Stupid and simple. As always.. (quick story) | FerrariChat
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Stupid and simple. As always.. (quick story)

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by vrsurgeon, Aug 12, 2014.

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  1. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    #1 vrsurgeon, Aug 12, 2014
    So I did some work on my upper A-arm balljoints. yes they were in spec.. Balljoint travel was also in spec, had some clicking.. reglued them with Hysol and of course the problem was solved. Simple..

    So I'm driving and I notice this last weekend whenever I make a right hand turn.. *tic* *tic* *tic* with a small motion felt in the steering wheel. WTF! (I thought.. knowing that most issues occur soon after a repair is made)

    Could it be the repair went south? Put too much pressure on the bearing and now the front bearing is gone? CV joint suddenly giving issues? Odd though.. it's only with a right turn on the wheel and not continuous. Does sound like its from the front right wheel.

    So I get home and start to take off the wheel to inspect things. First lug: Odd.. not too tight. Second lug: hmm that's loose..

    Ah! yes. So excited to get going that lugs were only as tight as my electric driver made them. Clicking was the rim tapping against the Hub. Inspected and tightened. Test drive was back to normal. (Oddly enough, same thing with my 928 15 years ago)

    Stupid. It's always something simple.
     
  2. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
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    #2 2NA, Aug 12, 2014
    Torque wrench. You're supposed to learn from your mistakes. ;)
     
  3. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    #3 David_S, Aug 12, 2014
    :)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMAe31FFHbo
     
  4. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    #4 vrsurgeon, Aug 12, 2014
    I know.. I know.. :)
     
  5. Joegnsx

    Joegnsx Formula Junior
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    #5 Joegnsx, Aug 12, 2014
    Lucky Curt--I have seen the wheel fall off.....don't ask who left it loose!
     
  6. rustybits

    rustybits F1 Rookie
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    #6 rustybits, Aug 13, 2014
    ...who left it loose? :)
     
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #7 Rifledriver, Aug 13, 2014
    Smart ass
     
  8. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

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    #8 teak360, Aug 13, 2014
    I picked up my 360 after the rear wheel had been taken off to check a brake. I took it for a quick spin up a local canyon, hitting 100 plus in the tunnel. What a sound with a Tubi and no cats!

    Came back into town and was on a busy street as the rear tire felt like it was going flat. Had to stay in heavy traffic until I could turn off. Wobbly now! Just as I turned and pulled to the curb the left rear popped off and up into the wheel well.
     
  9. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    #9 vrsurgeon, Aug 13, 2014
    Lucky man!

    When I test after a repair its always at slower speeds with anticipation of a tow.. in this case, this dumb@zz didn't notice anything strange on the run immediately after the fix. It was the next day, and the day after that it seemed to get worse. I try to be that guy that listens to his car for proactive repairs... :)

    I also try to check twice before buttoning up and missed it this time. :eek:
     
  10. teak360

    teak360 F1 World Champ

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    #10 teak360, Aug 13, 2014
    I was, twice. I once had the left rear come off a Formula Ford (not mine) braking at the end of the main straight. I kept the car pointing the right way off and into the runoff area, but the wheel/tire went a long, long way.
     
  11. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
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    #11 Schatten, Aug 13, 2014
    Same thing happened to me.

    I was driving a friend's track car from Thunderhill to Sears Point about ten years ago between events. Arrived at the hotel. Talk to the other guys I'm with, "I think something is clicking... the diff?! It cannot be the diff, can it?" (we had just replaced the diff the previous day) So I'm doing circles in the parking lot, while another is hanging onto the cage inside the car listening. Oh boy. It's the friggin wheels! Lugs come loose on a track. And no one checked after the day's sessions at Thunderhill! Argh! And to think I was traveling at a high rate of speed all the way down 5. =/ Scary in hindsight.
     
  12. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

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    #12 finnerty, Aug 13, 2014
    And don't forget to re-check / re-torque after a quick 20-30 miles road test. Some of these wheel materials are softer than they ought to be :)
     
  13. Joegnsx

    Joegnsx Formula Junior
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    #13 Joegnsx, Aug 13, 2014
    I've always heard you should re-check/re-torque wheel lugs after a few miles--does anyone actually do it?
     
  14. GT4 Joe

    GT4 Joe Formula Junior

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    #14 GT4 Joe, Aug 13, 2014
    I haven't been. Maybe I should. I figure if it's torqued correctly the first time, you're done.
     
  15. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

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    #15 finnerty, Aug 14, 2014
    I do
     
  16. voicey

    voicey Formula 3

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    #16 voicey, Aug 14, 2014
    Yes. And every time prior to embarking on a spirited drive or heading out on track.
     
  17. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    #17 vrsurgeon, Aug 14, 2014
    That's a really good idea.
     
  18. voicey

    voicey Formula 3

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    #18 voicey, Aug 14, 2014
    I do it the same time as attending to the tyre pressures.
     
  19. Joegnsx

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    #19 Joegnsx, Aug 14, 2014
    OK--I'll start doing it--did not know people actually do it.
     
  20. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

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    #20 finnerty, Aug 14, 2014
    Old racing habit......

    Check wheel bolts, tire pressures, and fluid (all but gearbox) levels before any drive (other than a quick jaunt to the grocery store) ;)

    It's amazing how much stupid and $$$ damage can be avoided by taking 15 minutes to check these things before you rip and roll.....not to mention the safety issue bonus :).
     

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