Alloy rims - How often do you check your wheel nuts?

4X4

Moderator
I don't ,want to get into a debate whether Alloy rims are better than steel rims. All I am saying, you need to check your wheel nuts on a regular basis with alloy rims. They have a habit of working loose. The first sign you will notice that something is wrong is just before the wheel falls off, usually on the left hand side. More often than not, they elongate the holes in the rim, to the point where they are not repairable. Rattle guns aren't reliable, you will need to check the wheel nuts with a torque wrench. When was the last time you checked your wheel nuts?
 

Nickj

5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Good point 4x4. You also need to check them after a few kms of swapping your road tyres/wheels for the muddies..... ooops... They settle after a few kms drivingand need to be nipped up a little...

[nick speaking from experience]

Nick
 

goldrush

Moderator
Good point. I like to check mine at least monthly, more often when doing hard wheeling. As for rattle guns, I once threatened to wrap one around the head of a bloke at the local tyre place if he used it on the mags on my old Kingswood.Alloy wheels are expensive and easily damaged by rattle guns used incorrectly.

Goldrush
 

BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
NO WAY hOSEA RATTLE GUNS ON ALLOY RIMS.

ALLOY RIMS LOOK PRETTY KEEP THEM FOR THE BITUMEN , THEY ARE PRETTY CRAP OUT IN THE REAL BUSH , THEY ARE EASILY DAMAGED IN SERIOUS TRACK AND ROCKWORK , EVEN IN THE SAND WITH THE POUNDING FROM TREKING THE SIMPSON DESERT.:D:D:D
 

Gunna

Well-Known Member
Never really given it a thought before now! guess what I'm doing tomorrow thanks for the heads up Rossco
ps: This is why this is the best site around :eek:
 

frosty

4x4 Earth Contributer
NO WAY hOSEA RATTLE GUNS ON ALLOY RIMS.

ALLOY RIMS LOOK PRETTY KEEP THEM FOR THE BITUMEN , THEY ARE PRETTY CRAP OUT IN THE REAL BUSH , THEY ARE EASILY DAMAGED IN SERIOUS TRACK AND ROCKWORK , EVEN IN THE SAND WITH THE POUNDING FROM TREKING THE SIMPSON DESERT.:D:D:D

Ally is overrated! Go and buy a set of sunrasias. 1/3 the price, 10 times stronger, easy to fix! I love my rattle gun!!!:D
 

Blue Dog

New Member
I check the wheel nuts each saturday as part of the weekly quick check over "oils / waters etc".
I also check the ones on the spare on the rear door, dont forget that one if it comes off look out behind.
 

sdollery

New Member
Wheel Nuts

I have a GU, which have been known to 'drop' the occasional alloy. I check my tyre pressures and wheel nuts (with a torque wrench) everytime I fill up (I never put $20 in) . Sometimes monthly - sometimes weekly or more often if I'm on a trip. I do this along with the rest of my 'Pre-trip' check. It takes 5 mins and the torque wrench was pretty cheap. Gives you that piece of mind when you're in the bush - or travelling along the highway at speed.
 

remus

New Member
Alloy rims over-rated .. no way! got to have some bling
But its a great point NickJ.
Also this problem is not just limited to alloys but less rare on steel rims. Steelies can also come loose when changed in muddy conditions and after a while the mud dries turns to dust, falls out and effectively loosens the wheel nuts.
 

frosty

4x4 Earth Contributer
I bash my originals and my sunrasias on with the rattle gun and when I have to, I take em off with said rattle gun. I also have a cupla spare studs incase I bugger one. I have'nt yet got an air tank on this patrol so I pray I don't get a flat!::D
 

frosty

4x4 Earth Contributer
That particular nut has been loose for years. My mum was saying it for years when I was a kid. Took ages for me catch on! DEERR!
 

Knackers

4x4 Earth Contributer
Good advice to check for loose nuts. It's not much fun being overtaken by one of your own rear tyres (I know)

Cheers
Knackers
 

LowLux

Moderator
A lot of people tend to over tighten the wheel nuts on both allies and steels causing threads on the studs to wear which in turn make it easier for the nuts to come off over time. I just tighten them to finger tight then about 3/4 to 1 full turn with the wheel bace and that's usually fine. Never had a prob with wheel nuts with that practice and I've put the steelies through thier paces. Keep the studs lubed as well.
 

grit

Member
Mine are never on the car long enough. Mind you, the claws vibrate quite a bit on the blacktop at very low speed so I probably should check while airing down on arrival. Have never found one loose in the past though (touch wood).
 

TheOoz

New Member
I only check mine when I've got the wheel off for something else, so I should keep this in mind if it is a known issue on 4WDs
 
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