after 100 miles like GMB says. No comfort, but a timely reminder for us all.

 

I'd expect either a very genuine apology, or a crap one and some kind of monetary gesture.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd expect either a very genuine apology, or a crap one and some kind of monetary gesture.

Unless it was Halfords. They just ignore your complaint until it drops off the system ;)

We're not all bad lol. I've had no wheels fall off.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers guys, I dont know why I didnt check, I would have if Id have swapped winters over for sure. Bit busy.

 

Thanks for putting me right on the torques strudel.

 

I still wont remember next time though. Have a note in the garage to help my puny brain.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lost a front wheel years ago at Oulton Park doing the Mid-Cheshire Stages rally. It was entirely my fault....tyres were found to be rubbing on the inner arches, so wheels off and out came the lump hammer. In my excitement, I forgot to tighten the nuts up. :blush:

Had violent steering vibration doing 80mph before it let go, taking all the studs with it! :doh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My mate had the wheels refurbed on her mini, I borrowed it for a few days after and all was fine. Her son then drove it the day after I gave it back and one of the wheels came off on a dual carriageway! I think it's more common than you realise.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like you had a lucky escape. I usually do all the work on my cars myself and tbh never re-torque nuts. Never had a nut come loose so far, but following this I think i`ll start re-torquing anyway just to be on the safe side.

 

The mrs did!

 

Not even got life insurance on her!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I was at Snetterton yesterday, I had checked my wheels before the sighting lap, I noticed one of the guys with us driving very slowly around Coram heading back for the pits. I came in a couple of laps later to do my tyres, and he was saying something is up with the car.

He'd just popped on AD08R's on his R26R, I asked if he torqued the wheels, he said no the tyre place did it...

(you know what's coming next)

 

Sure enough the front left wheel, every single nut was loose and could be spun with my fingers !

It was visibly away from the brake disc by about 3 or 4mm ffs. :wacko:

(oh and the other nuts weren't very tight either)

 

He was VERY lucky considering he only got the car about a week ago.

Edited by RobPhoboS
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Muppets.

 

However, you generally get some warning that a wheel is about to fall off, unsurprisingly it will start as a thumping and vibration that gradually gets worse, unless you have all 5 studs fail at the same time you should have a chance to pull over and swear at whoever put the wheels on last :lol:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...