We lost a great FJ-60 today. While on a Sunday Drive in my beutiful, no rust, great running, love of my life...there was an incident. The left rear wheel departed the axle. As I tried to pull onto the right shoulder, the car went airborne and turned 90 degrees to the left leaving me and the driver side facing on comming traffic at 70 mph. I was struck once in the left front quarter by a big Pickup ,and then again in the left rear quarter by a suburban. All bodies involved appear to be OK. But the LC is a gonner. Nothing but a parts car now. I had just had new REVO's put on about 400 miles ago. I have to assume that the tech at Firestone didn't torque the nuts. Has this ever happened to anyone they know? Who needs a formerly great FJ near OHIO? A moment of Silence please.
Man Down
- Thread starter POC-LC
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Sorry to hear about your loss.
I lost a wheel once at 60mph due to some kids practing random vandalism. Shorn through five lugs nuts and pulled the sixth through the stud hole. Not a fun way to spend the evening, but happier results than yours.
I lost a wheel once at 60mph due to some kids practing random vandalism. Shorn through five lugs nuts and pulled the sixth through the stud hole. Not a fun way to spend the evening, but happier results than yours.
yes sue that a****** thats sucks.im sorry ive had it happen at about 65 but i had no troble stopping.but there was no traffic around also.did you get a police report
Wow, glad to hear everyone is okay. Sorry about the 60 
.
Gets harder and harder to trust anyone working on our vehicles but ourselves.
. Gets harder and harder to trust anyone working on our vehicles but ourselves.
hopefully someone there at firestone will stand up and be resonsible... but you have to make sure it was them and no one else.
sorry for you loss man... losing a landcruiser is tough, i know from experience, i sold my fj55 and forever pissed off about it. i'll take a moment for you 60 in silence.
sorry for you loss man... losing a landcruiser is tough, i know from experience, i sold my fj55 and forever pissed off about it. i'll take a moment for you 60 in silence.
Man that sucks bad. Though when it comes to the people involved, I'd much rather have everyone unhurt than a repairable vehicle.
I'd definately pursue that Firestone thing though, which I'm sure you already are. Be nice to get enough money to buy (and build up) another Cruiser. Granted it can never exactly be the one you lost...
I'd definately pursue that Firestone thing though, which I'm sure you already are. Be nice to get enough money to buy (and build up) another Cruiser. Granted it can never exactly be the one you lost...
G'day Poc-Lc,
Just a thought - I assume that the Firestone guy used an incorrectly torqued rattle gun. If so it is logical to assume that the wheel nuts holding on the three remaining wheels will also be incorrectly adjusted.
Would it be possible to find out what the torque setting on the others nuts is to confirm your theory?? Might help your case!
Cheers, Ben
Just a thought - I assume that the Firestone guy used an incorrectly torqued rattle gun. If so it is logical to assume that the wheel nuts holding on the three remaining wheels will also be incorrectly adjusted.
Would it be possible to find out what the torque setting on the others nuts is to confirm your theory?? Might help your case!
Cheers, Ben
zcruiser
Needs monitoring
Wow, can't believe you didn't get maimed in some way....
another testament to the durability and strength of the Landcruiser.
good to hear evryones ok
good to hear evryones ok
60wag
SILVER Star
Bummer. Glad you're OK. The only wheels I've ever had a lug nut come loose on were stock FJ60 wheels. I think it might have something to do with the superior plating job on them. The hard chrome surface in the nut taper allows the nut to slip loose IMHO. I've never had a problem with painted steel, alloy wheels or even the crappy aftermarket chrome things on my old Bronco. The plating was so poor on those, they were covered with rust.
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Wow, that's amazing that you were not seriously injured!
All hail the mighty 60 series <bow heads>, amen.
LMK if you need to dispose of the carcass in Ohio. I'll see that it has a proper burial, after the donation of all useful organs.
All hail the mighty 60 series <bow heads>, amen.
LMK if you need to dispose of the carcass in Ohio. I'll see that it has a proper burial, after the donation of all useful organs.
First off--sorry for the loss. Glad no one was hurt.
Secondly--there are way too many of us losing wheels off of our 60's
Had this happen myself with a fully loaded 60 on the way to Moab. Made it 200 miles on wheels that had the lug nuts tightened hand tight...:whoops:
Had no one to blame but myself however, as I had just installed a lockrite in the rear and forgot to torque the nuts
Quite an experience seeing your tire pass you at 55-60mph at eye level--that thing went another 1/4 mile on its own. Times like that its nice to have friends to retrieve things 
Secondly--there are way too many of us losing wheels off of our 60's
Had this happen myself with a fully loaded 60 on the way to Moab. Made it 200 miles on wheels that had the lug nuts tightened hand tight...:whoops:
Had no one to blame but myself however, as I had just installed a lockrite in the rear and forgot to torque the nuts
Quite an experience seeing your tire pass you at 55-60mph at eye level--that thing went another 1/4 mile on its own. Times like that its nice to have friends to retrieve things
Sorry to hear about what happened, I am glad though that everyone is ok. I am in KY and if you need assistance with anything feel free to contact me
I've had it happen to me, not in a 60 though. I got to do a couple of 360's in the dark and rain on a busy Hwy in Portland and somehow missed everything. When it came to a stop I was 6in from a guard rail and about 2ft from the front bumper a car that was behind me facing the wrong direction in traffic.
