Running on 4 bolts only

[Doggiedog]

I was changing my snow tires to summer tires and somehow stripped my wheel lock. I went to a tire store and they easily took off the wheel lock bolts with some kind of special bolt remover. Unfortunately, they don't carry BMW bolts and I've been driving all over looking for them but living in Bergen County NJ where most stores are closed on Sundays, I've been out of luck. I'm going to go to a dealership tomorrow and get some but was wondering how much damage, if any, I'm doing driving with four bolts on each wheel instead of five?

 

[angry hampster]

You'll be fine, jsut don't drive too much.

 

[Doppel]

Fine

 

[Throckmorton]

You're putting stress on the lugs that they weren't meant to take. It's not just that each bolt gets 25% more stress-- it's much more than that because of the leverage on the two lugs next to the missing one.

The tire shop should have gotten the lugs for you, and not let you leave without them. It's now their responsibility to replace ALL 5 of your lugs.

If you just want to pay for them yourself, replace all 5 at the dealer.

 

[Doggiedog]

You're putting stress on the lugs that they weren't meant to take. It's not just that each bolt gets 25% more stress-- it's much more than that because of the leverage on the two lugs next to the missing one.

The tire shop should have gotten the lugs for you, and not let you leave without them. It's now their responsibility to replace ALL 5 of your lugs.

If you just want to pay for them yourself, replace all 5 at the dealer.

The tire shop's responsibility was only to remove the wheels locks that were stuck which I asked them to do. I thought I had the lugs in my trunk but after being rear ended twice in my car and had the car in the body shop, they seemed to have disappeared. So you are saying that I need to replace all of my lugs now?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

You're putting stress on the lugs that they weren't meant to take. It's not just that each bolt gets 25% more stress-- it's much more than that because of the leverage on the two lugs next to the missing one.

The tire shop should have gotten the lugs for you, and not let you leave without them. It's now their responsibility to replace ALL 5 of your lugs.

If you just want to pay for them yourself, replace all 5 at the dealer.

Your being way too dramatic about this. One missing lug for a few miles isn't going to hurt anything.

 

[skull]

Your be way too dramatic about this. One missing lug for a few miles isn't going to hurt anything.

Yeah it will be alright I saw a car yesterday that had 3 out of 5 on it and it looked like she had been driving that way for awhile. It probably won't turn out well for her but 4 out of 5 for a short period will be alright.

 

[Doppel]

Throck is right about the physics but in practice there is so much safety room. I've done 3 of 4. I wouldn't autocross missing lugs (though I bet people have--and been ok--queue the miata with the wheels falling off), but driving around a bit sure.

 

[KDKPSJ]

I've driven with 3 out of 4 as well. About 20+ miles. Yes, I was also worried about the wheel taken off while driving, but never happened. lol.

Were the other 3 lug nuts got too much stress from these? Probably yes, but at least they were fine for next 30k miles until I sold the car. No sign of lug nut damage from this.

 

[Throckmorton]

The tire shop's responsibility was only to remove the wheels locks that were stuck which I asked them to do. I thought I had the lugs in my trunk but after being rear ended twice in my car and had the car in the body shop, they seemed to have disappeared. So you are saying that I need to replace all of my lugs now?

Not the nuts but the lugs, the screw part. Well I don't know how much stress the nuts can take so maybe they need replacing too.

You might be fine, who knows. But if the internets tell you you're fine, then in 10k miles your wheel falls off on you die, it's on us. The safe thing to do is replace all the lugs.

 

[Pacfanweb]

When I was young and foolish, I drove a 400+hp daily driver with 3 of 5. Even drag raced it with slicks with 3 of 5.

Makes me cringe to think of that now, but the fact of the matter is, there is so much overkill built into stuff like this......you are fine without that one lug nut.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Seriously disappointed in the the topic name here. Should clearly be 'Lost a nut, will I be OK?' or something along those lines. So much opportunity for win.

 

[Viperoni]

When I was young and foolish, I drove a 400+hp daily driver with 3 of 5. Even drag raced it with slicks with 3 of 5.

Makes me cringe to think of that now, but the fact of the matter is, there is so much overkill built into stuff like this......you are fine without that one lug nut.

QFT, you're fine. Especailly if the rims are hub-centric.

 

[Doggiedog]

I think there is a bit of confusion here.

My car does not have lug nuts, only bolts. It screws directly into the disc plate without using nuts.

Here it is.

I guess if the dealership doesn't rip me off, I can replace them all but somehow I doubt it.

 

[dawp]

Just order online. you will be fine until they arrive. I've driven on 3 out of 4 and 4 out of 5 with no problems for a couple of months, once after breaking the stud. And bolts really aren't much different than studs.

 

[jlee]

+1 to the 'you'll be fine' crowd.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

When I was young and foolish, I drove a 400+hp daily driver with 3 of 5. Even drag raced it with slicks with 3 of 5.

Makes me cringe to think of that now, but the fact of the matter is, there is so much overkill built into stuff like this......you are fine without that one lug nut.

QFT, you're fine. Especailly if the rims are hub-centric.

Out of interest, aren't all stock wheels hub centric?

 

[ShawnD1]

When I was young and foolish, I drove a 400+hp daily driver with 3 of 5. Even drag raced it with slicks with 3 of 5.

Makes me cringe to think of that now, but the fact of the matter is, there is so much overkill built into stuff like this......you are fine without that one lug nut.

This. The car is so overbuilt that there's no way to really break anything. Car companies basically throw darts and roll dice to come up with things like GVWR and tow ratings. If the car has 5 bolts, you probably only need 3 or so. If it says max vehicle weight is 4000lbs, it's ok to load it up to about 5000lbs. If it says tow no more than 1500lbs, that means it's fine to tow 4000lbs. Everyone knows this.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I've driven with 3 of 4 for more than 100 miles when I was young and poor (I got a flat on the freeway and needed to complete my trip after snapping off a lug stud far from home). No problem.

 

[Gillbot]

+1 to the 'you'll be fine' crowd.

+2

My old truck went ~12 years with 4 of 5 racking up miles daily, on and off road. A good idea? No but it was fine.

 

[Kadarin]

You're fine. Just go get a lug bolt from the dealer (or local parts store) whenever you can.