how safe is driving a vehicle with missing lugnut?

Not safe at all.

packardbell wrote: ↑on cars that have 4 that holds a wheel. if you are missing 1, how safe to drive?
on cars that have 5 that holds a wheel. if you are missing 1, how safe to drive?

You're the retired professional auto mechanic - what would you of told your customers if they'd asked you either of these 2 questions ?

And in your many years of professional experience - do you know of any professional tire or auto repair shop that'd allow a customer's vehicle to leave the shop with 3 lug nuts instead of 4 or 4 lug nuts instead of 5 ?

hubcentric wheel. seen an EOS a few days ago.
i was flagging the guy to open his window to tell him but he must have thought i was selling him $3K overstock speakers

A few days ago driving on the 401 Express lane at night, a car on the left most (fast) lane slightly in front of us all of a sudden had sparks on the left rear wheel. I had to suddenly brake just in case that car lose control and swerve. That car of course also braked. I decided to move forward to be in front of that car, in case that car swerve toward us, we'd be ahead of them.

We then noticed a wheel rolling forward, at the left shoulder.

That car came to a stop on the left shoulder, while that wheel continued rolling forward.

Fortunately there was no sudden swerving or accident. That was probably due to loose or missing nut(s).

Arrgh wrote: ↑A few days ago driving on the 401 Express lane at night, a car on the left most (fast) lane slightly in front of us all of a sudden had sparks on the left rear wheel. I had to suddenly brake just in case that car lose control and swerve. That car of course also braked. I decided to move forward to be in front of that car, in case that car swerve toward us, we'd be ahead of them.

We then noticed a wheel rolling forward, at the left shoulder.

That car came to a stop on the left shoulder, while that wheel continued rolling forward.

Fortunately there was no sudden swerving or accident. That was probably due to loose or missing nut(s).

you can feel while driving that a wheel is loose, so you should pull over and not continue driving. But most people don't know or give a hoot and keep on driving until the wheel just flies off and then are left three legged.

[IMG]http://gi41.photobucket.com/groups/e260 ... G_1823.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://gi41.photobucket.com/groups/e260 ... G_1822.jpg[/IMG]

packardbell wrote: ↑
The 2 pics

How is the vehicle content of first picture different from the vehicle content of the second picture ?

packardbell wrote: ↑on cars that have 4 that holds a wheel. if you are missing 1, how safe to drive?
on cars that have 5 that holds a wheel. if you are missing 1, how safe to drive?

Safe.....emergency use only if just happened. But not long daily drives.

In long run you are putting more force onto the lugs that are connected and they can shear off or fracture at anytime in future even if you replaced the one lugnut at a later time..

I see this all the time when people swap winter rims and leave security lugnut off.

poedua wrote: ↑How is the vehicle content of first picture different from the vehicle content of the second picture ?

2nd pic doesn't have his drivers mirror showing :p

Don't know if you're being serious with your question since you're a pro in this field.

Having said that, depending on the car. 4/5 lug nuts sitting on the hub isn't going to cause any accidents. I've even raced in them, nobody @ the pit said there would be any problems.

But yes, that person should fix it.

theguyz wrote: ↑2nd pic doesn't have his drivers mirror showing :p

Then perhaps the more appropriate question should of been..." How - AS IT PERTAINS TO THE TOPIC [ WHEELS / LUG NUTS ]- is the vehicle content of first picture different from the vehicle content of the second picture ? "

sunny87 wrote: ↑Don't know if you're being serious with your question since you're a pro in this field.

Having said that, depending on the car. 4/5 lug nuts sitting on the hub isn't going to cause any accidents. I've even raced in them, nobody @ the pit said there would be any problems.

But yes, that person should fix it.

For vehicles that are hubcentric, missing one lugnut is not the end of the world but should get fixed asap. On the other hand for non hubcentric wheels then it would be on the unsafe and caution should be taken. Just asking the RFD internet car mechs

Pictures indicate that both front and rear wheels only have 4 lug bolts in use.
I would assume that the owner used the bolts from a 4 lug vehicle to use on his 5 lug car. Maybe as a temporary measure for winters.

anon1138 wrote: ↑Pictures indicate that both front and rear wheels only have 4 lug bolts in use.
I would assume that the owner used the bolts from a 4 lug vehicle to use on his 5 lug car. Maybe as a temporary measure for winters.

