Broken tire stud

MYOUNG7663

MEMBER
1992 JEEP CHEROKEE
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
250,000 MILES

A couple weeks ago, my tire fell off of my car, leaving me with a broken tire stud. I tried to just tighten the other four lug nuts, but my tire is still wobbling too badly to drive safely. I need to know if I can replace the single stud or if I have to replace all of them? And how much this cost will fix? Thank you!

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.

A single stud can be replaced, however, if you have four of them tight, there shouldn't be a wobble in the wheel. Are you sure the wheel isn't bent? Is the wheel fitting snug against the hub? Something is bent or not mounted correctly. Although all five studs should be there, four should not cause a wobble.

I have attached a picture for you to see. It is for replacing a front brake rotor, but it shows a stud and how it goes through the rear of the hub assembly. When you do this, you will need to remove the brake caliper and rotor. Then the hub is exposed. At that point, if the broken stud is still attached in the hub, take a hammer and punch and knock it out of the assembly.

Install the new stud through the rear of the hub. Now, it has to be fully seated which takes a good bit of pressure to pull it through. What I do is this. Pull it through as far as you can by hand. Next, place a flat washer on it and a small amount of grease on the flat washer. Then I use an air impact gun to tighten the lug nut against the lubricated flat washer which pulls the stud through the hub. You can do this with a wrench if you don't have the impact gun.

If the rear wheel is the problem, remove the brake drum and follow the same procedure. I will tell you it is difficult to position the new stud into the hub because of space, but it can be done.

Let me know if this helps. Also, please confirm something isn't bent.

Take care,
Joe

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