Missing Lugnuts?

[yakuza70]

I was washing my car today and noticed one of the five lugnuts on my front driver's side wheel was missing. I checked the other three wheels and the driver's side rear wheel was missing one too. This is the second time washing my car (bought it CPO about a month ago) and I didn't notice any lugnuts missing then although I don't specifically remember cleaning that area either - I may have just not noticed it then.

I drove down to the nearest BMW service center (different dealership than the one I bought the car) and they put new ones in no charge -. gotta give them kudos as they could have easily charged me. I don't know if they were missing from the time I bought the car (meaning the dealership missed it, lost them, or ??) or they were stolen. Any ideas or thoughts how they became missing? Are BMW lugnuts something people steal?

[JimD]

You should not be missing lug nuts, obviously. We're the remaining nuts loose? Not tightening them properly in the past is a potential cause. A wheel out of balance might make them loosen. I'd definitely keep an eye on them. You can get a torque wrench from harbor freight for $10. I'd check them regularly for awhile.

[froop]

That's kinda worrying that a lugnut would be missing.

As JimD said, I'd probably say that the lugnuts were not tight enough hence they just fell out whilst driving. You should get the torque wrench and make sure they're all tightened to 88ft/lb (I think) and also remember to tighten them in a star pattern. As long as this is done, there should be no risk of them coming out on their own.

[mb135is]

That would freak me out. I can't imagine them falling out unless they were just finger-tight and they forgot to torque them. Or worse, they weren't in there to begin with. Or worse, someone is screwing with you and taking them.

[doublevanosrc]

Someone was praying for you.

[135Pats]

Even if they were just hand tight, they shouldn't just fall off if there is sufficient thread. Not good.

[rking117]

lug nut thieves

[drcollie]

Doubtful anyone was stealing them. Its very common for them to fall out if not tightened.

[yakuza70]

Thanks for all the tips. I'll definitely go out and get a torque wrench - I should have one around anyway. I know NOTHING about tools so I would assume I can get one at any auto parts store. Are there different sizes? I'd rather not get one online as I'll have to wait days while driving with potentially loose lug nuts!

[Ehwnnc]

I had someone loosen my lug nuts one night and the next morning on my way to work nearly wrecked because of it. There are some shady people out there. I was also living in a college apartment complex at the time

[MotoWPK]

Many (many) years ago I was driving our '60 VW microbus on the CT turnpike when I felt a slight vibration in the steering wheel. I'd been 'analyzing' it for about 30 seconds when it turned into a violent shaking that shook the entire vehicle to a degree that my passenger in the right front seat started to climb into the back. After just a few seconds of this the left front corner of the vehicle, which is where the driver is on microbus, dropped several inches. I resisted the temptation the hit the brakes but knew I had to move from the center lane to the right shoulder as quickly as I could, which I proceeded to do after a tanker truck went by on the right.

As I gradually brought the microbus to a stop in the right shoulder, I saw the front wheel/tire rolling down the turnpike. My first thought was that the violent shaking had caused the rim to separate from the wheel center but, it turned out the entire wheel had come off leaving the bare brake drum.

For those not familiar with this vintage VW, instead of lug nuts they had lug bolts (or more correctly machine screws) that threaded into the brake drum. These things were notoriously difficult to remove after having been tightened and driven on for a while. The last time the wheel had been off was about a month previous, by a tire shop. Almost certainly the shop had just finger tightened the lug bolts and they stayed on...for awhile.

[drcollie]

Get a click type one, Sears Craftsman will do just fine. 1/2" drive and keep it in the supplied case with the spring tension taken OFF when not in use. That will go a long ways towards it keeping its calibration. You'll need a 17MM 1/2" drive, deep well socket as well. Don't be afraid to tighten them up right now with a conventional socket wrench. They are 90 FT LB and you can easily apply that with a hand wrench with very little effort. Better than running around with loose lugs.

[Bill B.]

Speaking of Craftsman torque wrench -

1/2" drive is on sale at %50 off!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00931425000P

And, I hate to sound pedantic, but our cars don't use lug nuts. They use wheel bolts.

[drcollie]

Originally Posted by Bill B.

Speaking of Craftsman torque wrench -

1/2" drive is on sale at %50 off!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00931425000P

And, I hate to sound pedantic, but our cars don't use lug nuts. They use wheel bolts.

If its pedantic you want, then you are incorrect, good sir! Those are wheel lug SCREWS, not bolts. A bolt, by definition, requires a fastener on the opposite end. You can look it up.

[Bill B.]

Originally Posted by drcollie

If its pedantic you want, then you are incorrect, good sir! Those are wheel lug SCREWS, not bolts. A bolt, by definition, requires a fastener on the opposite end. You can look it up.

Ok, ok... Though I think you're treading some pretty ambiguous ground; conflicting definitions by the Machinery's Handbook, ASME, ISO and military specs don't really make a clear picture. I prefer the following:

These M12X1.5 bolts are defined as headed fasteners having external threads that meet an exacting, uniform bolt thread specification (such as M, MJ, UN, UNR, and UNJ) such that they can accept a non-tapered nut. Screws are defined as headed, externally-threaded fasteners that do not meet the above definition of bolts.

A bolt doesn't magically become a screw when you take off the nut, but it can be used like a screw (in this instance - screwed in, not bolted on). I can also take that bolt and drive it into some wood with a very big hammer. Even though I've nailed it in, it still isn't a nail...

[flzrider]

Originally Posted by Bill B.

Ok, ok... Though I think you're treading some pretty ambiguous ground; conflicting definitions by the Machinery's Handbook, ASME, ISO and military specs don't really make a clear picture. I prefer the following:

These M12X1.5 bolts are defined as headed fasteners having external threads that meet an exacting, uniform bolt thread specification (such as M, MJ, UN, UNR, and UNJ) such that they can accept a non-tapered nut. Screws are defined as headed, externally-threaded fasteners that do not meet the above definition of bolts.

A bolt doesn't magically become a screw when you take off the nut, but it can be used like a screw (in this instance - screwed in, not bolted on). I can also take that bolt and drive it into some wood with a very big hammer. Even though I've nailed it in, it still isn't a nail...

Haha, good stuff!

[drcollie]

Nice try Bill, but fail! Here ya go, its even got drawings!

http://engineerexplains.com/answr/Screw-vs-Bolt1.html

LOL

Duane

[KellyK]

that happened to me too. i had 1 missing out of driver side rear...weird. good thing i had spares in my garage

[Bill B.]

Originally Posted by drcollie

Nice try Bill, but fail! Here ya go, its even got drawings!

http://engineerexplains.com/answr/Screw-vs-Bolt1.html

LOL

Duane

Hi Duane. Just like I said, conflicting definitions:

"...Nearly any bolt with a common head can be used as a screw by tightening it by the head into a tapped hole. ... i.e. some bolts can be used as screws; some screws can be used as bolts. If an externally threaded fastener is tightened by the head into a captive nut (nut-plate, etc.), it is still a screw..."

So, it's either a bolt used like a screw, or it is a screw. Can't be both.

I'm gonna side with the translation by BMW engineers.

[yakuza70]

You guys can call it whatever you want but I'm going to continue to call it "the black, metal, thingamajig that keeps my wheels from falling off".

Ever since tightening them at the BMW dealership, I've checked several times and all five on each wheel are there nice and tight.

[Bob Z.]

Whether they are bolts or screws, if they are tightened how can they come loose? Most people just drive their cars and do not worry about checking them every month like most of us here do...if they were to get loose often it seems that people would be complaining about problems.

[3002 tii]

Buy my oe wheel locks, problem solved =)