[Acura604]

Courtesy of CTV - although most likely an isolated incident.

A Vancouver musician is upset with the reaction he’s received from a major Canadian automotive store, after the wheels on his car flew off in what could have been a deadly accident.
James Justin took his 1997 Volkswagon Golf into Canadian Tire in White Rock in July to get his brakes checked.
The estimate was expensive, so Justin decided to have his own mechanic do the work instead, and asked Canadian Tire to put the wheels back on. He then drove away.
Justin had just pulled off the highway, and was blocks away from his Vancouver home, when disaster struck.
“I felt my back wheels. I was starting to lose control in some way, so I did a right shoulder check, was pulling over to the inside lane when everything came apart," he said.
Justin’s car smashed to the ground when both rear wheels flew off. One rolled into oncoming traffic while the other ended up in a public park.
"It honestly felt like I was in a cartoon. The undercarriage of the car is hitting the cement. It hit with a jolt. Then watching my wheels roll off in front of me. It's a bit of a shock, isn't it?" said Justin.
The car was damaged, but Justin knows it could have been a lot worse.
"When you look at the idea, on the highway you're traveling 100 kilometres an hour, vehicles behind, in front, anything could have happened. You're looking at serious injuries to multiple fatalities," he said.
At first, Justin says the general manager of the White Rock Canadian Tire was apologetic, and arranged to get him a rental car. But the Vancouver man only recently got his damaged Volkswagen back from the insurance company that took over the file from Canadian Tire and he's still waiting for compensation.
"Eight weeks later this case is still ongoing, out of pocket expenses, for towing, rental vehicles,” he said.
After Steele on Your Side made several requests for an interview with Canadian Tire, the company’s public relations department emailed to say they were unable to provide a spokesperson to speak on the issue.
But CTV emailed photos of the incident to Canadian Tire's CEO, appealing to him to take a closer look at Justin’s case. The company's VP of communications, Robert Nicol, emailed back to say: "We're very disappointed to hear about this incident. It's simply not acceptable," and that "we acted quickly to investigate and immediately apologized to the customer."
Justin says he’s pleased the company is now getting involved with his situation and hopes new measures can be put in place so that a similar situation does not happen again.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.1476646!/httpImage/image.gif_gen/derivatives/landscape_300/image.gif
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[smoothie.]

*Justin decided to have his own mechanic do the work instead, and asked Canadian Tire to put the wheels back on. *


What doesn't seem right here?
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[boostfever]

*Justin decided to have his own mechanic do the work instead, and asked Canadian Tire to put the wheels back on. *


What doesn't seem right here?
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Canadian Tire didn't torque his wheels. Not very hard to understand...

This happens a lot unfortunately. Had a similar incident with an E36 M3 from work on the way back from Big-O Tires in West Van. I found out sooner though and pulled over and tighten all the nuts.

[kr4l]

Canadian Tire didn't torque his wheels. Not very hard to understand...

He has is own mechanic, yet went to Canadian tire.. Why?
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[BrRsn]

*Justin decided to have his own mechanic do the work instead, and asked Canadian Tire to put the wheels back on. *


What doesn't seem right here?
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He was driving home from canadian tire, after deciding it'd be better to have his own mechanic fix it another day.

Worded poorly.

I've had some great experiences with canadian tire lol -- guess it's hit and miss. Some asshole cut the valve stems off my new car a few years back, guy at canadian tire fixed it for free

[tipy]

crappy tire ftw:suspicious:

[multicartual]

He was driving home from canadian tire, after deciding it'd be better to have his own mechanic fix it another day.

Worded poorly.

I've had some great experiences with canadian tire lol -- guess it's hit and miss. Some asshole cut the valve stems off my new car a few years back, guy at canadian tire fixed it for free


I had an incident with a broken axle in Penticton years ago, was stranded and needed to get back to work in like 24 hours. The manager of the Canadian Tire's shop actually pulled an all-nighter to get my car fixed, charged me the normal rate, and even drove the car out to where I was staying so I could get back in time so I didn't get fired.

So many good experiences with Canadian Tire over the years :)

[Splinter]

Stuff like this can happen anywhere. Turns out mechanics are human beings too, regardless of who their employer is.

Clearly it's not acceptable, but when something like this happens at a big chain, it doesn't mean all the mechanics at all the locations of that chain are going to do the same thing.

[dared3vil0]

I had an incident with a broken axle in Penticton years ago, was stranded and needed to get back to work in like 24 hours. The manager of the Canadian Tire's shop actually pulled an all-nighter to get my car fixed, charged me the normal rate, and even drove the car out to where I was staying so I could get back in time so I didn't get fired.

So many good experiences with Canadian Tire over the years :)

A good story about Canadian tire...?

