Wheel nuts coming loose on track

[Fantom]

I have a very annoying problem. And a bit worrying too. For the second time, my first session on a track day was halted by my front wheels coming loose.
Now admittedly I didn't torque them up before going out but they were torqued up not long before.
I had a 2 hour trip on the motorway to the track, but no problems.
After the first session when they came loose, I torqued them up before each time I went out and had no further problems. Only the drivers side had a minute amount of turning when torqueing up again.

As far as I'm aware I have completely standard ph1 wheel bolts. And I have OZ Superleggeras which can't be too different to the standard OZ F1?

Any ideas how I can sort this? Its a bit worrying really. Hopefully its only a track problem and not a road one.

I was planning on buying some bolt to hub spacers but this has made that seem like a bad idea

 

[Daniel]

Either a hub problem (Getting a bit more common if you search the forum, maybe to do with age now?) or the wheels have been refurbed and the paint/powdercoat is causing the bolts to unwind. Ideally the bolt collars should be seated against the bare metal of the wheel.

 

[Matt e]

Would studs be better? You can loctite them in the hub and shouldn't come undone

 

[Fantom]

Tempted by studs but its another cost on what's supposed to be a budget car.

Daniel you are right about the powder coating. That's what caused it the first time. But I think it's all melted now. Ill have to inspect the wheels.
I guess with spacers I could loctite them in the hub

 

[Kelv]

I've found that wheel nuts can become a little loose on trackdays, I always check mine after a couple of session.
​just false of habit now.

 

[aucky]

Have the wheels been refurbed? Paint on the taper will melt when hot and allow the bolts to undo.

 

[Matt e]

Studs are are like are £1, nuts are the same

 

[Fraser.J.]

Studs are are like are £1, nuts are the same

Yes cheap ones are.

Proper kit is £130, pure Motorsport kit. I got them for the ph1 when I bought there exhaust, never regretted it yet and after 3 trackdays I've never had an issue with em.

 

[.GAZ.]

The problem with the wheel nuts is, they get very hot and the metal shrinks. Just check them before every session and check your temps at the same time.

 

[Daniel]

Metal expands when it heats up Gaz.

Did you not go to school? Or we're you too busy in the tuck shop?

 

[.GAZ.]

Sorry, the hub expands..

 

[Fantom]

I guess I'll just have to make sure I torque them up regularly then.

​

 

[aucky]

I guess I'll just have to make sure I torque them up regularly then.

​

Not when hot!

 

[Fraser.J.]

Not when hot!

Yup you'll stretch them

 

[Pistachio]

How do wheel nuts get very hot?

 

[Fraser.J.]

Heat from tyres/brakes

 

[Pistachio]

Yea but very hot??

 

[M26]

The hub, disc, wheel, bolts etc are all connected. Heat conducts. Brakes give off some amount of heat, especially on a track day.

 

[ben lee]

check the pitch of the tread on the bolts to make sure they haven't worn or been over torqued.

what torque setting are you using?

 

[Fantom]

I'm sure I read on here what torque to use. Can't remember now. 100nm maybe?

 

[Fraser.J.]

I couldn't touch my wheel stud on Friday agter I'd be on track, very very hot!! Think of how hard your braking on track!

I use 110nm

 

[Chip-mk1]

Studs will undo too, the only answer I have found is to torque them up slightly more than normal before you go out and then after your first session nip them up again.

 

[Advikaz]

Yea but very hot??

Plus the wheel bearings not being far away transferring heat through the hub.

 

[aucky]

Yea but very hot??

f**king hot!

I'm sure I read on here what torque to use. Can't remember now. 100nm maybe?

I think it's 110NM iirc

 

[James28]

Mine did this when the break discs were warped ever so slightly. That wasn't on track though.

 

[PBCup]

I had this at donny last year. Could barely do 20mins without the front left wheel coming loose. I've got pms studds now which I hope will help.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Front left is always the worst one. Even on lefthand bend biased tracks but even more so on righthand bend ones.

 

[Jonny1*2]

As said, studs would do the same. Just over torque the bolts slightly but when the car is cold as you could snap a bolt. Are you sure they are loose or is it just when you check them while warm?

 

[Fraser.J.]

Never had any issues with bolts or my stud kit over the 7 track days I've done this year.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Never had any issues with bolts or my stud kit over the 7 track days I've done this year.

Well pedal harder and then you will

 

[Fraser.J.]

Only 1-2 second slower than the mini coppers and fiesta sts that actually race at knockhill so must be doing something right