Wheel Lug Bolt

thecooltype · 11-24-2014, 08:32 AM

So I had my front tires changed yesterday and noticed right after that I am missing a wheel lug bolt. Went back to pepboys and they indicated that The driver side front wheel only had four. I wash my car every Saturday and never noticed this before. Is it really possible to be drive without a lug bolt for close to a year? I understand that question is some what stupid and the answer is yes. I just find it hard to believe I was driving around at high speeds most days without the bolt and nothing happened. I have done this with cars in the past but none were cars that cruise at 90/100 mph.

Welcome to NBA Jam · 11-24-2014, 08:43 AM

That's a pretty big whoopsies. Yeah, it's possible to drive like that. It's putting more strain on the other lugs and it should absolutely be replaced ASAP, but you'd need to lose probably another lug before it creates a serious, serious problem. That being said, I wouldn't drive any faster than 45 mph, and wouldn't take any fast turns until I received a new one. I don't know what this means in terms of all 4 other lug bolts and if they're still safe since they've had to pick up the other 1/5th of the load for quite some time.

During downhill bike races, it wasn't uncommon for some people to find out that they were missing spokes when they got to the bottom! Failure is built into these designs.

Considering that nothing bad happened, I'd chalk this one up to impressive design!

thecooltype · 11-24-2014, 09:48 AM

I agree. It says a lot about the cars design...I have no unusual vibration in the wheels or pedals. Will drive to bmw on my break and get a replacement.

Tom K. · 11-24-2014, 09:52 AM

So Pep Boys never mentioned that you were missing a lug bolt when they did the work? Perhaps it's time to find another shop.

Tom

vapore0n · 11-24-2014, 11:22 AM

Its quite possible that the lug bolt wasnt tighten enough, and it just fell off.
Happened to me, but that was my fault, as I got lazy and didnt torque them after 50-100 miles. Drove around like that for a week.

Almost all tire change places will over torque the lug nuts/bolts just because they don't want the liability of any falling off. Hate it when they do that. Doesnt mean Pep Boys didnt do it though.

thecooltype · 11-24-2014, 01:06 PM

Yeah I agree I will go to a different location next time...

11-24-2014, 08:32 AM	#1
thecooltype drive to survive 87 Rep 443 Posts Drives: 2017 540 XI Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	Wheel Lug Bolt So I had my front tires changed yesterday and noticed right after that I am missing a wheel lug bolt. Went back to pepboys and they indicated that The driver side front wheel only had four. I wash my car every Saturday and never noticed this before. Is it really possible to be drive without a lug bolt for close to a year? I understand that question is some what stupid and the answer is yes. I just find it hard to believe I was driving around at high speeds most days without the bolt and nothing happened. I have done this with cars in the past but none were cars that cruise at 90/100 mph.
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11-24-2014, 08:43 AM	#2
Welcome to NBA Jam Is it the shoes!? 3884 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: (Sold) 2011 E92 335i ZMP 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	That's a pretty big whoopsies. Yeah, it's possible to drive like that. It's putting more strain on the other lugs and it should absolutely be replaced ASAP, but you'd need to lose probably another lug before it creates a serious, serious problem. That being said, I wouldn't drive any faster than 45 mph, and wouldn't take any fast turns until I received a new one. I don't know what this means in terms of all 4 other lug bolts and if they're still safe since they've had to pick up the other 1/5th of the load for quite some time. During downhill bike races, it wasn't uncommon for some people to find out that they were missing spokes when they got to the bottom! Failure is built into these designs. Considering that nothing bad happened, I'd chalk this one up to impressive design!
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11-24-2014, 09:48 AM	#3
thecooltype drive to survive 87 Rep 443 Posts Drives: 2017 540 XI Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	I agree. It says a lot about the cars design...I have no unusual vibration in the wheels or pedals. Will drive to bmw on my break and get a replacement.
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11-24-2014, 09:52 AM	#4
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	So Pep Boys never mentioned that you were missing a lug bolt when they did the work? Perhaps it's time to find another shop. Tom
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11-24-2014, 11:22 AM	#5
vapore0n Captain 40 Rep 669 Posts Drives: 2010 335i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Its quite possible that the lug bolt wasnt tighten enough, and it just fell off. Happened to me, but that was my fault, as I got lazy and didnt torque them after 50-100 miles. Drove around like that for a week. Almost all tire change places will over torque the lug nuts/bolts just because they don't want the liability of any falling off. Hate it when they do that. Doesnt mean Pep Boys didnt do it though.
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11-24-2014, 01:06 PM	#6
thecooltype drive to survive 87 Rep 443 Posts Drives: 2017 540 XI Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	Yeah I agree I will go to a different location next time...
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