Wheel nut indicators

lfo · 16 February 2015 18:55

Hi,

a friend just attended a DCPC course and it came up that VOSA are really not a fan of wheel nut indicators and that there have been many a report that even with them on and with them remaining static nuts are still coming loose which of course is very dangerous for all.

Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 19:00

LFO:
Hi,

a friend just attended a DCPC course and it came up that VOSA are really not a fan of wheel nut indicators and that there have been many a report that even with them on and with them remaining static nuts are still coming loose which of course is very dangerous for all.

Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks

Static nuts don’t come loose they break
as you have said another load of tripe from a DCPC course

hotel_magnum · 16 February 2015 19:03

I too have encountered wheel nuts rusted onto the studs so tight you cannot move them with a wheel brace, whilst the wheel is loose on the hub, also on the early Volvos the wheel would rust onto the hub and we had a set of cold chisels to force the wheel away, a good earner if someone tried to push the wheel off by turning the wheel towards a block of wood against the chassis as all that did was to ruin the power steering pump.

bobdebouwer · 16 February 2015 19:08

Almost the same thing about “having to torque the wheels every week”

juddian · 16 February 2015 19:26

Few weeks ago did my 6th DCPC module, this time the trainer was an ex VOSA senior TE, learned more from this bloke who was actually worth listening to than the whole previous 35 hours.

I reckon the course your mate attended was similar to my first 5.

gasgas · 16 February 2015 19:30

Wheel nut indicators are not a ‘fit & forget’ device. They can alert you if a nut is coming loose, but VOSA/DVSA will still expect you to include a proper inspection of them as part of your daily check.

You can

Put a socket and short bar on them and feel if they are loose
Tap them with a hammer and listen if they sound dull
Look for visual clues: ie rust around the nut, signs of fretting etc.

So I suspect that what the trainer was getting at was that VOSA don’t see fitting these devices as the ideal solution to wheel nut problems.Having them fitted won’t abrogate you of responsibility if they find a loose nut at the roadside by using one of the three methods outlined above.Regarding wheel nuts, there’s nothing they do at a roadside check that you can’t do yourself as part of a routine check when you take a vehicle over or start a shift. And you should be paid to do this and record it as ‘other work’.

I once asked a VOSA bloke why they got so cross about even one nut. He said he’s seen one thrown off a truck wheel, go through the windscreen of a following car and out through the roof!

lfo · 16 February 2015 20:07

Have not long done the CPC test and the examiner wanted me to say if there are indicators then looking to see if they are in line was the check as the correct answer which I did. So is that wrong then?

radar19 · 16 February 2015 20:11

LFO:
Have not long done the CPC test and the examiner wanted me to say if there are indicators then looking to see if they are in line was the check as the correct answer which I did. So is that wrong then?

You are correct, if the indicators aren’t facing each other that should prompt you to further inspect the nuts.

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 20:12

GasGas:
I once asked a VOSA bloke why they got so cross about even one nut. He said he’s seen one thrown off a truck wheel, go through the windscreen of a following car and out through the roof!

Bloody hell he must have good eyesight … yet they cant see a car with a head light or rear light out

freight_dog · 16 February 2015 20:13

It was probably his windscreen.

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 20:15

Radar19:

LFO:
Have not long done the CPC test and the examiner wanted me to say if there are indicators then looking to see if they are in line was the check as the correct answer which I did. So is that wrong then?

You are correct, if the indicators aren’t facing each other that should prompt you to further inspect the nuts.

some places use yellow for checks and if a wheel has been changed they change one to red meaning it needs further checking …
How many people have had a wheel changed then gone 50k’s/M’s up the road stopped and called for or got out your torque bar to check as that’s what the recommendations from the tyre company’s recommend

bald_bloke · 16 February 2015 20:19

LFO:
Have not long done the CPC test and the examiner wanted me to say if there are indicators then looking to see if they are in line was the check as the correct answer which I did. So is that wrong then?

Nope the arrows should always line up, and if there’s one missing call a tyre fitter out.

cliffstephens · 16 February 2015 20:45

nick2008:

GasGas:
I once asked a VOSA bloke why they got so cross about even one nut. He said he’s seen one thrown off a truck wheel, go through the windscreen of a following car and out through the roof!

Bloody hell he must have good eyesight … yet they cant see a car with a head light or rear light out

Seen a cats eye go through a car windscreen one time that made a hell of mess the woman was in a hell of a state could have done with half a dozen vosa blokes that day …

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 20:52

as above

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 20:52

ruddy net

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 20:54

the one below will do

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 20:54

bald bloke:

LFO:
Have not long done the CPC test and the examiner wanted me to say if there are indicators then looking to see if they are in line was the check as the correct answer which I did. So is that wrong then?

Nope the arrows should always line up, and if there’s one missing call a tyre fitter out.

that don’t always work on DD trailers with tiny wheels so they point them into the middle of the hub

shep532 · 16 February 2015 21:27

Wheel nut indicators are only really of any value when fitted to healthy studs and nuts that have been inspected and then fitted correctly using a torque wrench.

There are circumstances where the indicator will not move but the wheel isn’t clamped and therefore is loose.

They are however a good idea when used in conjunction with proper wheel removal and refitting controls and the work is carried out by people who know what they are doing.

If you watch the VOSA walk round check DVD you’ll hear the guy say that they don’t rely on wheel nut indicators.

I suppose you could say they are just another aid to be used by drivers

nick2008 · 16 February 2015 21:54

shep532:
Wheel nut indicators are only really of any value when fitted to healthy studs and nuts that have been inspected and then fitted correctly using a torque wrench.

There are circumstances where the indicator will not move but the wheel isn’t clamped and therefore is loose.

They are however a good idea when used in conjunction with proper wheel removal and refitting controls and the work is carried out by people who know what they are doing.

If you watch the VOSA walk round check DVD you’ll hear the guy say that they don’t rely on wheel nut indicators.

I suppose you could say they are just another aid to be used by drivers

but then how many drivers crawl under and check air tank straps etc as shown on the tv program last night . the biggest thing is as said correct maintenance … drivers checks will pick up minor stuff and in driving faults…

the_maoster · 16 February 2015 22:32

Lets cut to the chase; does anyone actually care whether VOSA/DVSA are keen or not keen on something? It’s either legal or illegal, no shades of gray, no interpretation by a jiumped up prick with a persecution complex, legal or illegal, that is all.