Even Studs Get Tired
Monday May 7, 2007
There has been more than one car I've owned in the past that came with a surprise hiding behind the wheel. You usually find it when you're getting new tires installed. The technician finds you and lets you know that one of your wheel studs is stripped because the idiot who had the car before you cross-threaded one of the lug nuts. Thanks.
Replacing a broken wheel stud is essential, and should be done right away. Your car was designed to hold onto the wheels under the most punishing conditions, but it needs all of its wheel studs to do this right. Kind of like trying to throw a football wearing mittens -- you can do it but it's not happening the way it should.
If you inspect your own studs and bolts you can avoid a costly repair. If you're unlucky and find a damaged wheel stud, you can replace it yourself without too much pain. Go check it out on your car to be sure you're riding on enough studs these days.
photo by Roy Bertalotto
Comments
After replacing it, be sure that you torque them to the value in the car manual.
Forty years ago I bought a micrometer dial type torque wrench. It has served me well and now resides in our Prius tool well. Why? Because the car has OEM aluminum rims. And I don’t want to buy new ones because a flat tire has occured. It has upper limit of 250 ft-lbs. It doubles when I cleaned carbon out of a 75 pickup and torqued the head bolts.
BTW I’ll bet 95% or more vehicles with the compact spares are underinflated for use should one have a flat. Not mine! I check every month. And use a hand pump so I don’t waste gas going to a station.
Best to you all in the resurgance of three plus buck gas.