nut for lug nuts broke off need help please :( - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

adalex · 10-17-2011, 06:07 PM

Long story short I'm currently in the process of flushing my brake fluid which was going ok until i got to the passenger side lug nuts I have 3 off ok but 1 snapped off with the lug still on it, and I have a feeling another is going to break too. I don't understand it seeing as I've never had a problem with it before. How bad is it? and can I replace the bolts themselves? or do i have to replace the whole hub? which is only like 120$? I'll take pics when i got back downstairs.

its a 99 camry le I4

Is it possible to replace just the bolts? Or do I have to get a new hub? If anybody has had to do this before I would appreciate it very much

Chris Crash · 10-17-2011, 06:19 PM

Read my DIY. It's stickied.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 10-17-2011, 06:45 PM

go to Advanced auto, buy the studs. They are like $1.75 each. Beat the old ones out with a hammer and tap em / bolt em flush with the hub

You need to remove the front rotors and brake caliper bracket/caliper before hitting em out though

***JohnGD*** · 10-17-2011, 07:04 PM

The wheel studs were probably overtorqued and that caused them to stretch. The lug nuts may have deformed as well. I'd go ahead and change all 10 on the axle. And if you feel resistance turning the old nuts on the new studs, then change those nuts too.

So buy a torque wrench (~$15 on sale at Harbor Freight, 1/2"-drive and a deep socket for $1). Torque in 3 passes with the tire off the ground and you shouldn't have problems.

Here's the DIY Chris mentioned:
DIY: Replace your wheel studs in a parking lot with limited tools

Of course in stead of two rotors you can use a stack of washers or put the tire back on and torque to spec.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adalex

Is it possible to replace just the bolts? Or do I have to get a new hub? If anybody has had to do this before I would appreciate it very much

adalex · 10-17-2011, 07:30 PM

yea i saw the diy, and i saw a diy on youtube with 1AAauto or w/e it was, i was all freaked out that i would have to replace the hub, I'm glad. and yea thats my guess too that it was over torqued since the last time the wheel was touched was at tire kingdom last month on the 22nd when i paid 20$ to have them look over the car for any recommendations. They took off the wheels at that time. Should I just replace the broken stud and the one thats slightly stripped? or should i just replace the other 3 studs while I'm at it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0avY0p0PU4&feature=relmfu

and installing one (never would have though of freezing the studs) O.o (is the cv nut that he uses to tighten the nut in, is that the big one that goes into the middle of the axle?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy9t1mU0lG0&feature=relmfu

note: i have a toruqe wrench etc, everything was going relatively ok with the brake flush until i got the the passenger front wheel >.< (the driver side was ok, no issues)

and of course a thanks to each of you guys

oh and one last thing, since we live in a deed restricted communtiy my mom was crazy eyed when i told her i was doing the flush, but I told her i saved like a 130$ she calmed down a little :P (Tire Kingdoms normal price, for my car anyways was like 150$) :P XD

***Mister_Perkins*** · 10-17-2011, 07:52 PM

if the tire people put your lug nuts back on with an impact, that was the problem. They should be torqued with a torque wrench

***JohnGD*** · 10-17-2011, 08:12 PM

Change all five studs on each side while at it. So that's 10 per axle. You don't want them to snap off while driving, that's including the driver side. If the shop over torqued them they will become weak and more likely to fail.

Yes, the video used an axle nut to seat the wheel stud. Depending on the lug nut, it might not work if the axle nut is too big. A stack of washers or just put the wheel back on can work too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adalex

Should I just replace the broken stud and the one thats slightly stripped? or should i just replace the other 3 studs while I'm at it?

(is the cv nut that he uses to tighten the nut in, is that the big one that goes into the middle of the axle?)

adalex · 10-17-2011, 08:18 PM

what about the backs? idk how to do it with drums O.o

***JohnGD*** · 10-17-2011, 08:27 PM

Yeah, the rears should be done too. When you remove the drum it's the same as the front. You'll see a hub with the studs on there. The rear wheel studs are longer but the price should be the same.

Just don't forget to block a wheel and release the parking brake.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 10-17-2011, 08:28 PM

pull the drums off, Whack the stud through. Same way, just pull the drum off first.

If you somehow can't get the studs in there ; you can remove the 4 bolts that hold the hub on there, pull the hub off, put it in a vice and tighten the studs down

Edit:
John can type faster

hardtopte72 · 10-17-2011, 09:04 PM

You can use an impact gun to put wheels on so long as you use a proper torque limiting torque stick. However your average GS tech is just going to slam them on until he "feels" they are tight. If i were you I would replace all 20 studs and lug nuts. And invest an a good cheap 30 dollar harbor freight torque wrench. Oh also complain to tire kingdom and see if they will replace them.

adalex · 10-17-2011, 10:54 PM

hey hardtopte72 where u at in fl? O.o sometimes I wish you could search by location and make it so people put city and state so you can find other people easier in your area :/

and thats where i got my 1/2 torque wrench and breaker bar from :P

hardtopte72 · 10-17-2011, 11:00 PM

Hillsborough County, Mostly Tampa, Brandon, Riverview area

If you need help let me know.

Also the absolute easiest way to put in new studs is to get an open ended lug nut like the ones below. And simply stick the new stud into the knurl by hand. Then using an impact gun and the lug nut facing backwards(flat part against the hub) screw in the lug nut. This will pull in the new stud without damaging the hole in the hub or elongating it. Done it this way plenty of times thanks to good old Tire Kingdom, Firestone, Walmart, and so on.

adalex · 10-17-2011, 11:11 PM

Hillsborough County, Mostly Tampa, Brandon, Riverview area

O.O

YAY Somebody that actually lives on the west coast XDDDDDDDDDDd

(almost everybody thats on here in florida is either in miami, orlando or jacksonville XDDDDDDD)

I get off at 4 tomorrow and was going to head to the dealer (clearwater toyota) and just pick up 2 lugs and bolts, didn't know if available after that, but yea I'd appreciate the help, make a little meetup while we're at it, would love to see your other cars too (we actually used to own a 89 Corolla All-Trac SR5 Station wagon 5-speed :P

hardtopte72 · 10-17-2011, 11:19 PM

I am pretty sure I have some lug nuts here but will check tomorrow morning. As for the studs dont go to the dealer. It is just a stud. Go to advanced or autozone and buy them. 2 bucks for the front and 2.50 for the rears. If i dont have lug nuts def buy those at the dealer as aftermarket ones will look different and are usually thinner metal. Toyota has some real nice lug nuts especially compared to American manufacturers.

If I were you I would consider replacing them all at least on an axle. Being 12 years old and having steel wheels. I can assure you that more lug nuts are on there way out.