So is this wheel toast?

That wheel was NOT seated properly for sure,even though the lugs eere tight,after driving it for awhile the wheel corrected itself over time,and BINGO loose lug nuts !

 

This times a million. The hub adapter ring was probably out of position and then when everything shifted into alignment boom loose wheel.

 

For sure !
This is why I double check the mounting if any tire shop messes with my tires and wheels.

 

Couple of thoughts......

1. Scrap that wheel.
2. check the other wheels.
3. verify the lug nuts match the wheels.
4. Verify mount dimensions
5. verify the studs are correct.
6. Verify the modifications are correct.
7. Replace anything that doesn't match or has any doubt.

Tacomas don't normally have disc rotors on the rear axle.

 

Thought has crossed my mind as that being the cause. But you would think that ~4,000 miles of previous driving would have been accompanied by pretty bad vibration and/or funky tire wear.
Also, given the design of the wheel it seems like something I would have noticed.
I wash/detail my own stuff and was up close and personal with the wheels the previous weekend. Yes, they are a giant PITA to clean. In cleaning the barrels of the wheels I have to stick my hands/tools in there. If it was loose it kinda seems like I would have seen it.

Day before I did bottom the truck out pretty hard on a pothole, bad enough to make the radio bezel pop off but I would have thought that would manifest as a bent/broken wheel or flat tire rather then broken studs.

Either way, lesson learned. I will be more diligent about checking lug nuts from here on out. Torque wrench is coming out every time I wash it. Just glad it didn't result in a wrecked truck, death etc...

 

Neither does mine (wish it did). Same ol drums as every other Tacoma made.

 

The pot hole most likely knocked the wheel into the correct seating. If the lug nuts were tight as you say the truck could very well go 4,000 miles without the wheel popping in place,until you hit the pothole,but who really knows for sure.

 

that’s the 4th taco I know that lost/almost lost the back driver wheel @HomerTaco and I were just talking about this the other weekend.

 

Yup. @Littles had that happen too.

 

Interesting.
Everybody on aftermarket wheels?
If so, using spline drive lugnuts?

Reason I ask is that is what is on mine (Gorilla brand)
I am out in the shop putting all new studs in on that corner and replacing all the lugnuts on the truck. Every lugnut I have pulled off so far has had shavings in the threads.

I have a whole nother Tacoma here with aftermarket wheels and the same lugnuts on it. About to pull one of those and see if there is an issue with the lugnuts being too soft or slightly out of spec or if the tire shop boned it and pit crewed my lugnuts with the impact when I got my tires replaced.

Something is fucky.

 

Mine was the back driver wheel. I figured I forgot to torque the lugs afterwards. Now I can blame someone/thing else

 

It's happened to me twice, on two separate wheels (same brand aftermarket Mickey Thompsons), both on the rear drivers side. Lug centric wheels using Gorilla E/T lugnuts P/N 68138L. I always check torque, and none of the other wheels were loose, only the rear drivers side. It's very strange, especially after seeing it happen to several other folks on the SAME location.

I blamed myself too until it happened a second time, now I just check the torque any time I go long distance drives or after a weekend of wheeling. Still not quite sure what the cause was, but had even considered trying something like these but they won't fit since the lugs are recessed in the wheel.

https://www.wheel-check.com/

 

I was super tired when finishing up the lift, so in all honesty......I probably didn't torque the lugs. I will keep an eye on it though.