Lose wheel studs?

[Digitaleuphoria]

Alright, I can't find this using the search so I'm making a thread to ask for any insight before I go try to figure it out on my own tomorrow.

The other day I was driving around and I heard this loud clunking sound. When I got home I couldnt find anything lose under the car so I figured I'd check the wheels since the sound seemed to be comming near the rear passenger one. I took off the rear passenger wheel and the studs move back and forth a bit. They only move 2 to 3 millimeter's I'd guess in either direction. The drivers side studs don't move so I'm guessing the fact that the passenger side moves is a bad thing.

If you move one stud, they all move together so its not the studs themselves. Have I lost you yet? Anyway, I hope you understand, any ideas what it could be? And do you think that could be causing the loud clunking sound I'm hearing even tho it only moves a tiny bit?

[corning_d3]

Wheel bearing, maybe?

[Digitaleuphoria]

If it is a wheel bearing, how dangerous would it be to drive? Sorry if that's a stupid question, still new to everything.

I'm hoping its just something loose as I cant afford any new parts for around another week or so. Hopefully I can avoid walking to work

[corning_d3]

If it just started making noise, you could get a month out of it, maybe more depending on your driving habits. Since it's a FWD, there's less stress on the rear bearings, so thats a plus. But most are only sold as an expensive assembly.

When you where checking the studs, did the plate they were pressed in wiggle around? I assumed it was by the description..

[Digitaleuphoria]

Originally Posted by corning_d3

If it just started making noise, you could get a month out of it, maybe more depending on your driving habits. Since it's a FWD, there's less stress on the rear bearings, so thats a plus. But most are only sold as an expensive assembly.

When you where checking the studs, did the plate they were pressed in wiggle around? I assumed it was by the description..

I'm not sure if the plate moves around, I didnt take the drum off, I just moved the studs with the drum still on. Havn't had the time to investigate it fully, later tonight or tomorrow I plan on lookin further into the problem.

[gthompson97]

Did the drum and everything move when you moved the studs? The whole hub should actually move if the wheel bearing is out. If it is bad, I wouldn't drive it unless you have to and when you do, don't beat on it. Driving on a bad wheel bearing is not a good idea.

[Digitaleuphoria]

No, the drum didnt budge. I think I have it figured out. I looked at the wheel closely, its not butted up against the drum all the way like the other 3 wheels are. I have a feeling that when I torqued the lug nuts down, it pulled the plate that the studs are attached to and either broke something or loosened something up. I'm heading out RIGHT NOW to check it out I'll post back if I fix it or not, wish me luck.

[gthompson97]

$10 says something in the hub assembly is fucked up so you might as well just replace it anyways before something bad happens.

[Digitaleuphoria]

Ok, its all fixed now. It was nothing serious. The problem was my own stupidity and lack of attention to details. I'll start from the beginning.

My car had aftermarket wheels on. I hit a pothole the other day, which blew my tire out and dented my new wheels *RIP wheels *. I can't afford to buy a new replacement wheel and tire just yet so I put the old wheels back on until I got a bit more money. Well, when taking the wheels off, I forgot about the little plastic spacers that went on with them, they were stuck to the car preventing the old wheels from sitting propery. Well, when I torqued the old wheels on, they pulled the plate that has the wheel studs on them which pulled the drum out a bit. After I stared at the hub assembly awhile I finally noticed those spacers were still on there, so I pulled those off, put the drum back on right, and the old wheels finally sit flush up against the drum the way they should. Now the wheel studs don't move anymore and there is no more clunking sound eminating from the back.

Sorry If I wasted your time with such a problem.

Moral of the story: Pay attention to what your doing!

[SLoe]

Originally Posted by gthompson97

$10 says something in the hub assembly is fucked up so you might as well just replace it anyways before something bad happens.

Now about that $10.......

[gthompson97]

We never shook.

[SLoe]

Damn!!