What's the saying? If you're going to lie, at least make it believable?

:troll: :lawl:

[Gridlock]

The horror story to positive story ratio with Canadian Tire is too damn high!

[BrRsn]

^ They probably run community programs to help kids/students find jobs in the trade, and as such they probably hire a disproportionately high number of apprentices

ergo, johnny stoner, the shop apprentice, forgot to torque the lugs

[xpl0sive]

my buddy had the same thing happen at kal tire. They didn't toque his wheels after a tire change and his front wheel came off on the freeway doing 100km/h.... he smoked the barrier and totalled his brand new truck. I don't really trust any shop 100% anymore.

[dared3vil0]

I think i'm bringing a torque wrench next time kal tire mounts and balances a set of tires for me...

[Splinter]

I always re-torque my wheels after going to a tire shop.

Even if they did it correctly, the metal can relax and give up some of the tension. It's good practice.

[meme405]

After this incident calling it Cambodian Tire is an insult to all the Cambodians...:lawl:

[- kT]

At first, Justin says the general manager of the White Rock Canadian Tire was apologetic, and arranged to get him a rental car. But the Vancouver man only recently got his damaged Volkswagen back from the insurance company that took over the file from Canadian Tire and he's still waiting for compensation.
"Eight weeks later this case is still ongoing, out of pocket expenses, for towing, rental vehicles,” he said.

so to be clear.. the GM of the canadian tire he went to was apologetic, and also tried to make the situation better by getting him into a rental, yet he's gonna cry wolf and go to the media because the case is still ongoing eight weeks later?

first off, that isn't even a fault of canadian tire anymore, that's their insurance company - and if he's bitching at 8 weeks in, i can't wait to see his reaction when the case is finally concluded (likely at least months later) and he gets all his money back

shit happens, one tech forgot to torque the wheels - it could happen to anybody. as long as CT did/is trying to rectify, i don't see why this guy had to go and escalate it by going to the media. he's not the first guy to lose a wheel because a tech forgot a vital step, and he won't be the last. all this did was damage a shop's reputation - but maybe that's all he was going for lol

[fliptuner]

^^^ In all fairness, the guy drives a '97 Golf, maybe he can't afford to continue paying for a rental, out of pocket.

What I'm wondering is, couldn't he have gone through ICBC, been given a rental til ICBC assessed the damages and repaired/replaced the vehicle and had CT reimburse them?

[320icar]

Icbc doesn't give anybody a rental. You have to pay an extra premium I believe where if you are in an accident, a rental car is provided for you.

To my knowledge. I may be wrong
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[bigzz786786]

^it's about an extra 100 a year on your insurance. I've had a pretty shitty experience with Canadian tire on 3 road. I was parting out my car and tried to remove my rear spacers, but the nut seized on the rears and I didnt have the 12 point sockets with the spiral grooves (it gets the nut out but destroys the nut) so I called canadian tire to do it(sunday) they said sure. When they ttook the car in, I waited for about an houra and then I hear a loud noise from the shop. They were using those flat head jack hammers (hand held) to remove the entire spacer with the wheel studs. I asked him what the hell are you doing? He said oh we couldn't get it out either. They didnt even have the socket that I asked in advanced. Long story short, a 1 hour job costed me 3 hours and 400 dollars.
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[Timpo]

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs8/i/2005/305/9/3/Crappy_Tire_by_rebelx.jpg

[melloman]

Good for general parts, or around the house stuff.. But can safely say I'd never get my car serviced by them.

[Gridlock]

Good for general parts, or around the house stuff.. But can safely say I'd never get my car serviced by them.

There's only one solid reason that people do:

http://www.lowestrates.ca/sites/default/files/crappytirecreditcard.png

Store credit.

[1990TSI]

That'll teach him to abuse the free brake inspection program!

unfortunately this thing does happen every once in a while, but it sounds like the canadian tire did everything they could to make the situation right, and the guy still went to the media.

sad really.

[snails]

i do all the work to my car myself with the help of a friend that has his own shop

he has me in the habit of re torquing my wheels after we are done anything, most of the time after i roll the car out of his shop he goes around and checks them all himself with a torque wrench so it wont be his fault if my wheels go flying off down the road.

its also a good habit to recheck oil drain plugs... i have heard of way to many stories of those things falling out down the road and people seizing engines

[thumper]

my buddy had the same thing happen at kal tire. They didn't toque his wheels after a tire change and his front wheel came off on the freeway doing 100km/h.... he smoked the barrier and totalled his brand new truck. I don't really trust any shop 100% anymore.

every time i go to kal tire they tell me to come back later to retorque the lug nuts... i guess they weren't kidding.

i wonder what did cdn tire quote for the brake service...

