Wildtrak Wheel Falls Off

Wow... that is impressive.

That should have been caught by the dealer during their pre-delivery inspection. Although I wouldn't be surprised if many dealers have extremely lax PDI procedures.

Or... I guess for all we know... this could have been done by the dealer during their pre-delivery inspection and have nothing to do with the assembly line.

Possible theft attempt- I would check the lug nut torque on all the other wheels. Where I live, Detroit thieves use 1st-person as driver, 2nd-person to loosen the lug nuts and jack vehicle up, and the 3rd-person to be lookout and then steal the tire/wheel assemblies. I would also check torque of spare.

That would have to be some serious torque to shear all of those off…looks more like under torqued and wheel wobbled until it sheared the bolts. The wheel holes show signs of the bolts hitting the holes (look at the threading in those holes). That and all but one bolt sheared at the same place, looks like wheel wobbled and gave up towards one side. Pretty wild tho.

thgdfathr

That would have to be some serious torque to shear all of those off…looks more like under torqued and wheel wobbled until it sheared the bolts. The wheel holes show signs of the bolts hitting the holes (look at the threading in those holes). That and all but one bolt sheared at the same place, looks like wheel wobbled and gave up towards one side. Pretty wild tho.

Yeah... I'm thinking you are right.

The robots at the assembly plant that tighten the lug nuts are computerized and QC'd all the time to entire they are torqued correctly. So I'm thinking it is more likely this wheel wasn't torqued at all rather than over-torqued at the assembly line.

RagnarKon

Yeah... I'm thinking you are right.

The robots at the assembly plant that tighten the lug nuts are computerized and QC'd all the time to entire they are torqued correctly. So I'm thinking it is more likely this wheel wasn't torqued at all rather than over-torqued at the assembly line.

Right. I’d assume there would be a bunch having the same issue on the same wheel if that were the case. Wondering if the wheel was taken off for some reason and then put back on or something. Definitely a wild ride for that guy I’m sure.

That's definitely lug nuts that was not tight. The the thread pattern in the wheel itself shows the amount of time it had before it eventually broke the studs off.

I'm just trying to figure out how someone wouldn't know the wheel/ tire combo was out of round. As it should have vibrated so bad, that the buttometer would have known there was an issue. But maybe not. Glad the driver and others on the road were safe.

Mikes2021Bronco

That's definitely lug nuts that was not tight. The the thread pattern in the wheel itself shows the amount of time it had before it eventually broke the studs off.

I'm just trying to figure out how someone wouldn't know the wheel/ tire combo was out of round. As it should have vibrated so bad, that the buttometer would have known there was an issue. But maybe not. Glad the driver and others on the road were safe.

OP mentioned it vibrating at certain speeds. Lol, probably pull over and check instead of hopping on the interstate. Dude said “YOLO!”

thgdfathr

OP mentioned it vibrating at certain speeds. Lol, probably pull over and check instead of hopping on the interstate. Dude said “YOLO!”

If it was loose it definitely vibrated like crazy.

Some people just aren't super car savvy though. I had to briefly drive my brother-in-law's car back from the airport after he left for vacation with his then-girlfriend. It had TONS of shimmy and shakes and felt like a disaster waiting to happen. Completely obvious two of the struts were busted, and after I looked at it there was a bad wheel bearing and the sway-bar links were busted. I confronted him about it after he got back and his response was "Oh really?? I didn't notice anything". The dude is a smart guy too, majored in mathematics and works for a Fortune 500 insurance company doing data modeling. Just knows nothing about cars.

Seems the OP did feel some shaking and was on his way to the dealer to get it looked at. He admitted he wasn't super automobile inclined, but he did notice enough shaking that it was concerning enough to visit a dealer about it. So good on that OP I guess?? Just needed to visit the dealer a little earlier. 😉

RagnarKon

If it was loose it definitely vibrated like crazy.

Some people just aren't super car savvy though. I had to briefly drive my brother-in-law's car back from the airport after he left for vacation with his then-girlfriend. It had TONS of shimmy and shakes and felt like a disaster waiting to happen. Completely obvious two of the struts were busted, and after I looked at it there was a bad wheel bearing and the sway-bar links were busted. I confronted him about it after he got back and his response was "Oh really?? I didn't notice anything". The dude is a smart guy too, majored in mathematics and works for a Fortune 500 insurance company doing data modeling. Just knows nothing about cars.

Seems the OP did feel some shaking and was on his way to the dealer to get it looked at. He admitted he wasn't super automobile inclined, but he did notice enough shaking that it was concerning enough to visit a dealer about it. So good on that OP I guess?? Just needed to visit the dealer a little earlier. 😉

Fair point. I guess the lesson here is if you feel something, check your wheels first.

I went through the whole thread on B6G and the very last post said what I was thinking: that sure doesn’t look five days old.

RagnarKon

Wow... that is impressive.

That should have been caught by the dealer during their pre-delivery inspection. Although I wouldn't be surprised if many dealers have extremely lax PDI procedures.

Or... I guess for all we know... this could have been done by the dealer during their pre-delivery inspection and have nothing to do with the assembly line.

That would require dealers actually doing a pre delivery inspection.

TK1215

I went through the whole thread on B6G and the very last post said what I was thinking: that sure doesn’t look five days old.

Thought so too. More to that story than the post has for sure.

This is one of the first things I check on any new vehicle.

I really can’t believe it happened all of a sudden.

Mikey Smith

Possible theft attempt- I would check the lug nut torque on all the other wheels. Where I live, Detroit thieves use 1st-person as driver, 2nd-person to loosen the lug nuts and jack vehicle up, and the 3rd-person to be lookout and then steal the tire/wheel assemblies. I would also check torque of spare.

Another reason not to live in Detroit!😆

Eninty

This. We don't need 9 pages to discuss any further.

Can we fill at least one page?
3 more comments is all we need!!

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You have my stomp of approval!
🦶🏻🦶🏻🦶🏻🦶🏻🦶🏻🦶🏻

Mikes2021Bronco

Can we fill at least one page?
3 more comments is all we need!!

Yes

I’d totally believe this was five days old. It probably sat on a lot and in train yards for a month, and depending on where the owner lives, spent some time on salty roads.

PAGE TWO

Sulley

I don't normally cross-post, but came across this today.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...heels-hub-wheel-came-off-while-driving.70155/

If that the OP is saying is true, then it looks like Ford over-torqued the wheels at the factory, causing it to snap right off. Terrifying.

I've already had to get a tire repaired after KoH and a trip to Bronco Knoll....thankfully, rotating the spare in (2 door Wildtrak), did not have this issue....However, the tire shop did note that the beauty ring was WAY over torqued and also had strong threadlock on the bolts. That's why I always request hand torqued lugs (or how I handle when doing my own).
Haste makes waste...and given Ford is 110% catch-up mode, they seem to be sacrificing quality for quantity.