Hey guys, is anything terrible going to happen if I only have 4 lugnuts each on both of my rear wheels? the studs are broken off, but they still "support" the wheel.
Short answer is "NO" - but ya ought to fix em asap. Long amswer is "maybe" - what kind of wheels are we talkin' - unilug with mismatched hubs - driving like you stole it??? Potential problems. More seriously - get it fixed relatively soon and don't sweat it.
You are fine for a while, although you won't pass tech at the digs. I would lay off the burnouts until you can replace the bad studs.
If a wheel comes off your car, and you have/cause an accident and get sued for a gazillion dollars, and the insurance company can show that you knowingly drove with a broken wheel stud, then your ass is grass.---That should clarify your answer.
look for the post Scrap iron special that was caused from running 4 lugs with a wheel that was universal fit steel wheel with multiple lug pattern
Studs don't break off, even from burnouts or rough handling. They are broken by all of them being loose, and hammered by extended use while they are loose, or most likely by being overtorqued. Do you suppose somebody overtorqued only one on each wheel?
When I got my driver back from the inspection station and the right rear wheel was on so tightly that I had to use a 3 foot cheater pipe and stand on it to loosen it,and one stud was cross-threaded,I suspected that they perhaps might possibly have overtorqued the lug nuts.
I understand that running 4 lugs on a 5 lug wheel results in only 55% strength as far as wheel side stresses go. Since all of your lugs were probably loose or under-torqued before the stud broke, inspect the seats in the wheel - if it's a steelie - and see if they are damaged to the point where you shouldn't use them.
i had to drive my 4x4 truck back to my house from the trail on 3 lug nuts after 2 of the studs broke off and the lug nuts pulled through the rims bolt holes. I'm pretty sure it was because they might have been a little loose like b29chevy said.
Answering your question with a question. Are you, or any member of your family, worth the $100 bucks it would take to have new studs pressed in. If not, go merrily down the road. If yes, get them fixed now. You already knew the answer to this question, didn't you?
We had tort reform in Mississippi. The most you can be sued for is a bazillion which is far less than a gazillion.
I pulled up to a stop light in Metro Detroit and looked over at this early 80's POS land yacht in the lane next to me. It had only 2 of 5 lug nuts on one wheel. They were 2 right next to each other at that. It had just pulled off of I-75. I think that was the rear wheel and the front had at least one nut missing too. Safety First!
years ago i bought a heap with out wheels. i brought a set of wheels when i picked it up, i forgot lugnuts, DOH!! scrounged around and found enough for three for each wheel. i was only towing it a short distance what could go wrong. well one of the studs fell INTO the brake drum and LOCKED the wheel up in an instant. luckily i was only going 5 or so MPH. imagine what would happen at a higher speed. get it fixed right and be safe. later jim
You may become a certified member of the "Flying Wheel Club". Kinda of embarrasssing to be in though. Fix it!
...... pressed in???crap take a punch and a hammer knock out the old ones ..stick the new one thru the hole put on the lug nut and chinch it down we dont need no stinkin presses
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