[fliptuner]

i do all the work to my car myself with the help of a friend that has his own shop

he has me in the habit of re torquing my wheels after we are done anything, most of the time after i roll the car out of his shop he goes around and checks them all himself with a torque wrench so it wont be his fault if my wheels go flying off down the road.

its also a good habit to recheck oil drain plugs... i have heard of way to many stories of those things falling out down the road and people seizing engines

30 seconds to think and make sure all your tools are out and bolts are tight before it leaves the bay, is always good practice.

[thumper]

we all remember this old video. watch it once and never forget to torque your lug nuts ever again:

RX7 loses wheels - YouTube

(maybe they should use it for a cdn tire training video)

[Acura604]

For those of us who do not have a torque wrench... what's a best practice to feel safe when bolting on your wheels?

I've always done the star pattern with the lugs... I have an electric impact gun that tightens to approx. 80-100lbs-ft...and then i'll take a regular tire iron and tighten. although I've NEVER had a problem with this method and I've done it nearly 100 times ... I think its time to invest in a torque wrench.

[thumper]

For those of us who do not have a torque wrench... what's a best practice to feel safe when bolting on your wheels?

I've always done the star pattern with the lugs... I have an electric impact gun that tightens to approx. 80-100lbs-ft...and then i'll take a regular tire iron and tighten. although I've NEVER had a problem with this method and I've done it nearly 100 times ... I think its time to invest in a torque wrench.

i've read/been told by others if i don't have a torque wrench, then finger tighten the nuts, tighten with the tire iron, then a 1/4 turn more... is this what it says in the owner's manual?

having said that, the first time i had to change a flat to an emergency spare on the side of the road and i followed this, but by the time i got home things had loosened up and one of the lug nuts was gone on a 4x100 pattern. what i failed to do was drive on it a bit and then tighten again, but i was afraid of overtorquing it and have a lug nut seize on the stud.

[fliptuner]

i've read/been told by others if i don't have a torque wrench, then finger tighten the nuts, tighten with the tire iron, then a 1/4 turn more... is this what it says in the owner's manual?

having said that, the first time i had to change a flat to an emergency spare on the side of the road and i followed this, but by the time i got home things had loosened up and one of the lug nuts was gone on a 4x100 pattern. what i failed to do was drive on it a bit and then tighten again, but i was afraid of overtorquing it and have a lug nut seize on the stud.

Both subjective, depending on who's doing it, their strength and experience.

Best advice would be to practice and check with a torque wrench, to see if you're too loose or too tight. Perfect time when you swap to/from winter wheels. In an emergency situation, I wouldn't hesitate to overtorque by up to 20ft/lbs.

[kwy]

It's no secret that the "techs" that work at crappy tire are dumb high school kids..I knew plenty of them. Worst place to take your car.

[snails]

haha such a coincidents that this is being discussed.. look what i witnessed on my way home from work 20 mins ago!

f150 rolling thru cloverdale (64th and 168th) and his wheel goes flying off! wonder if he was coming from Canadian Tire..

http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p531/langleychrysler/20131001_163703_zpse05221dd.jpg?t=1380670588

[Splinter]

In an emergency situation, I wouldn't hesitate to overtorque by up to 20ft/lbs.
Emergency, yes. Having your wheels come off is bad.

But what a lot of people don't realize is that hand-torquing your wheels is a huge factor in warping brake rotors. Arms are crappy measurement devices, it's really easy to put 20lbs more on one lug than the previous one. This loads the rotors unevenly, so when it heats up it relaxes to a bent position.

Anyone who is in the habit of removing their own wheels should invest in a torque wrench.

[Klobbersaurus]

tighten those wheels as tight as you want on that golf and it would have still fallen off if the mechanic forgot to put a cotter pin back on after he checked the brakes which he probably forgot to do

[narfy]

tighten those wheels as tight as you want on that golf and it would have still fallen off if the mechanic forgot to put a cotter pin back on after he checked the brakes which he probably forgot to do

yeah... picture shows the rear brake shoes exposed, which means the drums are still bolted to the wheel... somebody didn't put the cotter pin back in to the rear wheel bearings when inspecting the brakes, and the drums feel off as a result... terrible...

[Splinter]

yeah... picture shows the rear brake shoes exposed, which means the drums are still bolted to the wheel... somebody didn't put the cotter pin back in to the rear wheel bearings when inspecting the brakes, and the drums feel off as a result... terrible...

Damn, good eyes.

I'd say that's a lot more forgivable and likely than forgetting to torque the lugs.

[sdubfid]

haha such a coincidents that this is being discussed.. look what i witnessed on my way home from work 20 mins ago!



slow things leaving trails is right up your alley, are you a mechanic at can tire?