[s-cars] RETorquing wheels

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Teddy:
I'll repeat the simplest of solutions, which applies spacers or not.

Since my original post, I've seen lots of theories, some make sense, some
don't.  I never looked at this from the "spacer" standpoint, cuz I've had non
spacer wheels with loose wheel bolts (so has audisport and several other race
teams).  The one that seems to make the most sense to me is Bernie's thoughts
that aluminum needs to be retorqued as it heat cycles/remounts.  His thinking
is consistent with my observations that 4 retorques of the wheel bolts after
mounting revealed no further problems, and that the right side wheel I remove
d and remounted after every run group always needed retorquing in the *exact*
same environment.   His thoughts are also consistent with why an M3 also lost
a stock wheel sans spacers.

I've used these spacers at Road America with a lot more braking abuse than
they got at Gingermann.  The *only* variable here from my 12years of track
events, is a very recent (day before) wheel rotation.  Again consistent with
Bernies thoughts.  This track has mostly right turns, which means the wheel
with the most heat cycles/loading was the left side.  Both me and M3 lost
left side wheels.

I appreciate ALL the thoughts here.  My point in the original post was to
have folks (spacers or not) be AWARE that their torque wrench just may not be
a "once and done" track tool.  Many on these lists are looking for the
failure, that doesn't include me.  Stuff happens....  100,000 dollar race
motors fail.  Wheels *can* leave a vehicle on track.  Am I lucky?  I sure
think so.  I also learned, any/all theories aside, the prevention of this
incident again is in the frequency of a tool I already use.

Teddy, I'll remind you that that a slipping wheel (your clamping force
argument appears way flawed to me) would manifest itself in thread imprints
on spacer/brake hub.  There is none. A wheel bolt (conical in this case) is
different from a hex/allen bolt.  It self-centers, and hence, there are 6
"hubcentric rings" on any audi quattro, 5 of them serve a dual purpose.

Blaming spacers, rotor hats, brakes, me or my passengers weight, the cars
weight, or the wheel, is TOTAL and complete speculation.  I think I know what
happened, but really don't care, cuz I know s&*t happens, and I know what I
can do to prevent it from happening again.  Engineer types want to explain
Force Majeur.  All I want is preventive medicine.  The cheapest and most
effective solution IS the most obvious.  No one can argue that point,
personal thoughts on spacers aside.

Scott Justusson




In a message dated 10/16/2002 6:27:07 AM Central Daylight Time,
tedebearp at yahoo.com writes:


scott was very lucky that the loss of a wheel didn't result in the
destruction of his car, or worse, serious injury to himself.  if he
wants to continue using wheel spacers, he should at least give some
thought to using dowels or screws to eliminate one of the shear planes.

as for me, wheel spacers will never find a home on my track car again.

you pays your money, you takes your chances.