But it appears pic #1 and #2 are identical in that regard - making pic #2 completely redundant.

poedua wrote: ↑But it appears pic #1 and #2 are identical that regard - making pic #2 completely redundant.

sshhh it is photoshopped lol!

Most likely lost his wheel lock key and the shop had to break the lock off. The shop must have told him its safe to drive like this. I agree with pakardbell about the hubcentric wheels, but keep in mind this vehicle does not have wheel nuts it he studs and those tend to come off alot easier while driving then the wheel nuts, so therefore this customer and shop have failed!.

faisalm wrote: ↑Most likely lost his wheel lock key and the shop had to break the lock off. The shop must have told him its safe to drive like this. I agree with pakardbell about the hubcentric wheels, but keep in mind this vehicle does not have wheel nuts it he studs and those tend to come off alot easier while driving then the wheel nuts, so therefore this customer and shop have failed!.

This is why you want to go to a professional tire shop that has professional ethics & standards and won't compromise it's principles and cut corners on safety - i.e a professional tire shop like SimplyTire - and stay clear of what I call ' Skeeter & Bubba ' shops that have virtual " 0 " professional standards.

As I said before, no professional shop would allow a vehicle to leave it's shop with one of it's wheel lugs missing per wheel.

To ensure optimum performance and safety, if the factory engineers spec'd the wheel for 5 lug nuts - then put on 5 - not 4.

poedua wrote: ↑You're the retired professional auto mechanic - what would you of told your customers if they'd asked you either of these 2 questions ?

And in your many years of professional experience - do you know of any professional tire or auto repair shop that'd allow a customer's vehicle to leave the shop with 3 lug nuts instead of 4 or 4 lug nuts instead of 5 ?

He is just polling redflagdeals memebers, as you did with your thread .

poedua wrote: ↑Then perhaps the more appropriate question should of been..." How - AS IT PERTAINS TO THE TOPIC [ WHEELS / LUG NUTS ]- is the vehicle content of first picture different from the vehicle content of the second picture ? "

Wow poedua. Remember the grief you gave that person for mistaking "brake" and "break"? Here, let me refresh your memory:

poedua wrote: ↑You can space or quote whatever word you want..but at the end of the day, you still have to use the correct word in the first place...that's all I'm saying..

In other words, it's brake service, brake line, brake fluid, brake pad..NOT...break service, break line, break fluid, break pad.

And if you really want to split hairs, I'd submit that in the vast majority of cases on this forum, using the word break in place of brake isn't a typo at all, but simply poor spelling ( i.e the person habitually uses the term break instead of brake ) ....as illustrated by these ACTUAL thread titles from some other RFD members...


[INDENT]" What is this on my breaks? Rust? "

" Do i have to flush my break fluids before i can add more ? "

" where to buy big rotar breaks from? "
" People who slam on the breaks trying cause an accident? "
" Can breaks be damaged by jarring not a direct hit ? "
" Changing Breaks...Pads Only OK? "
" Honda break fluid "
" Break Pad & Rotor change price range? "
" Change the break pad, dealer or local store? "
" Need someone to install front break pads " [/INDENT]

poedua wrote: ↑Actually, in this case, it most certainly IS absolute.

It's a simple case of something being correct or incorrect.

For example......

[INDENT]- brake service, brake line, brake fluid, brake pad, brake shoe, disc brakes, etc. - CORRECT

- break service, break line, break fluid, break pad, break shoe, disc break, etc. - INCORRECT[/INDENT]

....the spelling of each word and what distinguishes one word from the other is something you learn in elementary school.

Grammar 101.

Well let me give you a lesson in your own condescending Grammar 101 game.

it's not Should of...
It is Should have...

It's ironic that you would post so much to make others look stupid, isn't it?

poedua wrote: ↑This is why you want to go to a professional tire shop that has professional ethics & standards and won't compromise it's principles

its not it's.

shuffler wrote: ↑Wow poedua. Remember the grief you gave that person for mistaking "brake" and "break"? Here, let me refresh your memory:






Well let me give you a lesson in your own condescending Grammar 101 game.

it's not Should of...
It is Should have...

It's ironic that you would post so much make others look stupid, isn't it?



its not it's.

Good show mate.