To not want to go back to the garage?

[Roififfufu]

I’m feeling really shaken today. Yesterday I came home from a holiday four hours away. I drove on the motorway for the first 100 miles, and then thankfully turned off ten miles early to have lunch in the countryside. I then made the decision to come home via country roads instead of rejoining the motorway.

Five minutes after leaving lunch, going 60mph on an A road, the car suddenly swerved into oncoming traffic and I couldn’t get it under control. There was a lorry coming towards me but thankfully, somehow, whether through his actions or mine, we didn’t collide and I finally slowed the car and parked and rang breakdown. I looked at the wheels and one was completely bent out of shape.

When they arrived they took the covers off the wheels and it revealed that two of the four bolts were entirely out, one was very loose and just holding the wheel on, and the fourth had snapped under the pressure of being the only one properly connected, and when it snapped it caused the swerving. I can’t stop thinking about if the car had swerved ten seconds later into the lorry, or if I hadn’t decided to turn off the motorway early.

The tyre of that wheel was changed by the garage as part of the car’s MOT two weeks ago.

Anyway, people are telling me to take it back and that the garage should be providing a new wheel (the metal had contorted under the strain and I drove home with the spare wheel on). I know the garage has taken on a 19ish man who they seem to be training up, and he was the one who told me which tyre had been changed so I assume he did the work. But 1. I think the garage will be arsey and try and deny responsibility and 2. I really don’t trust this garage any more.

The breakdown mechanic said I should tell them so they can get more training. Should I bother taking it back to them? I still feel really shaken by it all.

Every time I get a wheel changed you are supposed to go back after after so many miles to get the bolts tightened. I’ve been told between 50-100 by different places. It’s often printed on the invoice/ receipt. Didn’t they say?

You’re meant to check the bolts yourself 50-100 miles after having a tyre changed.

No, they didn’t. They changed two this year and two last year and never said. Nor did the breakdown mechanic.

You’re meant to carry out regular safety checks on the car yourself as well.

by the fact you needed a tyre change during an MOT I’m going to assume you don’t bother.

they will have something that absolves them from responsibility.

Of course tell the garage! What if the trainee isn’t tightening the nuts right and nobody has realised? If nobody tells him then he’ll just keep doing it wrong and somebody could get killed.

Okay, well thanks for that irrelevant comment.

Never heard of this either. Will have to check mine

Yeah, this is what the breakdown mechanic said. I might tell the garage, but take the car to a different garage to actually get the repair done.

I’ve never checked the bolts in 30 years of driving. I had no idea. I’ve had various tyres changed in that time at different garages and different cars. How have I never heard this before?

Yes definitely tell the garage in case it's due to the trainee needing more training and checking. Go elsewhere in future. It sounds really frightening.

I don’t know, but the RAC mechanic didn’t say anything about it needing to have been checked. He said that they hadn’t been tightened properly.

It was absolutely terrifying. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever drive on a motorway again.

I bought a new tyre recently and it was printed on bottom of receipt. Check wheel nuts after 100 miles. I was told it used to be a big safety check by a mechanic in years gone by but normally nuts are put on using a tool there days so extra tight but better safe than sorry and to always check , he told me to bring it back after 50 miles. Tyre place will check for free if they put them on.

The garage I use hang one of these from the rear view mirror if they remove wheels for anything.

A previous garage had it printed on the bottom of the paperwork.

It's really the driver's responsibility, but if they're not actually telling you at all - rather than you've not read a footnote on the invoice or something - then that's really really bad.

Clearly have too much time on my hands but the Highway Code says you should check especially after being changed as nuts can stretch when being tightened then loosen due to vibration.

I do think all drivers should probably have to do some sort of basic mechanic course just to learn to do safety checks. To reinforce theory learning of Highway Code. I didn’t and learnt much from YouTube over the years there was talk of adding it to the test years ago when I sat it.

Having your wheel nuts tightened after 50 miles is an old procedure that is no longer necessary but still adhered to. Yes you should check your vehicle before you go anywhere OP but this one’s not on you.

The simple fact is the trainee did not tighten the nuts to the correct torque. You not only need to go back and tell them but you will also need to be compensated for any damage to your vehicle. Don’t assume there is none. Make if clear a nice visit from VOSA could be on the cards if they don’t assist you.

Please do feedback if you go for this option, OP. 😂

Given this is still a question on the theory test, it’s not “outdated”, nor will the garage be liable if you’ve driven hundreds of miles without checking that the wheels will keep your car on the road.

theorytest.org.uk/youve-had-to-change-a-wheel-on-your-vehicle-when-should-the-wheel-nuts-be-checked-again/

Every garage I've ever used has had a note at the bottom of the invoice saying the nuts need to be checked after 50 miles or similar. Can't say I've ever done it, but I know I should...

@Lovelysummerdays the nuts being too tight can be just as bad as them being loose - it could put too much pressure on the wheel / hub and cause them to break. They should always torque the bolts to the manufacturer's pressure, which can differ quite a bit. I had a Peugeot that stated 100nm then a BMW that was 140nm - wildly different!

I've never needed bolts retightened.

My DB once got his tyres changed, left the tyre place & a few km's down the road saw a wheel rolling along the road.... It was his. Yes, he gave the garage an absolute mouthful for it, and made them fix it for free.

If you don't have much faith, get them to fix it free, then pay another mechanic to check it.

Ask me who I work for. I dare you.

Whatttt? I've been driving 20+ years and I've never been told this.

Also news to me about checking – my car doesn’t even have a spare wheel and therefore no jack, lug wrench etc.

That sounds absolutely terrifying @Roififfufu and I don’t blame you for not wanting to go back. I hope you’re ok driving again

You must have done a considerable amount of driving in the 2 weeks since it was changed. I mean 200 miles round trip to a holiday for starters.
Everything I can find online says that you must check your wheel nuts 30 to 50 miles after a wheelchange because it takes a while for everything to settle back into posotion. I confess I don't do this, but I think my dh regularly checks the wheel nuts on all our cars

It wasn’t a 200 mile round trip. It was 100 miles on the motorway.

But you must have done 100 miles+ to get where you were going.

And it was 4 hours away, so further than 100 miles each way. 100 miles of motorway driving would take less than 2 hours under normal driving conditions.