Front Wheel Shaft Sheered Off

I recently lost a front tire on my Toyota Tacoma 2001 truck as I was driving 55 mph on a main highway in the fast lane. The truck has 216,000 miles and it was serviced at a local shop right before it occurred. It was not from lug nuts not tight it was due to heat melted the center shaft that is between the inner and outer bearings. The wheel got so hot inside this cavity that it melted to the point where it just melted off. As it flew off and hit my quarter panel and wheel well causing body damage I noticed the center of the tire was on fire as it rolled next to me. The local shop replaced the calipers, brake pads and rotors. When the tire flew off all the above items were still bolted to the tire and it ripped the brake line right off the caliper leaving me with no brakes. Due to this excessive heat I can only conclude that due to the symptoms I have been having over the last week such as wobbly wheels in the front and lost of power, this local shop misdiagnosed these problems as being a caliper instead of wheel bearings (I presume?). In any case is this a common thing to happen if the wheel bearings start to wear? Or is this due to possibly degreaser getting into the outer wheel bearing causing it to run dry? In otherwords, does anyone else have a similar issue with the shaft of the front tires sheering off due to excessive heat? And if so do you think it was due to the wheel bearings were just worn but still lubricated or where they dry?

Note: The local shop has agreed to pay for all costs including towing, rental, body work and the extensive repairs to the vehicle and thank God no one was hit or injuried. It is a great running truck and I love it. New under frame, new shocks, and alot of other new parts - I figure this truck should still have a few 200,000 miles in it. What do you think?

 

Could have been your balljoints or tie rods

 

woulnd need pics... doesnt sound right...

 

Sounds confusing.


Same thing happened to my friend's 4runner but his didn't fly off. His passenger wheel locked up.

He repacked bearings and over torqued nut way too much...too much resistance and was goin like 80 on a road..and his passenger wheel locked up.

Bearing dried out..forced all grease out. Heated up, welded itself to his cv/hub.


Dumbass.
Told him he torqued it too much.

"Nah man its good..its good"

2 days later when he drives the truck fast for the first time.

 

Something like this happened to me just recently, mine was due to a tie rod breaking. Luckily mine didn't cause that much damage.

 

I think it might of been the wheel bearings - but all I know is that the tire flew off and hit the wheelwell and quarter panel just like yours did.

 

+1 for nobody getting really hurt!!

 

damn thats scarey...