If you want to know what it looks like when a wheel is riding only on the tips of the studs, stare at the photos from Willie Holden’s shop. In a recent viral Facebook Reel, we see the factory studs poke halfway through the spacer, untouched. Meanwhile, the wheel they were holding shows bolt holes carved into oblong windows of bare metal; fresh scars from miles of bouncing against the studs instead of sitting flush against the spacer. The clip from Holden, co-owner of Texas-based Holden Bros. Diesel and cohost of Holden Bros. Restos on MotorTrendTV, shows the potential cost and risk involved when customers try to get some discounted maintenance work done. "Just think how many are rollin down the road right now, that just had repairs or upgrades installed by the guy who does it cheaper," he writes in the caption of the clip that’s been viewed more than 1.6 million times. "Don’t let your ignorance get someone killed!" Gallery: Design Week Wheels The Wheel Was Never Seated Correctly Once the wheel is off, the failure becomes impossible to miss. The factory studs extend through the spacer far enough that the wheel could never have made full contact with the mounting surface. Without that flush connection, the lug nuts tighten against the stud tips instead of clamping the wheel, creating a false sense of torque. Improper wheel installation is a documented contributor to wheel-off incidents, which can cause severe crashes and roadway hazards. In the video, at least one stud was partially trimmed, suggesting that someone understood what needed to be done, but the rest remained untouched. That uneven geometry guaranteed progressive movement every time the wheel rotated. It’s the same phenomenon described in SAE wheel-retention standards, which warn that inadequate seating force results in cyclical loosening and fretting around the bolt holes. The result on this wheel is textbook: elongated openings with freshly exposed metal, a scar pattern that perfectly matches the stud placement. Holden never says how far the vehicle traveled, but based on the severity of the damage, this wasn’t a one-mile test drive. The wear visible in the rim suggests repeated contact, vibration, and micro-impacts between the stud tips and the steel wheel. One commenter summed up the luck involved: "They already spent their luck on that wheel." OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. Wheel spacers themselves aren’t the villain here. Properly manufactured and properly installed spacers, such as hub-centric units from established companies like Bora, H&R, and Eibach, are widely used in motorsports and heavy-duty applications. Even many OEM dual-rear-wheel setups use factory-supplied spacer-like components. When installed correctly, they meet stringent testing requirements for torque retention, impact resistance, and long-term durability. The danger arises from a mismatch between spacer thickness and stud length. If the factory studs extend beyond the spacer and the wheel doesn’t have deep enough recessed pockets to accommodate them, then trimming the studs is mandatory. Without that clearance, the wheel "bottoms out" on the stud tips, not the spacer surface. Holden’s photos show exactly that condition: intact spacer face, untouched studs, and one doomed wheel. One of the commenters on the Reel explained the issue succinctly: "If they would of torqued them they would of torqued out to spec because the wheel was pressing against the original studs and not the spacer. This happens more than you know when people run spacers under 2 inch." That point is backed by shops and engineers specializing in fitment. Torque specs only matter when the clamping surfaces meet. If they don’t, the torque wrench reading is meaningless. What Were They Missing? The obvious question is how the driver didn’t feel what was happening. Most viewers in the comments section joked about simply turning up the radio. But the reality is that early symptoms of this kind of failure can be subtle. A wheel that’s not fully seated will often produce a rhythmic shake, a muted thump, or a light wandering sensation at speed, which many drivers attribute to worn tires, a bad alignment, or uneven brakes. Wheel vibration is one of the most commonly ignored warning signs among drivers, often dismissed until the problem becomes severe. And because the rim was slowly machining against the stud tips rather than immediately breaking, the progression could have been gradual enough that the driver adapted to the worsening feel without recognizing the seriousness of the issue. One commenter, observing how far the studs extended, wrote: "They need to go buy a lottery ticket. Luck was the only thing holding that on." Another chimed in: "You would think the driver would have noticed something wasn’t right," a sentiment echoed repeatedly across the thread. Once mechanics see ovalized bolt holes like the ones shown in Holden’s photos, they know exactly what happened. Elongation in one direction rather than uniform widening indicates that the wheel was moving in a consistent cyclic path, not wobbling freely. That pattern is consistent with the wheel’s load being supported on secondary points rather than a flush mounting surface. It’s the same kind of progressive distortion described in engineering analyses of lug failure modes and clamping-loss events in commercial trucks. Holden’s shop caught the problem before the wheel detached completely, but the footage shows it was close. The rim is unusable. The studs will likely need replacement. The spacer may need to be inspected for surface deformation. And the customer is extremely fortunate. The final takeaway isn’t subtle, and Holden doesn’t intend it to be. In a market where cheaper labor and quick fixes are always tempting, the danger of poor wheel installation can’t be overstated. A wheel-off failure at highway speeds can lead to rollovers, multi-vehicle crashes, and secondary impacts caused by loose wheels bouncing across traffic lanes. NHTSA’s crash database includes numerous such incidents each year, many resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Holden’s message matches the tone of the comments from veteran mechanics and enthusiasts who’ve seen this kind of mistake before. "Properly installed spacers work fine," one viewer wrote. "It’s when you don’t have a clue what you’re doing that this happens." Motor1 reached out to Holden via email and direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
