2001 XC70 lug bolts coming loose?

Joe Hurless · Post by **Joe Hurless** » 17 Jun 2010, 21:07

I have a friend with a 2001 XC70 who gets his car serviced regularly at a highly reputable shop in town. Recently he had a wheel come loose after some brake work. The car was towed back to the shop who quickly picked up the car, examined it, and retorqued the wheels to 105 lbs.

A week later the same thing happened, a nasty vibration occurred and the lugs were, again, loose. I have heard this happening before as well.

The lug bolts seem normal enough, but they are not the new style lugs with the spinning washers on them.

Is there some sort of issue with the old style lug bolts? The second time he took the car to the shop they torqued them to 125 lbs... which seems to have worked, but the factory torque rating is 100 lbs... so what is going on here?

We also recently called the dealer to try to buy him a new set of lugs and noticed they do not sell the old style bolts, only the ones with spinning washers... which is fine, but why discontinue the other ones?

Is there a known issue with early 00's v70/xc70 lug bolts?

850 Turbo1 · Post by **850 Turbo1** » 18 Jun 2010, 06:43

I doubt that there is a known issue with the lugs. If there were that would be(SHOULD BE) a MAJOR safety recall.

I know a mechanic who used to work for Firestone just a year ago. He told me a story where they had an APPRENTICE (1st year) torque down(or not) the lug nuts of the wheel .

Customer pulls out of the garage after brake work is completed and heads for work. That afternoon the customer causes a serious accident where 2 cars are totaled....his and another person's!

Cause of the problem lug nuts popped off. Why? They were never tightened. No mechanic checked the apprentice's work.

The apprentice's work should have been checked and double checked by a mechanic.

The Garage denies all charges and is being sued in court.

They are saying that for all they know this customer could have had work done later that day.

Moral of the story?

I think we should NEVER trust any mechanic let alone an apprentice torque down lug nuts with out checking and double checking. What I will personally do from now on is carry a torque wrench when I intend to have work that involves removal of the wheels. This way I can check how torqued the wheels are as soon as I pull out of the garage.

ALSO AVOID THESE TIRE SHOPS/OIL CHANGE PLACES AT ALLLLLLLLLL COSTS!

Those horror stories never end.

Joe are you sure they were torqued down the right way?

Happy motoring!

billr99 · Post by **billr99** » 18 Jun 2010, 19:40

I've had quite a few Volvos over the years with all of them having the old style lug bolts. None of them have ever experienced loosening and that is with a torque of about 90 ft/lbs. I also use anti-seize on them to combat the effects of the salt air. I would question the mechanics' work in this case. Perhaps their measuring devices are not properly calibrated.

Cheers,

Bill

jjaV70T · Post by **jjaV70T** » 21 Jun 2010, 17:23

I agree with Bill, torqued at 100 ft lb and lugs come loose, How many? one wheel, all wheels, I use white grease.,,BEST!

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 21 Jun 2010, 17:42

The lugs should not be coming loose at all. I agree with 850 Turbo, you should have another mechanic check out the work that was done.

Retired MVS Contributor · Post by **Retired MVS Contributor** » 21 Jun 2010, 20:41

The lug bolts are tapered to produce a longer contact surface and provide high friction locking into the wheel...If the car was driven a considerable distance with loose lug bolts, and the wheels are alloy, which are softer than steel, then the lug holes in the wheel might have become worn and elongated...If that happened, then maybe the threads of the bolts are bottoming out before the head of the bolt is coming into contact with the wheel...Look for a build up of burrs around the back of the holes in the wheel...

Retired MVS Contributor · Post by **Retired MVS Contributor** » 21 Jun 2010, 20:45

On further thought, since the bolts are tapered, they produce a wedging action when they are tightened...If they are over-torqued, this could crack the wheel around the holes...

billr99 · Post by **billr99** » 22 Jun 2010, 18:24

I'd have to look again, but don't the alloy wheels have a steel insert in the seat? I thought sure that the Volans I had on my R did and I thought I saw them on the ones on my XC. Have to admit though that I didn't look hard.

Cheers,

Bill

Retired MVS Contributor · Post by **Retired MVS Contributor** » 22 Jun 2010, 18:49

Could be, I don't know, but I have heard horrow stories about over-zealous tire shop monkeys ruining expensive mags with impact wrenches...