Center Lock Wheel Came Loose
Discussion
Just a heads up for anyone with center lock wheels.
Recently had some work carried out by an OPC on the rear suspension on my 997 GTS.
Yesterday the right rear wheel started making a really strange squeaky groany noise. At first I thought it was just a stone stuck in the calliper or behind the brake disk shield. I tried the usual reversing and going forward again to see if that fixed it. No luck.
At this point I though it sounded a bit more serious than a trapped stone and I started to suspect the wheel might actually be loose. But how could that happen? It had only just been in to an OPC and had all the wheels off......
I marked the wheel nut and the wheel, drove a couple of miles, and checked the wheel again.
The wheel nut had moved.
Of course, this didn't happen just around the corner. It was 9pm on a Friday evening 145 miles from home. Deep joy.
I called Porsche Assist and initially they booked me a transporter, but the guy who called back to confirm the transporter was actually open to suggestion and used a bit of common sense. The obvious issue is that in order to get the nut tightened back on you need 6ft torque bar that goes up to 600nm. Something that isn't on the regular breakdown truck. The actual tool isn't an issue as that is the front boot. It's the bar that's the problem.
The Porsche Assist guy (thanks John if you are reading) suggested that he try a commercial assistance company they use for other breakdown stuff. They work on trucks, so use massive torque bars all the time.
Within 5 minutes I had a guy in a van with the requesit bar there at the car. Amazing. As it happens I couldn't have been luckier. I'd pulled up about 300 yards from his depot...
The rear nut was surprisingly loose. I could probably have turned it by hand if it was jacked up... The nut on the other side was also slightly loose. Certainly not tightened to 600nm. Both fronts were tight.
Obviously I'm going to be having words with the OPC that carried out the work. I believe that the car now needs to have the hub, bearings, wheel and drive bolts inspected now that it has been driven with a loose wheel. Can't wait...
Jack
Recently had some work carried out by an OPC on the rear suspension on my 997 GTS.
Yesterday the right rear wheel started making a really strange squeaky groany noise. At first I thought it was just a stone stuck in the calliper or behind the brake disk shield. I tried the usual reversing and going forward again to see if that fixed it. No luck.
At this point I though it sounded a bit more serious than a trapped stone and I started to suspect the wheel might actually be loose. But how could that happen? It had only just been in to an OPC and had all the wheels off......
I marked the wheel nut and the wheel, drove a couple of miles, and checked the wheel again.
The wheel nut had moved.
Of course, this didn't happen just around the corner. It was 9pm on a Friday evening 145 miles from home. Deep joy.
I called Porsche Assist and initially they booked me a transporter, but the guy who called back to confirm the transporter was actually open to suggestion and used a bit of common sense. The obvious issue is that in order to get the nut tightened back on you need 6ft torque bar that goes up to 600nm. Something that isn't on the regular breakdown truck. The actual tool isn't an issue as that is the front boot. It's the bar that's the problem.
The Porsche Assist guy (thanks John if you are reading) suggested that he try a commercial assistance company they use for other breakdown stuff. They work on trucks, so use massive torque bars all the time.
Within 5 minutes I had a guy in a van with the requesit bar there at the car. Amazing. As it happens I couldn't have been luckier. I'd pulled up about 300 yards from his depot...
The rear nut was surprisingly loose. I could probably have turned it by hand if it was jacked up... The nut on the other side was also slightly loose. Certainly not tightened to 600nm. Both fronts were tight.
Obviously I'm going to be having words with the OPC that carried out the work. I believe that the car now needs to have the hub, bearings, wheel and drive bolts inspected now that it has been driven with a loose wheel. Can't wait...
Jack
Hi Jackwood, its not the torque setting that causes the wheel to come loose,it is the locking mechanism that must be in the correct position, please remove the centre cap and see if the middle splined spindle is in the correct position, flush with end of splines and not sunk in a little bit.
I can send you a picture if you are not sure.
Chris
I can send you a picture if you are not sure.
Chris
Hi,
All the safety locks are now engaged. I checked them last night before I put the caps back on. Obviously I hadn't checked them after the OPC had carried out their work...
My understanding is that they just stop the nut coming off altogether. They don't actually "lock" the nut into place and stop it moving. they are more a failsafe.
Jack
All the safety locks are now engaged. I checked them last night before I put the caps back on. Obviously I hadn't checked them after the OPC had carried out their work...
My understanding is that they just stop the nut coming off altogether. They don't actually "lock" the nut into place and stop it moving. they are more a failsafe.
