A week or so ago I put the VRS in for some new front disks. I was planning to do it myself but work built up and time ran out.

The other day I was parking next to a friend who said I had a rattle from the front wheel. Everything has been ok so I planned to take it back next week - maybe something not quite tightened up or something.

Decided to straighten out the wheel nut cover (I have TSW wheels on) and it came off. Inside was the locking wheel nut rattling around - i.e. not in the hole.:eek:

I tried to put it in but it won't go. I took out another bolt and noticed that it was longer than the locking one - so I'll have to get longer locking nuts I think.:confused: Bloody previous owner not bothering.

However the longer nut will not go into the vacant hole - it looks like the thread is knackered.:thumbdwn: I think the workshop guy has forced it in and turned it, and because the locking one is shorter its spun the thread at the start of the hole. I checked the other side and the locking nut is in solid there.

I'm going to have to take it back (obviously) but my question is about the safety of running on 4 bolts instead of 5 - will this be OK for normal use until I get it sorted ?:confused:

Mind you I have done a couple of 500 mile round trips since the disks were done :eek:

ideally it should have the correct number of bolts fitted for safety

make sure the other nuts are tight , then you should be able to drive to the garage safe enough to get it repaired , i wouldn't be doing anymore long trips though until its sorted

Difference in length between locking and normal bolts - I think that this is normal as long as it is only <5mm difference. It just sounds like your "fixer" messed up when spinning that one bolt on with a power gun. I've heard of a garage stretching bolts quite a bit - ie until the bolt made contact with the stub bit behind. Mind you that was a indep tyre fitter working on a Megane CC that, as it turned out had been fitted at factory with a wheel that was an interferance fit on the hub. In your case, I'd check the torque of all the other bolts that had been worked on by this guy. Sounds like you need that hub thread cleaning up, and probably also the thread on the locking bolt while you are at it.

Had the wheel off to see if the bolt would go in without it, but it won't and neither will another one. Looks like the thread in the hub in knackered.

Its going to be a fun argument.

Not really an argument to be had - it was fine when it went in so it's down to them to sort it.

Right - update. Looks like the bolts fitted are not correct. So its down to the ****** who fitted the wheels in the first place - the previous owner.

Checked out the locking bolts and they are just not suitable for the wheels, I suspect they are just the originals.

The other 16 bolts are the correct shape and length. So someone couldn't be arsed to get the correct locking ones.

Got a new set of locking bolts - longer and the correct shape, in fact the ones specified for "custom" alloys. Look previous owner, its not hard to go to the nice lady in Halfords and ask is it ? :ashamed:

Fitted them and luckily the new bolt went straight into the "damaged" hole without a problem, but the workshop cleaned the thread anyway. I can't say the bolts are their fault although a little care would have been useful, plus from previous experience they tend to be very good. Apparently the mechanic did notice them as wrong but forgot to tell the bod in charge. A *******ing did ensue.:eek:

My main complaint now is with the local Skoda dealer. All work on the car before this was done by themselves - everything including the most recent MOT, so why the F didn't they spot this was wrong ? Surely they would have had a problem getting them to tighten too.

So a formal complaint is going off to them tomorrow.

It would go today but I have had the tummy bug thing all day - good for weight control though

My main complaint now is with the local Skoda dealer. All work on the car before this was done by themselves - everything including the most recent MOT, so why the F didn't they spot this was wrong ? Surely they would have had a problem getting them to tighten too.

So a formal complaint is going off to them tomorrow.

From what I know of Skoda servicing schedules they don't remove the wheels and the only way an MOT tester would know would be if it was presented for test with a wheel bolt missing. If the bolts were covered by a centre cap or wheel trim the MOT tester would be none the wiser if the wheel did not feel loose, as they are not allowed to remove anything for a visual check.