Broken Wheel Stud

[gsmithii]

Hey! All,

Today was the day to p/u the '06 Safari after having OEM tires replaced. After checking the Owner's Manual I started home on the 150 mile drive merrily checking and re-torquing the lug nuts as directed. 10 mile torque - fine. 25 mile torque - fine. 50 mile torque, using a break away torque wrench set at 115 lb-ft and I was dismayed to snap off the stud.

Oh! My. 100 miles left on the tow and my six-lug wheel was now operating on five lugs.

Some questions -
- first, how much disaster was I courting by deciding to continue the tow for another 100 miles? Or would I be advised in the future to pull over and spend the night until roadside assist rides to the rescue?
- second, is this a small job to repair? Large job?
- third, are A/S parts required or is it possible to wheel over to a local RV repair shop and use off the shelf parts?
- was planning on leaving for a weekend of camping. Sigh. IVO above, am I done for the weekend or is it possible to get fixed and back on the road quickly.

I surely don't want to drive 150 miles back to my dealer for repairs. Necessary? Not?

There are probably more things I need to know but this would be a start.

[easyride]

5 lugs should hold it on fine,I once towed 10 miles with 3 on each wheel. To change out the lug,pull hub,use large drift punch to knock out lug,take it to NAPA,they should be able to match.Pound in new lug,making sure it is flush. Remount the hub,brakes,wheel and retorque. Dave

[lpatkins]

Agree with easyrider, not a hard fix and you should be fine for a few miles. Once lost a wheel when all the studs twisted off, did the repair in the ditch!

[68 TWind]

There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to do this. I didn't seen links because there are so many. Watch several of them and you will see it is a very easy fix.

[Rebee]

I lost two wheel studs while in North Carolina drove home, about 100 miles. No problem. I was advised by my Dexter dealer to not replace the studs because of the possibility of the replacement studs working loose and making them impossible to remove the lug nut later. We replaced the hub. He had it for me the next day.

dale

[kennethowens]

Drive the old one out w/hammer and punch(or bolt).
Drive a new one in w/hammer.

Rebee - you are correct....5 will hold

[Mikethefixit]

Those studs are knurled and bite when driven in THEY WILL NOT COME LOOSE. I have replaced many studs in big trucks and cars in my years of wrenchin. Like kennethowens says Punch and a Hammer, Drive out the old, go ta NAPA match up the stud,Drive in the new DONE/ GOOD TA GO.
Good Luck
Roger\

[boondockdad]

I once drove my 2500 suburban with 2 missing posts, on the rear driver side wheel- from Detroit to Cape Cod and back, towing the 10k lb (and 1300lb tongue weight) trailer.
Of course, I had NO IDEA .
I check the trailer wheels regularly while in transit, but the truck- not so much. Shame on me for not checking the lugs… but shame on GORDON CHEVROLET in Garden City, MI for snapping 2 POSTS off- on a REAR BRAKE JOB, then screwing the decorative hub back on, and NOT TELLING ME.
Getting p*ssed all over again, just thinking about it…
I think a RANT post is in order…

[kennethowens]

Older models had "Lug Bolts" when they go bad - it is a little tougher.

[Streamer Dan]

You just had a bad stud, 115lb should be fine, have you ever tried to get the nut off a wheel that you've had a new tire fitted to in a shop???, those guys must tighten them up to about 20,000,000,000 lbs. helava job getting them off.
Maybe worth changing out the other studs as well, as they may have also been in the bad batch

[mhilley]

I would always suggest that ALL studs be replaced. Once you have it apart it is quite easy. The studs are fairly inexpensive and who knows why the first one broke. As the race people say "you life is riding on your studs" (or something like that!

[gsmithii]

Thanks All,

Before your helpful comments I was somewhere between "Dang! That could smart," and "This could be ba-ad."

Now it's possible to get a plan.

[Rebee]

After I broke the studs i got concerned about the torque. I ordered a torque wrench on line. My book calls for 85 ft lbs with the cast aluminium wheels.
I believe I was over torqueing the studs