Nick Appleton

This week I officially joined the 'Numpty Club'!

I took my car in for its annual service, only to discover than the last time I removed the wheels to clean them I had HUGELY overtightened the OE locking nuts which had distorted the adapter that goes onto the socket.

I was blissfully unaware of this until Friday, when my friendly local specialist tried
to remove the wheels to get at the cam covers - he managed to remove two of them by hammering a heated socket over them, although obviously the nuts were damaged in the process. For the other two John has had to drill them off - incurring further labour charges for dealing with my stupidity! <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />

So on top of the service cost I have had to buy a new set of locking nuts plus the additional hours of messing around with drills etc.

I am so mad at myself, but it's an expensive lesson learnt.

Just remember that those torque figures are there for a reason and that the nuts are ALUMINIUM which is inherently softer than steel....!!

I going off to pour myself a large drink now and feel sorry for myself!
<img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[oops]" title="" src="graemlins/oops.gif" />

Andy Roe

Nick - never mind, these things happen. I had a similar thing on my last car, but I was lucky enough that my mechanic could get the nuts off.

Imagine if you'd got a flat on that wheel instead!

Andy

John Boggiano

Better than forgetting to tighten them, which I once did, though not on my 964.

Fortunately, the wheel began to wobble before it fell off and there was no damage done!

Lesson learned - don't interrupt a job that you can finish in one hit and ALWAYS check your work.