Safe to drive with only 3 Lug nuts?

[V00DOO]

In an attempt to take off my front tire, I broke the one of the lug nut. Now I only have 3 lug nuts on one tire. How safe is to drive while only 3 lug nuts?

 

[Kadarin]

You should be fine, so long as the other lugnuts are seated and torqued properly. Get it fixed as soon as time/budget allows.

 

[brxndxn]

3 of 4 should be fine.. just drive to a walmart and buy another and put it on

My friend (on his 3000GT Vr4) ended up driving from Tallahassee to Bradenton, FL (about 370 miles) with only 2 out of 5 lug nuts on a wheel. Needless to say, he was completely pissed when I pointed it out because he had just got his tires changed before he left.

Seriously, one lug nut missing probby won't cause a problem - it's just a good idea to spend a buck and throw one on there.

 

[Fatdog]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
You should be fine, so long as the other lugnuts are seated and torqued properly. Get it fixed as soon as time/budget allows.

Also, soak the other 3 lugs with WD40 or something similer to make it easier to remove them when the time comes.

 

[amdskip]

Is it the lug nut or did the whole thing shear off?

 

[V00DOO]

3 of 4 should be fine.. just drive to a walmart and buy another and put it on

Thanks for the replies. I wish it was that easy. I have to change the whole brake disk since the broken lug was attached to the disk. Just replacing the lug is not an option. BTW it on a 99 Accord if someone knows how to change the only the lug off the brake disk.

 

[TranSoft]

Originally posted by: V00DOO

3 of 4 should be fine.. just drive to a walmart and buy another and put it on

Thanks for the replies. I wish it was that easy. I have to change the whole brake disk since the broken lug was attached to the disk. Just replacing the lug is not an option. BTW it on a 99 Accord if someone knows how to change the only the lug off the brake disk.

bump... i can't figure out how to remove that big nut also. seems like there's a wedge that you need to bend out first before you can screw it open...

 

[Fatdog]

The studs are pressed into the disc, and you should be able to replace them. Pick up a stud one at Autozone or somewhere and you'll see how it's designed.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Fatdog
The studs are pressed into the disc, and you should be able to replace them. Pick up a stud one at Autozone or somewhere and you'll see how it's designed.

he'll probably need a press to do it, though.

 

[V00DOO]

bump... i can't figure out how to remove that big nut also. seems like there's a wedge that you need to bend out first before you can screw it open...

I was referring to the 4 lugs off the brake disk that hold the tire together not the big lug in the middle. Beside you don't need to take the big lug in the middle off unless you are replacing the Axle or CV Boot. To detach the brake disk from the car, all you need is a phillips impact tool to loosen the 2 lugs that hold it together.

 

[Fatdog]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Fatdog
The studs are pressed into the disc, and you should be able to replace them. Pick up a stud one at Autozone or somewhere and you'll see how it's designed.

he'll probably need a press to do it, though.

That's true. He can probably have the local parts place press out the old one and install the new one much cheaper than going through the dealer.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Fatdog

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Fatdog
The studs are pressed into the disc, and you should be able to replace them. Pick up a stud one at Autozone or somewhere and you'll see how it's designed.

he'll probably need a press to do it, though.

That's true. He can probably have the local parts place press out the old one and install the new one much cheaper than going through the dealer.

I've always used the lug nut to draw the stud into place. You just need a really big nut or a section of tubing and a washer.

 

[Syringer]

I had a mechanic take apart the whole part of the axle and spend about an hour in order to fix it..

 

[madthumbs]

The use of air wrenches and people who overtork cause the studs to become stretched or weakened. These studs can end up breaking while your driving. It shouldn't be difficult or time consuming to replace a stud. Btw, overtorking can cause rotor/ drum warping causing that pulsation in your brake pedal and shimmying (mostly in small cars).