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Loose tire/wheel on Inter 40, Knoxville
Just yesterday wingfoot321 and I were talking about wheel bearings made in US vs knockoffs made in China. Today might have witnessed the results of Chinese bearings. While heading east on I40 in east part of Knoxville a minivan in the right lane lost it's left rear wheel. The minivan maintained control as his tire passed him, crossed my lane about 25 yds in front of us then the fast lane, bounced over the newer/higher concrete barrier into the west bound raffic and crossed all the west bound lanes and off the highway on the opposite side without hitting any traffic or causing an accident. There was some fancy driving being done by west bound traffic. Traffic was busy but not rush hour busy, speeds were 65mph. Would like to add that just before I was smelling a faint odor of hot brakes for about 45 seconds or so. Didn't think it was us but kept checking our situation when the guy's wheel let go. He was about 25 yds in front of us. Never saw any smoke from him, until the wheel let go. I know that as most of us drive we are atuned to sounds and smells, add this to your memory bank. Really not sure if this was a bearing problem but looked like more then just the wheel as it flew down the hiway. The minivan made it safely off the highway and although there were no accidents, bet some of the west bound traffic had to head home to change some undies.
GreggH
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