Cruising down I-5 I spotted a clean-up crew's pile on the shoulder. They put an Olds rally wheel in just the right place so I saw it as I flew past.
I took the next exit and doubled back. (I've got a set of Olds Rallys that need a couple of the trim pieces for the slots)
Grabbed the wheel and went to the shop.
I found that someone was having a bad day when this wheel decided to quit work

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/SsM9lV_huvI/AAAAAAAAD7A/SfPjpVUXafw/s800/IMG_3634.JPG

Looks like the wheel spacer had been rattling loose long enough to fatigue the 5 wheel studs mounting the wheel spacer to the car.
They snapped and the wheel took off. Spacer was attached to the wheel with about 10 lb/ft.
Wide-track look indeed.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/SsM9pAWbK0I/AAAAAAAAD7E/Aar91aZ99LQ/s800/IMG_3647.JPG
Dan

Title of your post made me laugh. Sorry for someones pain glad it wasn't yours.

Must have happened to them at night and they could not find the tire, LOL

People just will not use a torque wrench. Use it or lose it.

-Title... 10
-Fact you went back at night and scavenged a wheel off the fwy...10

Youre alright in my book l:)

Wheel spacers are are like asking for trouble anyway.

At least you got your wheel trim for a nice price.

"You picked a fine time to leave me LooseWheel "

BEST title ever... Ingenious! :hurray:

Wheel spacers are are like asking for trouble anyway.

At least you got your wheel trim for a nice price.

It's not a spacer, it's an adapter. They are used on high performance cars all the time, and function well if installed correctly.

It's not a spacer, it's an adapter. They are used on high performance cars all the time, and function well if installed correctly.

What high performance cars use them?

Unlike a spacer, these adapters have tapered seats and bolt on just like a wheel. Spacers, with long studs, allow things to slip around and put side loads on the studs. A bad thing. I'd lay money that this spacer wasn't torqued down properly. The wheel at 10 foot pounds sure wasn't. Look closely and you can see the chewed up tapers. Wheels not torqued down properly can do the very same thing. I learned this lesson a looooong time ago. Didn't lose a wheel but came close.

What high performance cars use them?

http://www.skulte.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=Customer-Cars

We used wheel spacers all the time in dirt racing, and never had problems. It was a spacer/adapter to go from chevy to ford bolt pattern. They were very popular back in the 90's on Wissota Modifieds