Disaster

[tanuie]

Driving along as normal and drove onto a gravel drive, I noticed that there was a noise coming from the back wheel, thought that I might I have picked up bits of gravel in the handbrake system. After driving back on tarmac, noticed the noise was coming and going, after a couple of miles it was getting worse, so stopped and looked underneath and everywhere else so I thought. Carried on at a slow speed and I thought it may be the drive shaft from the diff to the wheel hub so phoned the local Mercedes garage that I use and asked them if they would check it over. However going to the garage which was only four miles away, however when I was only 1/2 mile away the nearside rear wheel fell off. On a quick inspection all but one including the locking bolt had disappeared, so they seem to have all come loose. The wheel was jammed under the car and snapped the caliper off as well. So phoned the AA for recovery and took it to the garage by which time was closed, so it is left there until Monday morning when I will phone them.

My question is why would the wheel bolts come undone when they were put on about two weeks ago when new tyres were fitted so done up with an airgun. The wheels are 18" AMG with a ET front 38 and rear 39. The ET for a CLK is front 37 and rear 32, I know these wheels do not match the CLK so 15mm spacers were fitted, the bolts were long enough and there were no issues of rubbing anywhere, so how did they come loose. On hindsight it would have been simple enough to tighten them up, but in 45 years of driving I have never known this to happen.
Many Thanks.

 

[Dieselman]

Either they weren't tight enough, someone attempted to remove the wheel (seems unlikely as it was still there), or the spacers caused additional stresses undoing the bolts.

I note it is the nearside wheel. Really these should have a left hand threaded bolt as they will undo through wheel motion, whereas offside ones will tighten.

 

[Dave Richardson]

Good luck in sorting the problem & that you weren't hurt

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Sorry to hear the news.

Did you fit new bolts to accommodate the spacers? I recall that the the shape of the bolt shoulders can differ, and if you use the wrong shape then they can come loose.

 

[jaymanek]

My bet is conical seat bolts were used instead of radius?

 

[tanuie]

Sorry to hear the news.

Did you fit new bolts to accommodate the spacers? I recall that the the shape of the bolt shoulders can differ, and if you use the wrong shape then they can come loose.

Hi
New bolts were fitted to accommodate the spacers (lengthwise) and radius shaped bolts were fitted (these were bought from Alloy Wheels Direct that were specified for this AMG Wheels).

Thanks

 

[tanuie]

My bet is conical seat bolts were used instead of radius?

Hi

Thanks for the reply, radius bolts were fitted - as stated to BobbyDazzler.

Thanks

 

[tanuie]

Good luck in sorting the problem & that you weren't hurt

Thanks, it could have been a lot worse, fortunately I was only doing about 15 mph.

 

[tanuie]

Either they weren't tight enough, someone attempted to remove the wheel (seems unlikely as it was still there), or the spacers caused additional stresses undoing the bolts.

I note it is the nearside wheel. Really these should have a left hand threaded bolt as they will undo through wheel motion, whereas offside ones will tighten.

Hi
I assume they were the correct bolts as these were bought from Alloy Wheels direct specific to the wheels that I have got on the car.

Is there a left handed thread for wheels - I thought they were all the same?
Thanks

 

[Dieselman]

Is there a left handed thread for wheels - I thought they were all the same?

Only Rolls Royce adopted left hand thread for left hand wheels.

 

[brucemillar]

Bolts should have been torqued up after the air gun was used. Did you see if they did that? If not I would be checking the other three wheels immediately.

 

[tanuie]

Bolts should have been torqued up after the air gun was used. Did you see if they did that? If not I would be checking the other three wheels immediately.

Hi

They did not torque them up after the air gun, I will be phoning the garage and asking them to check the other bolts in the morning as the car is with them.

 

[tanuie]

Wheel Repair

Due to my recent misfortune I would like your opinion if this wheel can be repaired. I have already ordered a new wheel but I would like to repair it if possible.(who want's to throw away a AMG wheel). Pictures to follow.

 

[tanuie]

Pictures of Wheel

View attachment 44270

View attachment 44271

 

[whitenemesis]

Due to my recent misfortune I would like your opinion if this wheel can be repaired. I have already ordered a new wheel but I would like to repair it if possible.(who want's to throw away a AMG wheel). Pictures to follow.

I'd bin it, just not worth the risk

 

[Giantvanman]

Picture 2- WTF happened to that?

 

[daveenty]

Just seen the pictures and, as stated above, I would not be repairing that. Even if you find someone to do it (with the elongated holes as well) would you feel confident with it?

I certainly wouldn't.

 

[tanuie]

Picture 2- WTF happened to that?

Hi, Wheel came loose hence the elongated wheel bolt holes and fell off.
Car is in the garage at the moment being repaired.
Will post the outcome.
Thanks.

PS see my post titled Disaster.

 

[tanuie]

Disaster Part 2

Just picked up my CLK from the garage after it had been fitted with new parts.
Back Plate.
Flange.
Nut.
Brake Hose.
Rear Brake Pads.
Brake Caliper.
Ball Bearing.
Plus labour.
Wallet feels a bit lighter and I still have to buy a new AMG wheel

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Please do not create 4 threads on the same subject!

Threads merged