Bolts snapped on my HRE 640! - Updated

[rayxi]

I just discovered that I'm missing 5 bolts on my HRE 640. Looks like they snapped because I found one on my driveway (see pic). Could be they were over-torqued by the factory? I bought them privately but they were never mounted by the previous owner.

I've sent an email to HRE asking for replacement bolts but I'll have to wait until Monday to get a reply.

I certainly don't want to drive with the wheel the way it is, though I think I've already driven a few days with it like that. At the same time I'd don't want to remove all the wheels and put on my winters.

Question is can I redistribute some of the bolts so that the missing ones aren't all on one side of the wheel? Perhaps borrow a couple from the other wheel so that I'm missing 3 on one wheel and 2 on the wheel? I have no idea what the safety margin is on these bolts. There's 40 bolts per wheel so I figure 2 or 3 missing is still within the margin of safety.

Also, does anyone know the torque spec on these bolts?

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

UPDATE: See post #25

[Nick-NY]

i would wait for a reply from HRE, i would not even try to drive on them as it could be dangerous, some of the surrounding bolts may have sustained fractures and may break as well, HRE has very good customer service and would not want to stain their reputation.
DO not drive on the wheels!!!

[hayaku]

yep, that sure is a sheared rim half bolt... is there an authorized service center near you? since there is quite a bit missing, i would recommend having it checked for leaks and roundness.

lets see how hre will honor this defect

[JayX5]

geez i thought they'd use top quality bolts for such expensive wheels. oh well

[rayxi]

I agree Nick, the more the more I think about it the less I'm willing to take any chances driving on it. I'll swap out the wheel for a winter wheel until I know what's going on.

hayaku: I don't think the bolt(s) sheared. It looks like a tensile break as it has a slight spiral appearance. I checked the tire pressure as you suggested and it's ok.

[HamannE53]

what size are those wheels, i have the same in 22's and i was told by an HRE dealer when i went to get them polished that once the bolts are removed, you must replace them with new ones. it's very wierd how that happened...how many miles do they have on them?, do you know what might of happened for it to be like that?...pot holes...bolts ever been removed before?...anything interesting how 4 pop out, skips one and another pops out, maybe it wasnt placed on the lip properly or over/under torqed.
i would take a set of wheels that cost 10 grand very seriously, especially when it can endanger your life. you def dont want to drive on that wheel before it gets worst.

DONT DRIVE ON THAT WHEEL!

[dkl]

I'm guessing that part of the bolts are still lodged in the wheel itself? So, even if HRE send you new bolts, how are you going to install the new ones, when part of the old ones are still in there? It would be best if you can find a local dealer and let them "deal" with it.

[rayxi]

HamannE53: The wheels are 20" and I just put them on at the end of April. They have around 4000km on them. I also thought it was strange how that one bolt is still on there. The nuts on the back side are self locking and I don't think they can be reused once the lock part has been crushed once. I can't think of a reason why the bolts couldn't be reused if they haven't been overtorqued.

dkl: The bolts holes go clean through and have a nut on the other side so there's nothing stuck inside. They're not like the lug bolts.

I got a reply from the VP of Sales saying he forwarded the issue to engineering. We'll see what happens.

[cmyX6go]

Sorry Ray, that sucks!

[HamannE53]

keep us posted, and good luck!