How bad is running w/ only 4 wheel lugs???!

[calicelica]

As I was rotating my tires; all of a sudden, one wheel fastener became really hard to turn. Pry bar was the game of the day, which then broke the whole screw! The broken piece is still jammed in my A/M wheel lock. I said to myself..."fuck".
So I rotate my tires anyway, and installed one wheel w/ only 4 fasteners instead of 5. Is this suicide? How long can I run? I only know it will affect the brake disk, (uneven torque)... but whats the realistic danger scale? any input regarding anything appreciated, especially if you know how to take out the broken screw OUT of my s.o.l of a wheel lock!

[uibalnme]

It's is not a good idea. With only 4 bolts out of 5, the stress on the remaining bolts will eventually snap another one. It may also snap off all of them at once. Hit a pothole, a dip in th road, or just run over something and the wheel could come right off the car. You may have some shaking while driving because the balance will be off. Just go to a local auto parts dealer and get a new wheel bolt(less than $3). When you do buy one, ask for a wheel stud, because thats what they are actually called. As for the wheel lock, just buy a new set. It's less of a hassle than trying to get the broken bolt out of the one lock. The wheel studs are not that hard to replace. Use a hammer and a bolt that is just a little smaller in diameter than the stock wheel stud to knock the broken stud out of the hub. Then install the new wheel stud into the hub, place a few washers onto the new stud(where the rim would mount), put one of the lug nuts on the new stud. Use a good combination wrench to tighten the nut untill the new wheel stud fully seats into the hub. Just use the other 4 as a visual example of how it should look. After the wheel stud is fully seated remove the wheel nut and washers, then mount the rim and torque everything back to spec. It'll take some muscle to fully seat the wheel stud, but the whole process shouldn't take more than a 30min. to complete if you have all the parts and tools ready.

[calicelica]

thanks a lot! $3 won't hurt, but my set of lock costs $60 (won't hurt to get a new one, but...)

[uibalnme]

Well...you could try soaking the lock in WD-40 for an hour or more and use a vice grip on the broken part of the wheel stud to turn it while holding the lock with a wrench. It just a matter of getting some lubricant into the threads to loosen them. It does depend on how much of the wheel stud is sticking out of the lock though. If there is just enough to grab it with the vice grips, it should work. If not then a new set of locks would be the only way to go. If wheel stud isn't sticking out far enough, you would have to drill out the lock to remove the stud. That would destroy the lock's threads. Then you would have to use the right re-threading kit to restore the threads. $60 is a bit of money, but $60 of damage to you wallet is better than $6000+ of damage to your car. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Good luck!

[calicelica]

I bought a new set of motegi locks for $30. I noticed my locks right now are rusty, so I figured its a good investment. Already got some studs in hand, and will replace the broken one as soon as the locks come in the mail. I tried soaking the lock in WD40 2 days ago, still no-go, and figured its not a good idea to further "lubricate" dry-fitted fasteners like that... defeats the purpose. BTW, what do you mean it'll take some muscle to get the stud fit? A rubber mallet should do it right? oh yeah, what is the correct torque spec anyway? I tend to neglect torque specs...:P

[uibalnme]

Well...it not a good idea to "hammer" the stud into place. It's better to tighten the lug nut to pull the stud into the hub. Trust me, I've done it before. Hammering the stud in is much more dangerous(bloody knuckles). Doing that also puts strain on the suspension components(bearings, tie rods, bushings) like running over pot-holes over and over. Anyway, the washer and lug nut trick, I picked that up from a ASE certified mechanic. It's just alot easier. What I mean by "it'll take some muscle" was that it would be faster and even easier with an impact wrench to tighten the lug nut. I don't know if you have an impact wrench, and a compressor that can run one. As far as torque spec, it should be about 76 to 80 ft-lbs. A stuck lug nut is a sign of over tightening.

[calicelica]

AH! good tip. That'll save me from further unwanted trouble. No, I dont have an impact wrench. I only have regular, a torque wrench and hope that they will do. Ill try hard to manage not to break anything in the process. Thanks for the spec. I might have overtightened that one nut (that broke) too much, since my prybar is really long, and didn't use a torque wrench...

[calicelica]

job done, took an hour, impact wrench or a visit to a shop is HIGHLY recommended since fitting in the stud is super beeyatch... especially using tuner lugs+lock+wrench+extender combo...I seriously thought that Im going to break the new stud while fitting it in....but all is well, thanks again.

[uibalnme]

Good to know everything went well. A car that's in proper order is a safe and enjoyable car.

[lilsteeg]

i wouldent run the car like that but you should put wd40 onit before you try to take it off, also i was thinking you know how when you change an o2 sensor how your supposed to put antiseize on the new sensor so it is easier to get out, will that work on the lug nuts, im not sure i know that you use it because of the heat in the exhaust but could that help

[jwaj2002]

if they break, you soak them in wd 40 over night then use a set of bolt/screw outs, to get the stud out of the locks