Lug nuts: one piece or two peice? (a near death experience)

[dedeman]

I'll try to keep this brief, but it involves a narrowly avoided catastrophe.

About two weeks ago I put on my winter tires. Unfortunately the tire shop torqued the bolts to about 3000 ft/lbs. Also unfortunately I rounded 3 of the the stock lugs in getting them off. I like lugs with nice sharp edges, so I decided to get new lugs from FCP Euro (1st order from them). FCP Euro indicated the lugs were compatible. I noticed they were a different design in that the "shoulder" (my term) was separate from the lug bolts, unlike the single piece lug bolts that were stock. I figured they were an updated design and used them.

Anyway, I hadn't driven the car since I put the snow tires on until last Thursday. I stopped after about an hour with my car shuddering like crazy on the Capitol beltway (if you know, you know) in the wind, rain, and high speed traffic, missing a rim center cap and bolt (somewhere along I-66E), two lug bolts just dropped next to my wheel when I stopped, and the remaining two lugs so loose I could turn them with my hand. I cranked the bolts that dropped on the ground, and the two loose bolts that remained on the rim, probable 2 miles from my wheel coming completely off. After that the car drove smooth as silk.

I called the local Audi dealer (Silver Spring Audi) to ask if they had any lug bolts. They asked "do you want the one-piece or two-piece?" Well, I didn't realize there was a difference so I went with the "one piece" because it appears the "two piece" bolts backed themselves out of the hub. Mind you I didn't hand tighten the bolts, I used my impact driver for that. Perhaps I should have double checked to see if they were tight.

So, my question is, is there a significant difference between the two bolts designs (aside from the obvious "one piece/two piece", or am I the lug here? Should I contact FCP Euro to let them know of the issue?

[Jayz691]

2 piece are Porsche lug bolts I believe. But they should work fine, I would think. Sounds like you didn't torque them properly.

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[a4audi4fun]

@dedeman Thankfully you remained safe.

I believe you are supposed to retorque the lug bolts after a short amount of driving in case road vibration etc may have loosened them off a little. Cold temps most NAR areas are currently experiencing may also have affected things.

[Jay-Bee]

I've only ever seen the OEM "2 piece" wheel bolts for the larg VAG SUVs, (Q7, Cayenne and toureg) they might be a bit long but if there's no contact in the hub it'll work like any other.

The wheel bolts that came with my wheel spacers do use a similar style, maybe so they can easily be swapped for cone seat Vs ballseat. Zero issues running them for 24+ months torqued to spec.

[Theiceman]

i have twice had wheels fall off on my Audi .. and i did torque them.
First was my A6 wheel came off on the highway and left me stranded. The other ime was a body shop put the wheels on my sons a4b7 but he managed to make it nome. 3 km and the wheel was hanging off..

I dont know what it is as i have been around cars for 40 years, now i go once around the block like an F1 on formation lap and retorque.

may have to do with wheel not siting flush due to rust around the hub centric and doesnt seat and bolts loosen with driving. But now i know..

I would say it has nothing to do with the bolts.

[Jayz691]

Wow, ive never even had a lug come loose. I snug them up, put some weight on the tire to tq it. Lift off ground, then lower and re-check. Don't even check after driving, unless they are new wheels/lug bolts.

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[Jayz691]

I've only ever seen the OEM "2 piece" wheel bolts for the larg VAG SUVs, (Q7, Cayenne and toureg) they might be a bit long but if there's no contact in the hub it'll work like any other.

The wheel bolts that came with my wheel spacers do use a similar style, maybe so they can easily be swapped for cone seat Vs ballseat. Zero issues running them for 24+ months torqued to spec.

I like those lug bolts. How do the heads hold up after a few removals, and some weather? Any I get(black or chrome) don't hold up. Been tempted to buy some Titanium ones, just so they stay nice, lol.

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[dedeman]

Thank you for all your responses. The parts guy at Silver Spring Audi said the two piece lugs are longer than the one piece lugs. Perhaps this was just a combination of factors but I'll be sure to double check and double tighten my lugs in the future.

[mc_hotmail]

i have twice had wheels fall off on my Audi .. and i did torque them.

@iceman Coming from you makes me feel better. Twice for me were 2 brake caliper bolts, and the top shock absorber bolt, both on my A6 wagon (my wife misses that wagon).

[Cyrik]

Be right back, I'm gonna go check my lug bolts...

How many ft/lbs is everyone torquing their wheels to? I've always done 100ft/lbs for both stock and aftermarket and never had a lug nut come loose. OE spec is 90 for 17" wheels.

[mc_hotmail]

Except A8 and Q model lines, all lug nuts (even RS6) are shown in factory manual and your user's guide to be 120nm = 88.5 lb-ft, plus or minus 10nm or 7.4 lb-ft. Your wife must be able to remove the lug at the side of the road with the lug wrench from the toolbox. You should also teach her how to kick on the wrench to tighten the lug, hopefully she would be in her running shoes.

[Theiceman]

90 and a bit more so likely 90-95

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[Jayz691]

I always go 90-95, and never had an issue.

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[Jay-Bee]

Back in about 2001 i was passenger in my friend's Honda CRX Si and we heard a couple dings like rocks getting kicked up, 10 seconds later the front left wheel dropped off and somehow managed to stay in the wheel wheel and rode on the rotor and we pulled off the road, collected the wheel nuts from down the highway and carried on. Ever since that day I have been excessivley anal about wheel torque.

I use a 90lb-ft torque stick adapter on impact gun to install wheel bolts then hit everything again at 95 with a proper torque wrench manually and recheck it again after a few drives.

ALSO DON'T EVER USE ANTISEIZE ON WHEEL BOLT/STUD THREADS

I like those lug bolts. How do the heads hold up after a few removals, and some weather? Any I get(black or chrome) don't hold up. Been tempted to buy some Titanium ones, just so they stay nice, lol.

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The corners of the hex heads have a bit of black worn off from using impact to remove, but they are holding up really well, nice 12.9 grade bolts not sure if the black is anodized or something else. I put stock bolts back in with my winter wheels so they have been on/off mutiple times over the last 2 years. They are Bloxsport, might be Called BONOSS now.

[Jayz691]

Thanx. I looked them up, and a bit pricey, but seem decent. $7/ea, so $140/set. Little cheaper than titanium at least.

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[dedeman]

I usually tighten them until I can't tighten them any more. I know that's not a measurement, but I've never gone wrong doing that. I usually re-torque them after I take it to a shop because 100% of the times I've taken a car to the shop the lugs will be so tight that no human can remove them, and if I have to change a tire I want to know that I'll be able to do so.