It's a Team's Life
Run Run - Wheel Loose on Interstate
Have you ever had a wheel come loose or even worse, off, while driving? Getting your wheels torqued, in the right sequence, after a service event is the best way to prevent this from happening. Stopping to have a torque check of the lug nuts after 50 or 100 miles will also aid in the likelihood that this will not happen.
"FMCSR 393.205 Wheels
(a) Wheels and rims shall not be cracked or broken.
(b) Stud or bolt holes on the wheels shall not be elongated (out of round).
(c) Nuts or bolts shall not be missing or loose."
Out of Service violations in the fastener area are,
Loose, missing, broken, cracked, or stripped wheel fasteners that are ineffective as follows: for 10 stud wheels - 3 anywhere or 2 next to each other. (393.205(c))
Several years ago, I found a product, Zafety Lug Lock®, that will help prevent nut loosening after the initial torque has been done. Its a very simple design and easy to install. I did a short video showing the installation process. By installing the lug locks the ability of the lug nuts to loosen is lessened, and the nuts can be retorqued with the locks still on.
I have used this product on all three of our trucks and never had a loose lug nut. They are orange in color, (not very pretty), but if you run wheel covers they will be hidden anyway. Every Dot officer that has seen them thought they were a fantastic idea. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and these will help you be safer, and avoid an OOS violation.
The locks are made of a blend of different plastics that allow them to be flexible yet stiff enough to prevent a nut from coming loose. The lug locks are light weight and have a good operating temperature range, even with wheel end brake temp's up to 300°F, (standard), 450°F (high temp) for severe stop and go.
Locking two nuts together will use each others torqued forces to prevent rotation and loosening. A single loose nut could cause an unbalance of forces on the wheel resulting in flexing that the wheel was not designed to withstand, resulting in stress cracks and/or wheel failure. One loose lug nut will cause others to loosen if not attended to. A flexing wheel with loose lug nuts could also break off studs, ruin the wheel from wear, cause damage to the pilot hub and/or cause tire wear.
If you are interested in Zafety Lug Locks you can contact Spectra Products Inc., Andy Malion, 888-381-2355, or email: [email protected].
Bob & Linda Caffee
TeamCaffee
Saint Louis MO
Expediters since January 2005
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