I left work the other day, the rear left tire started to make a noise(car of a thousand sounds) I pulled over to check. It sounded like the tire was coming apart or hitting something. Checked the tire inside, outside walls good, tread good.
Continued to gas station, about half a mile away. While fueling up, checked tire again. Seemed to go away under acceleration.... Made a left onto a back road headed home, was in limp mode. There is a 90 degree 'S' turn that I normally love, but took it slow. Around the right hand turn, the axle seemed to come off center, now I was getting the $$ in my head. Then after the left turn, the rear went down a little.
I looked over my shoulder just in time to see my rear tire depart the car..... as I coasted to a stop (not sure if I even hit the brakes, as stated before, was in limp mode 10-15mph). I saw the tire jump into the air as it left the roadway. Even in my shock and befuddlement, I was analyzing the situation.
As the Tire flew through the air with great ease, on it's way to meet up with a big Oak Tree. I noticed the center of the rim was still intact, no rim failure. I could see the 4 lug holes, no axle or brake drum failure. After, I checked the rear axle, drum and lugs look good, lugs not stripped or damaged. Car came down and road on the drum only. What could have happened?
After the tire came to rest, luckily hitting nothing but the tree, no property damage. I retrieved the tire, which besides the white paint on the tread was in great condition. I put the spare rostyle on the car with the lugs that I have for the spare.
I went back down the street to see if I could locate any of the other lug nuts that came off. I found three of the lug nuts within 6 inches of each other and the fourth about a foot away.... they look good, not stripped....
Took car home and tried putting the tire back on with the original lug nuts. I expected to find something stripped, but everything tightened up and torqued fine. Been driving on same tire and lug nuts for several days now. I have switched 3 of the lug nuts with one each from each other tire.
I have been embattled with my Ex in court and think she may have had one of her friends mess with the car. That tire was the only one out of sight from the front entrance of my work. I filed a police report just to have a record of the event. There are no cameras anywhere in near my work, which is surprising in this day and age. I use a impact wrench too tighten, then use a torque wrench to finish my tires when working on them in the garage, they were not left loose...
My lug nuts are rusted on the outside, from the car sitting for years, the interior threads are clean and fine. I was not going to replace them just for looks, but now.... to be on the safer side. I have looked in all the local auto parts and have not found the proper nut with the extension that fits inside the wheel.
Does anyone know what rims these are and what is the proper lug nuts? Or where is a good source?
Thanks