My best guess is it was some kids beings stupid because the weekend before I had driven to Vegas and back...
On the Firestone thing I would check your receipt, a lot of time printed on their will be something like "lug nuts must be re-torqued in 100 miles, failure to do so may result in ..." Basically a catch all that keeps them from being responsible for lazy tire monkeys, it might be contestable in court though I don't know?
My best guess is it was some kids beings stupid because the weekend before I had driven to Vegas and back...
On the Firestone thing I would check your receipt, a lot of time printed on their will be something like "lug nuts must be re-torqued in 100 miles, failure to do so may result in ..." Basically a catch all that keeps them from being responsible for lazy tire monkeys, it might be contestable in court though I don't know?
POC,
Glad to hear everyone was alright. That's the main thing. I know it's hard to loose you LC. I almost lost mine a week and a half ago when two idiots pulled across the highway in front of me. I nailed the rear half of the second one as I was headed to the sholder.
FIRESTONE SERVICE SUCKS!!!!!
The last set I had changed at firestone (I solemnly swear I will never return), they mounted the tires w/ the center caps behind the rims. I noticed the ride was "different" on the way home. Once I got it home I started looking around at the wheels to see what might be making is so different. I didn't get a good look before I left the store as it was late and they were closing when they finally finished my 'Cruiser (four hours after I arrived). That's when I realized that the caps were put in from behind the rims. They put the caps behind the rims and then crushed the lug nuts down. I started pulling rims and taking the caps out before I thought about pictures or measurements. I measured the wobble on the last wheel before I took the wheel off. There was more that 3/4" difference top and bottom movement of the wheel. And they were supposed to have checked the alignment too.
I went back the next morning the manager met me walking across the parking lot before I could get into the lobby that was full of customers. I told him what his monkeys had done and he tried to tell me, "that's the way ALL LCs are supposed to be done. I watched him knock the caps through the rims as he took each of them off."
I told him that he did not know what he was talking about and that he had better hope I did not call a lawyer to handle the rest of this repair. I had two of my children in the 'Cruiser w/ me that night and they let me roll out of there knowing that the rims mounted like they were.
Unless some of the other rims are also improperly mounted, I don't know how you can pin-point that the firestone monkeys were the culprits.
I'm sorry about your results. As I kept telling my self after my collision, "When it's all boiled down, it's only metal and chrome. It can be repaired or replaced. At least no one was injured."
Michael R_
'89 FJ62 - The Scout Mobile -- in the shop being repaired.
Glad to hear everyone was alright. That's the main thing. I know it's hard to loose you LC. I almost lost mine a week and a half ago when two idiots pulled across the highway in front of me. I nailed the rear half of the second one as I was headed to the sholder.
FIRESTONE SERVICE SUCKS!!!!!
The last set I had changed at firestone (I solemnly swear I will never return), they mounted the tires w/ the center caps behind the rims. I noticed the ride was "different" on the way home. Once I got it home I started looking around at the wheels to see what might be making is so different. I didn't get a good look before I left the store as it was late and they were closing when they finally finished my 'Cruiser (four hours after I arrived). That's when I realized that the caps were put in from behind the rims. They put the caps behind the rims and then crushed the lug nuts down. I started pulling rims and taking the caps out before I thought about pictures or measurements. I measured the wobble on the last wheel before I took the wheel off. There was more that 3/4" difference top and bottom movement of the wheel. And they were supposed to have checked the alignment too.
I went back the next morning the manager met me walking across the parking lot before I could get into the lobby that was full of customers. I told him what his monkeys had done and he tried to tell me, "that's the way ALL LCs are supposed to be done. I watched him knock the caps through the rims as he took each of them off."
I told him that he did not know what he was talking about and that he had better hope I did not call a lawyer to handle the rest of this repair. I had two of my children in the 'Cruiser w/ me that night and they let me roll out of there knowing that the rims mounted like they were.
Unless some of the other rims are also improperly mounted, I don't know how you can pin-point that the firestone monkeys were the culprits.
I'm sorry about your results. As I kept telling my self after my collision, "When it's all boiled down, it's only metal and chrome. It can be repaired or replaced. At least no one was injured."
Michael R_
'89 FJ62 - The Scout Mobile -- in the shop being repaired.
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My experience with tire shop
When I had my new tires installed, I checked the all the lugs about 2 weeks later. I had thrown two lugnuts each on a different tire. After I calmed down from being mad at the shop. I pulled the paperwork and it clearly said, "please be sure to re-torque the lugnuts if you have aftermarket or chromed rims..." soemthing like that.
I check them religiously now, even though they've been fine since then.
HTH
When I had my new tires installed, I checked the all the lugs about 2 weeks later. I had thrown two lugnuts each on a different tire. After I calmed down from being mad at the shop. I pulled the paperwork and it clearly said, "please be sure to re-torque the lugnuts if you have aftermarket or chromed rims..." soemthing like that.
I check them religiously now, even though they've been fine since then.
HTH
Same thing happened to me in my 62 - all loaded for camping and had my 1 year old on board for her first camping trip. Luckily I was able to keep control of the vehicle as my tire went racing down the freeway.
Had to have new lug bolts put on but other than that, everything was fine.
Sorry to hear about the loss of the 60 but glad you guys surived the wild ride!
Had to have new lug bolts put on but other than that, everything was fine.
Sorry to hear about the loss of the 60 but glad you guys surived the wild ride!
