Scary Day

[TampaFla]

Guess the real question would be- were the wheels removed anytime in the months just prior to your purchase (new tires, alignment , rotation, flat repair, inspection, brake pads/etc., etc.) - something the dealer might have done to it just before you got it (either required by GA or to make the car more "sellable.")

Should be some obvious signs (tires not original, alignment is correct, inspection date, tire warranty date, new pads, & so on.). You might want to examine all the wheels/hubs/lugs with the tires removed just to be safe and check all recent "service" mileage (if it's shown) to the mileage when the tire came off.

Dealer may "owe" you for the damage to the hub...just an idea...

[oldmachdriver]

its a contemporary cobra and they dont exist anymore....I cant drive it anywhere now....i guess im just going to have to attempt this on my own, Im not sure how to drive out the studs but i will ake a closer look this just really pisses me off, I really dont have the facility to be doing this. And i dont know anyone around here to recruit help from...oh well i guess the only way to learn is by doing....

[JAM1775]

I took a few chances here & there until 2 yrs ago I left my car for 3-4 minutes to return a video. A few teens were leaving from 2 spots away in a Wrangler as they said " Hey Nice car". I got home and walked around the car to find the pass fender heavily keyed. There was a reason I was meant not to notice it there. Now I just do not leave it .

I agree if the lugs were fully torqued one by one, not sequentially all after the first may not have fully seated. Further, from your update it appears they all may have been over torqued which may have caused some stretching. And/or you may have been driving on loosened lugs for a while without realizing it, shearing or stressing the studs. Despite all the above, if you insist on driving to work in the Cobra set up a camera to a standard VCR at that window you described and film the car with 2 tapes 8 hrs each day. Check your lugs before leaving each day . IF YOU FIND THEM LOOSE, call the MP's with video in hand. This may take some restraint but down the road it is the wiser choice. Then again.....if you did discreetly identify who they are ..........well...

[TampaFla]

I see you found the problem. ERA has some very detailed info on replacing/rebuilding the Jag hubs, and (from my experience) is always willing to provide some free advice on the techniques involved. You might want to try posing your questions on their manufacturer's forum. If they can help, I'm sure they will (and may even sell you the parts you need).

Never give an air gun to a lug nut to tighten a lug nut...

[Steve Riley]

Geez,
This makes me believe in safety wire. Not that this will cure vandalism.... A ballbat fixes that.
Steve

[TampaFla]

Safety wire would only help if you used it to tie the hands of the mechanic who doesn't know how to use an air gun to install the tires (overtightening to the point of lug failure). I saw a kid once rip off several lugs that way at a "tire shop".