wheel falls off

jkaicher · 03-19-2006, 03:07 PM

My 17 year old son is restroing a 1965 289 Mustand Coupe. He has put Edelbrock wheels on the vehicle but the lug nuts keep coming loose, especially on the front driver's side. Thanks in advance.

A Concerned Dad

ideal_mustangs · 03-19-2006, 03:30 PM

Are you sure the lugnuts are the correct thread and size and the right shape for the wheel to allow it to tighten up good?

Soaring · 03-19-2006, 04:43 PM

Check the lug bolt threads. If they are in good shape, then you probably have the wrong lug nuts. If not, then replace the lug bolts.

Craig67 · 03-19-2006, 10:43 PM

And be sure you turn the tire iron to the right...[8D]

Scott H. · 03-19-2006, 10:57 PM

Step one; go by a good tire store and ask someone to look at the rim, lug nuts, hub and studs.

Lug nuts are 1/2-20, so you can use that as a gauge to determine if in fact you have the correct size. I'm not familiar with those rims, but they will have one of two nut seats. Either it will have a recessed Chamfer, or a flat but oversized hole. The recessed chamfer uses a "cone" shaped lug nut. The flat seat with the oversized hole uses a "T" shaped lug nut that allows the base of the lug nut to fit inside the hole.

No matter which type you have, it is imperative that you use anti-sieze on the seating portion of the lug nut, and a torque wrench (torque to 105 lbs/ft). Tighten using a star pattern in at least two stages (i.e. go around once at 70 lbs/ft. then go to 105 lbs/ft).

You may also want to insure at this point that the rim seating surface/lug holes are not damaged.

Good luck. If it was my kid, I'd have it towed to a competent tire center.

THUMPIN455 · 03-20-2006, 02:56 AM

Yep, what Scott said...

acidrain088 · 03-20-2006, 08:26 PM

if it is always the same wheel then the lugs are probably bad but if it is different wheels be careful someone isnt messing with him. i had a friend who had a 400 hp chevy 350 in an old buic and someone losened a lug at school. he juiced it up on the entrance ramp of a highway and spun the wheel right of the car.

Craig67 · 03-20-2006, 09:05 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: acidrain088

if it is always the same wheel then the lugs are probably bad but if it is different wheels be careful someone isnt messing with him. i had a friend who had a 400 hp chevy 350 in an old buic and someone losened a lug at school. he juiced it up on the entrance ramp of a highway and spun the wheel right of the car.

Wow, that is messed up...