[s-cars] galvanic corrosion resulting in loose lug nuts: BS

[Craig Lebakken]

David writes:

>A buddy of mine (who is not fortunate enough to have an S-Car) has a B5 A4
> 2.8L. After a recent alignment and tire rotation, he was driving down the
> highway and noticed some serious wheel vibration. Ten seconds later,
> voila,
> the cause is identified -- there's only ONE lug nut left in the driver's
> side front wheel.
>
> He confronted the shop about the missing lug nuts, and they had something
> interesting to say. They say that they properly installed the lug nuts and
> torqued them to spec, but the lug nuts likely fell out due to galvanic
> corrosion.
>
> Here's my question: has anyone heard of this happening? Is this total BS?
> My
> gut instinct is that galvanic corrosion of the wheel wouldn't cause the
> lug
> nuts to unscrew themselves. That, and I've simply never heard of this
> happening despite the fact that there are 100,000s of Avus wheels out on
> the
> road.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> TIA,
> Dave

Doh. This one is great. Does this mechanic have any resemblance to Jon
Lovitz?

That is what I instantly envisioned:

Mechanic, chin in hand, serious thought:

"Mmmmm. Must have been the galvanic corrosion. Yeah! That's it!"

I would love for a mechanic to try to pull that one on me. Might happen on a
car with magnesium wheels that has been languishing in a field for the last
thirty years. NOT on a B5 A4.

Craig Lebakken
94S4