So the other day, my brother and I changed out my girlfriends brake pads to her 1995 protege. I made sure everything worked properly and what not. Double checked the lug nuts to make sure they were tight!

Then today her wheel driver side tire falls off! Yikes! The tow truck driver said it was due to the brake pads being too close to the wheel? I was all confused....but the calipers are holding in the brake pads....can anyone tell me why the brake pads affect the tire from coming off?

And yes, I made sure that ALL the lug nuts were tight!

 

it was the axle that crapped out!

 

still dont see how a bad axle would cause the wheel to pop off.

 

holy crap

 

well i was told that the lug studs broke off...

so it could've been the axle or loose lugs. but i tightened everything. tripled check!

 

Maybe you over torqed them.

 

could be? well, its a 50 50 chance. i test drove it and everything and it sounded and felt fine. but then i guess when she was driving on 205 going 65 she started to her noises, the boom, tire flew off!

good thing everyone was ok!

 

Wow that's crazy!

haven't heard of brake pads causing a wheel to fall off... maybe the wheel studs were bad... you may want to check the other 3

 

well the wheel studs are looking pretty bad now. they are all bent and messed up!

 

Glad shes ok.
That happened to someone I worked with but his car rolled 4 times after
the wheel fell off.

Be thankful its just a car it can be replaced her health isn't.