Featured Toyota fixes bZ4X wheel fall-off by using washers under wheel nuts

There is an over-torque issue the entire market has been evading. When a third-party changes tires and applies too much torque, the long-term damage is addressed by either the automaker or the customer. Responsibility by the third-party is not taken, since it is so difficult to prove. It's one of those things Toyota decided to step up to the plate for. Ultimately, it does reduce cost a tiny bit and contributes to the longevity people look to Toyota for.

 

It sounded like these bolts will be made with captive washers.

Not unlike the captive washers on the Prius wheel nuts we have known and loved since Gen 1. Seems simple enough.

For a long time, I've had a habit with these wheel nuts: I own five extras. Whenever I rotate the tires and I have all the nuts off at once, I line them up and cull out the five worst for little rust spots starting, and put in the five extras.

Some time when I am bored before the next tire rotation, I will take some Nevr-Dull to the five I culled out and shine them back up. At the same time, I add a tiny dab of anti-seize in only one place: between the nut and its attached washer. I don't use anti-seize on the threads or seats at all.

The little dab between the nut and washer always lets it torque down smoothly as I put the wheels back on, and loosen smoothly when I next need them off.

 

It would be great to hear more about the infrared heater /radiant heater.

Just the sort of new innovation you expect as more and more automakers come to the EV game.

 

We had them in some of the older farm houses in Oklahoma with Franklin style, wood/coal burning heaters. One side got uncomfortable warm and the other side froze. No interest from me.

Bob Wilson

 

Wonder why the US was getting different wheels?
From that description, it sounds like the US wheels weren't getting seated all the way onto the hub. Which would shift some of the car's weight to being carried through the bolts, when it should all be being going from hub to wheel directly.

It was mentioned in one of the other threads on the topic that at least one of the German brands using wheel bolts treats them as wear items, with their replacement called for after so many years or tightenings.

These are already in use with some luxury brands. Toyota might just be the first to put them into a BEV.