Jack
Jack - remember that the nuts can only be correctly torqued up whilst the car is elevated (not say on the road) so if they were sat on the road when done try not to use the car very much until checked whilst jacked up.
My guess is that the locking mechanism wasn't in correct position as they can be a bit of a fiddle. And you're very lucky you didn't lose a wheel!
My guess is that the locking mechanism wasn't in correct position as they can be a bit of a fiddle. And you're very lucky you didn't lose a wheel!
I would have thoughts (hoped) OPC's would have had this stuff sussed by now...i have seen two or three cars return from service with the saftey locker not in place correctly but this was a couple of years ago. However it will be interesting what they have to report when the car gets the once over. If they are done up to the requisite 600nm i cant see them coming loose at all, regardless of the saftey locker, sounds like they may not have been tightened properly in the first place to me?
A GT3 had a smilar problem at Dijon on a track day i attended .
He wasn't as lucky as you , the wheel came so loose that it moved and sheared one of the bolts securing the red locater lugs , that dropped into the hub behind and they had to remove the whole hub assembly to fix it ( at the track )
He wasn't as lucky as you , the wheel came so loose that it moved and sheared one of the bolts securing the red locater lugs , that dropped into the hub behind and they had to remove the whole hub assembly to fix it ( at the track )
I hate the idea of centre lock wheels on road cars. Having spent my whole career dealing with issues with them on racing cars (BTCC, F1) I wouldn't want them anywhere near my road car. The only advantage is for quick pitstops. The disadvantage is that they have a tendency to come loose for all sorts of reasons.
So I fired off an email to the OPC on Saturday morning not expecting a reply until today. Within 5 minutes I had the service manager in the phone apologising profucely and asking what I needed doing to put this right.
The car was collected by Porsche Assistance this morning and returned to the OPC for an inspection to check the condition of the hub, bearing, wheel and drive bolts.
I believe any company should be given the opportunity to put right a mistake and that they should be judged on how they go about rectifying a problem or issue.
So far I have nothing but praise for how the OPC have handled this situation. Very encouraging.
The car was collected by Porsche Assistance this morning and returned to the OPC for an inspection to check the condition of the hub, bearing, wheel and drive bolts.
I believe any company should be given the opportunity to put right a mistake and that they should be judged on how they go about rectifying a problem or issue.
So far I have nothing but praise for how the OPC have handled this situation. Very encouraging.
jackwood said:
So I fired off an email to the OPC on Saturday morning not expecting a reply until today. Within 5 minutes I had the service manager in the phone apologising profucely and asking what I needed doing to put this right.
The car was collected by Porsche Assistance this morning and returned to the OPC for an inspection to check the condition of the hub, bearing, wheel and drive bolts.
I believe any company should be given the opportunity to put right a mistake and that they should be judged on how they go about rectifying a problem or issue.
So far I have nothing but praise for how the OPC have handled this situation. Very encouraging.
Other than the fault not occurring in the first place Jack I dong think you could ask for anymore than they are doing for you. The car was collected by Porsche Assistance this morning and returned to the OPC for an inspection to check the condition of the hub, bearing, wheel and drive bolts.
I believe any company should be given the opportunity to put right a mistake and that they should be judged on how they go about rectifying a problem or issue.
So far I have nothing but praise for how the OPC have handled this situation. Very encouraging.
A refreshing change and I hope it's all sorted quickly for you.
chrisABP said:
jackwood said:
So I fired off an email to the OPC on Saturday morning not expecting a reply until today. Within 5 minutes I had the service manager in the phone apologising profucely and asking what I needed doing to put this right.
The car was collected by Porsche Assistance this morning and returned to the OPC for an inspection to check the condition of the hub, bearing, wheel and drive bolts.
I believe any company should be given the opportunity to put right a mistake and that they should be judged on how they go about rectifying a problem or issue.
So far I have nothing but praise for how the OPC have handled this situation. Very encouraging.
Other than the fault not occurring in the first place Jack I dong think you could ask for anymore than they are doing for you. The car was collected by Porsche Assistance this morning and returned to the OPC for an inspection to check the condition of the hub, bearing, wheel and drive bolts.
I believe any company should be given the opportunity to put right a mistake and that they should be judged on how they go about rectifying a problem or issue.
So far I have nothing but praise for how the OPC have handled this situation. Very encouraging.
A refreshing change and I hope it's all sorted quickly for you.
t happens, it is all in how they handle the situation and rectify it that defines a proper customer service ethic.Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff