Stripped a Stud -- Safe to Drive?
 

Hey all--

Kind of embarrassed here, but when I was changing from my summer wheels/tires to my winter wheels/tires this weekend, I managed to strip one of the studs on the rear passenger's side wheel in removing the lug nut.

I'm planning on taking it to my local Subaru dealer to have them replace the stud. My question for the forum is: Is it safe to drive the car to the dealer with 4 out of 5 lug nuts on the rear right wheel? It's about a 4 mile drive on local roads, no faster than 40 MPH. Obviously I'd like to avoid getting it towed but if that's the only safe course of action, then that's what I'll do.

Take it easy and make sure the others are tight and all will be fine.
Back in the day I drove a boat of a 73 Buick around for months with only two studs.

It should be safe.

I remember in high school, some kid in my auto shop class broke two wheel studs on his 4 lug Acura Integra, and was only driving on two studs lol. Granted it was not safe at all, but his wheel never fell off until he was able to replace them.

4 lugs and driving 4 miles is no problem. I wouldn't daily drive it like that for months though, my brother almost lost a wheel driving around with 3 out of 5 studs on an impreza.

Thanks all! This makes me feel better and I will indeed drive it over to the dealer tonight.

why dont ppl do things themselves anymore???

pay a dealer for a new stud! ouch! :eyebulge:

I would pay the dealer or a garage to change a stud. Not because I can't do it myself but simply because I don't want to.

Same here, I changed out one of my studs last time. Granted it was not hard but just a hassle.

Im right there with @Tcoat. Maybe its a just as I get older more financially stable thing. Id much rather pay someone $100 to do it for me then spend an hr on my back in the garage these days. Maybe thats why I do 2-3 mods in the spring each year then the car is driven that way for the rest of the year lol.

on your back for a stud?

:bonk:

A "stripped" one at that!

I did 160mph with 4 lug bolts on one wheel with my supercharged m3. You'll be fine.

I've had 3 lugs strip on my BRZ and I've only replaced 2 of them myself...it's a lot of fun with a hammer but I'd recommend just having a shop replace it if you don't have the time.

We raced at 200mph with only 3 lugnuts, before NASCAR changed the rule again :)

You should be fine on 4.