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Wheel fell of truck...whos fault?


Use the thinking in the OP with a different situation...

"My buddy was supposed to fill my gas tank when he borrowed my truck. When I started it up, the needle was lower than it should be, but I didn't stop for gas. After a few miles the low fuel light came on, but I still didn't stop for gas since my buddy (who's trustworthy enough for me to lend my truck to) said he was going to fill it up. Then, wonder of wonders, I ran out of gas! Whose fault is it? Mine or my buddy's?"

There is no way any self respecting vehicle owner could possibly place the blame on someone else. Granted, what was supposed to be done may not have been done, but the warning signs were there, and dude ignored them.
 
Warranty usually doesn't cover lug nuts coming lose and tires falling off. That is still solely on the operator, doesn't matter how many miles they have driven, and if it felt "funny" there's probably an issue, and stopping to find out would be the proper thing to do, not get on a forum and start blasting away at a tire shop for your own lack of common sense. You can't tell me that you couldn't figure out by the noise that the tire was coming off? Bearing noise and tires falling off have 2 completely different noises.
 
Here's another thing to think about...

I had to swap out a few tires once and was in a rush. I "thought" I had tightened them down and when I finished I jumped in the truck and headed out. I got about a half mile down the road when I "felt" something really weird in the front end.

I immediately pulled over and thought "OH, great, another wheel bearing just collapsed..." because it happened to me before. I get out and see my wheels are all on...closer inspection reveals that I had NOT tightened down one of the tires properly and the wheel actually wobbled.

After tightening the lug nuts the way I usually do, I got back in and drove a bit more to test...no wobble.

So...I would have to say that if the wheel actually fell off without any indication then, perhaps, someone is messing with your truck.

It would be a very numb day in Heaven before I could drive my truck too far without realizing that there was a loose tire. So not sure of the circumstances of how "sudden" this was...but I do believe that unless there is a considerable difference between the OP's truck and mine I really can't see how this could have actually happened without there being some sort of intervention from a turd party!
 
Personally in my opinion it is owner error. Some people ( Don't want to sound mean) just don't know what to look for. My car is making a weird sound? It still drives though. I mean hell, on my ranger last summer I replaced my front brakes and drivers rotor/ wheel bearing. That brake started squeaking about 50 miles later, I was pretty sure it was just the new pads and rotors wearing in. I still took the wheel and caliper off just to make sure the wheel bearing was fine.

I also agree about some kind of basic course for cars. Some people don't even know how to change a tire( Not to be confused with not being able to PHYSICALLY change a tire). There should be a basic automotive competence test before people can get there license.


PS. Every Ford owner manual I have ever read states to re-check wheel lugs after 50 miles.
 
Ease up on the OP, shit happens. Next time he will retorque the wheels after driving around a bit, and if it feels funky he will pull over to check things out.

No one got hurt, lesson learned, and the fix was pretty cheap for a wheel falling off.
 
Alloy rims are good for loosening up,I check those often on the Wifes Ranger.
Always lube my nuts with never seize,Little bit goes a long way:icon_thumby:
 
i would never ant seize a lug nut I have seen them loosen up

I don't bother with my pickup lug nuts because they are on and off enough to not have a problem with sticking.

Now my tractors with lug BOLTS that stick out the back side of the hub and only come off about every 5-10 years... they get gooped up. Even with the crazy camber they run I have never had one get loose let alone come off on me.
 

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