Broken wheel bolt

[Kwhistle]

Was troubleshooting another problem on my 98 OBW ( http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=125561 ), and as I was tightening one of the lug nuts, the bolt just snapped in half. How difficult is it to replace it? Can I just take the wheel off, and tap it out with a hammer, and just snap a new bolt in place, or is there more to it? Any replacement brand I can get at Advance or Autozone better than the other?

 

Also, anyway to do it without removing the rotor/caliper?

Edited August 18, 2011 by Kwhistle

[johnceggleston]

you have to remove the rotor.

 

the tricky part is getting out from behind the hub once it is loose. but you can do it. be sure not to damage the tone ring for the abs.

[Kwhistle]

you have to remove the rotor.

 

the tricky part is getting out from behind the hub once it is loose. but you can do it. be sure not to damage the tone ring for the abs.

 

Thanks! Any tips? Would it help to turn the wheels so that the stud that needs replacement will be all the way down?

 

BTW, how bad is missing one lug nut? Can I safely drive the car for about a week? My rotors are due for a replacement some time soon, so I might as well do it all at the same time, and it would take a few days to get the parts.

Edited August 18, 2011 by Kwhistle

[johnceggleston]

i wouldn't go across the country at high speed, but a week in town i have done myself.

[idosubaru]

one missing lug is not going to affect the vehicle at all, you could drive it indefinitely like that and never replace it. they don't engineer stuff to fail that easily....well, maybe american cars do.

 

not saying i recommend it, just saying it's fine until you get around to it. many cars use 4 lugs, very common, even older subaru's - all EA81 and EA82's had 4 lugs. yes...smaller...and less power vehicles, but they're no where near their limits.

 

i have experience running on fewer than 5 lug studs as well. in charlotte, NC (500 miles from home) i had 4 out of 5 shear off at like 2 in the morning - leaving me only one on the front. finished my couple hundred miles of highway travel with 3 (turns out the brake caliper bracket bolts are the same thread as the lug studs). i used one from each side caliper bracket, giving me two extras, for a total of 3 up front. it was fine.

 

again - not saying i recommend it but it's not like they're designed on the verge of failure. if they were you'd see lots more failures as vehicles age, wear, get wrecked, off roaded, etc. but as it is, failures are extremely rare and seem more random than from heavy use even.