This post is for all the people who stopped, helped, offered help, gave advise, and otherwise encouraged me in my time on need on Friday night and Saturday.

Yes, I am the one that lost my wheel (literally) just outside of Fontana on the Hellbender 28....my lugs nuts came off.

Diagnosis: with the recent brakes I had installed, the spacer that was put on meant that the standard lug nuts had little thread to engage the wheel. Sooner or later, the lugs worked loose, I lost two, and boom - the wheel fell off.

Well, let me thank the following people, not to forget anyone, who helped me:

Chris from S2C2 (South Carolina, Roadodendron here in NAM) who stopped, and along with JimDaniels (CO) and Jim Peterson (the Dragon Wagon from Nebraska) got me back on the road and limping in to Fontana....

Chad Miller from Detroit Tuned who diagnosed my problem and identified the fix

Waylon who helped with diagnosis and resolution and Red Locktite

OutMotoring and Aaron Cornaby who had the lug conversion kits I needed

Jay and Tony from MINI of Nashville who installed them for me, at NO cost I might add...

and the myriad of others who offered rides, parts, support, $$ and other considerations.

I SINCERELY APPRECIATE the support the community offered in my time of need. I am half way home (StL tonite) and expect no further problems.

Thank you all again.

Jonathan Souza

 

Glad to hear it all ended up ok Jon. We missed you at the Brew Swap early on but were glad to see you show up eventually. And a pat on the back to all the people you named. It's nice to se the community step up and help out when there is need.

 

Ouch Jonathan! Good to hear so many came to the rescue. It's a relatively common fact that lug bolts/nuts have a tendency to work themselves loose on the Dragon, so sorry you had to find out the hard way :(

 

We owe you a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge thank you as well!

Got the car fixed, everything is great!

 

I owe a round of applause to the fine gentlemen who pushed Jango out of the mud during the 11am Scenic Drive Around the Smoky Mountains!

Thanks all!

Aaron

 

Not intending to hijack the thread, but we're visiting the Dragon in 3 weeks. What's suggested for the stock lugs on my stock MCS with x'lites? Anything in particular or just a torque wrench every so often?

...Les

 

I took a torque wrench to mine every day (stock wheels and lug nuts), just to be safe. I never noticed any of them loosening up, but I don't push it too hard.

The problem in the first post was probably caused by the addition of spacers to the wheel set-up, leaving the threads little surface area for gripping. The stock setup should be OK.