Wheel-Check offers loose wheel-nut indicator to help improve safety

June 18, 2015
Wheel-Checks are a loose wheel-nut indicator that can identify a loose wheel nut with a simple visual inspection.

Wheel-Check enters its 18th year in committing to making North America’s roads safer. Wheel-Check’s mission has been to create a commitment to safety which means safer roads for the public, the drivers and the environment. Truck wheel detachment in North America has become a major problem causing a large number of very serious accidents, some even resulting in the unfortunate and tragic loss of life. There is a simple and effective solution - Wheel-Checks.  

Wheel-Checks are a loose wheel-nut indicator that can identify a loose wheel nut with a simple visual inspection. When the wheel nuts are properly torqued to specs, the Wheel-Checks are then placed on the wheel nuts in a uniformed pattern.  Once a wheel-nut has loosened, the Wheel-Check will become out of sequence. It will be visible when the driver does his walk around check and it is the driver’s responsibility to call maintenance and have the wheel thoroughly serviced.  

Wheel-Checks are also heat sensitive. If there is a binding brake or seized bearing, the heat is transferred through the stud and nut. If this temperature exceeds 120 degrees C (248 degrees F), the Wheel-Check will start to blister around the circumference and eventually start to distort. The driver will be required to go to maintenance and have a thorough assessment on the problem wheel.

Benefits of using Wheel-Checks are:

  • Provides a simple, visual means of confirming proper wheel torque in seconds.
  • Reduce your risk of wheel detachment accidents. (Protect the public, help prevent property and load damage).
  • Lower your maintenance costs by eliminating unnecessary re-torquing.
  • Quickly identify a hot wheel possibly caused by bearing failure or brake drag.
  • Decrease equipment downtime.
  • Facilitates official roadside inspections.
  • Clearly visible at night and in bad weather (rain, snow, muddy conditions).
  • Easy to install.
  • Cost only a few dollars per wheel.
  • Pays for itself in just one unnecessary re-torque procedure

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