Technical 3 wheel nuts in all 4 wheels, is it safe?

[spongmonkey]

Hi chaps, i've lost my locking wheel nut removal tool, if i get the garage to remove them for me, is it safe to run the car about on 3 nuts in each wheel while i wait for my new set to arrive?

 

[littleyellowcar]

i very much doubt it - i reckon if you were to have an accident, the insurance inspector would void your insurance.

why not just buy a set from a local motor factor???

 

[arc]

why not wait for the new set before removing the old ones?

 

[spongmonkey]

the car is booked into the garage on monday for an MOT and some other work so thought it would save another trip. the nuts will be here by the end of next week.

 

[Bushboy]

ive been doing this for months... the screw thread for one of my rear bolts is buggered so i cant screw in a bolt without gettin a new hub... which i cant be bothered to do at the moment cuase i work all the time ..

but ive never had any probs

 

[paul_treg]

Hi,
I think littleyellowcar is right, your insurance company would walk away with a big smile if you had a bump.
Why not buy some standard wheel bolts from fiat or go to the local breakers and find some, buy two, stick two in your pocket sort of thing......would be better theft detterant than no bolt, they would only have to undo three bolts before running off with your wheel otherwise...

Paul T

 

[thefishdude]

would it be safe temporarily?? = yes it would most likely just dont do any rallying.

would it bugger your insurance if crashed = yes if it was seriour and they found out at repair center.

solution = go to scrap yard unscrew 4 bolts from another car like yours sling the owners a £1 and walk out.

 

[crasin]

I personnely would go with the scrappie idea as a couple of quid max aint gonna hurt no one but if your cought on a routine stop check and the old bill check ur tyres and happen to notice the bolts missing can't imagine they will be to impressed plus the safety side aswell is it really worth the risk?

 

[The Negotiator]

I am sure 4 wheels with 1 missing over time is a bad idea...the possible movement with mileage could cause them to come lose much more easily.

My dad did it on his Scenic when a garage cross threaded one nut, he drove down with 3/4 left (i think there are 5 but just incase I will say it was possible 3) on one of the wheels 1.5 miles to the garage to get them to sort it out, he tightened them very tightly of course. I think it's a bad idea for lots of reasons to do it as you say.

 

[littleyellowcar]

why not put the spare wheel on?? that has its own bolts and you can use the 3 left from the wheel you take off to secure the other 3 wheels properly (that is presuming you have a sporting)

job done, no extra cost.

 

[The Negotiator]

The spare has it's own spare bolts?? I am confused now, if it did, wouldn't you just use those 4 spares on the 4 with only 3?

 

[littleyellowcar]

the spare on a sporting is a steel wheel, and the original ones are alloys. The alloys are much wider so the bolts for the spare are much shorter

 

[The Negotiator]

Ah cool, good point then! Extremely good idea. Is it a proper spare of space saver?

 

[littleyellowcar]

its 13" like the normal wheels but has a skinny tyre. its not 1 thats advised not to be driven over 50mph, so a proper, smaller tyre.

 

[The Negotiator]

Well this sounds like the best idea? COmment of the night for me!

 

[smurfhead]

The bike wheel as I call it. hehe.

A set of 4 bolts new is only £2.99 from my local motorfactor. Check yours out. Is cheap, simple and effective and will get you through the MOT.

 

[Fuct_it_up]

spare has its own bolts??? mine doesnt, the standard alloy bolts fit just fine. Unfortunately i'd thrown out the standard bolts as my new loys have different ones, but realised that the new bolts dont fit the spare when i had a puncture day b4 yesterday. woopsie. lesson learned - never throw anything away, ever, no matter how useless it seems.

 

[Liam]

LYC, you've got new wheels though now which use their own bolts, spare wheel in sportings including Sei's uses the bolts from the wheel which you'd remove.

Liam

 

[littleyellowcar]

liam, my spare has its own bolts that are shorter than the ones used on the alloys - i was told by fiat these were for the spare due to the difference in wheel "thickness"

 

[Liam]

OK, none with mine and I'm sure you'll find yourself to be unique with these.

Liam