Having a broken or missing lug nut on your vehicle can be extremely dangerous if not addressed quickly and properly. Lug nuts play a crucial role in keeping your wheels securely attached to your car, so driving any distance without the proper number can lead to catastrophic wheel separation or major safety issues.
Page Contents
- 1 What does a lug nut do?
- 2 Is it dangerous to drive with a broken lug nut?
- 3 How far can you drive with a broken lug nut?
- 4 What if you only have one broken lug nut?
- 5 Can you replace a lug nut yourself?
- 6 When should you replace all lug nuts?
- 7 How much does it cost to replace a broken lug nut?
- 8 Can you drive a car with three lug nuts?
- 9 What causes lug nuts to break?
- 10 Can you repair a broken lug nut?
- 11 How to prevent lug nuts from breaking
- 12 Conclusion
What does a lug nut do?
Lug nuts are the fasteners that hold your wheels to the hub of your vehicle. Most cars have four or five lug nuts per wheel. Lug nuts screw onto the wheel’s studs, holding the wheel tightly against the hub to prevent it from wobbling or falling off while driving.
Lug nuts must be tightened to the vehicle manufacturer’s specified torque, which is typically between 70 and 120 foot-pounds of force. Properly torqued lug nuts keep the wheel firmly attached even when hitting potholes or bumps. They prevent the wheel from working itself loose over time.
Is it dangerous to drive with a broken lug nut?
Yes, it is extremely dangerous to drive with a missing or broken lug nut. Here are some of the potential hazards:
- Wheel wobble – With a lug nut missing, the wheel can wobble and shake while driving. This makes handling difficult and puts added strain on the other lug nuts.
- Wheel separation – Over time, the torque on the remaining lug nuts can cause them to eventually fail and allow the wheel to completely detach from the vehicle. This often happens without warning and causes loss of control.
- Brake pulsations – If the wheel wobbles, it can cause uneven brake pad wear and lead to brake pulsations or vibration when braking.
- Uneven tire wear – A loose wheel places uneven friction on the tire tread, causing tire wear on one side or spot.
- Damage to wheel studs/hub – The excessive movement of the wheel can damage the wheel studs and hub components.
The worst case is sudden catastrophic wheel separation while driving at high speeds. This often causes roll-over accidents that are extremely dangerous or even fatal. Even losing a rear wheel can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
How far can you drive with a broken lug nut?
There is no truly safe distance you can drive with a missing or broken lug nut. The wheel should be repaired immediately before attempting to drive the vehicle.
However, if absolutely necessary, many auto experts recommend driving no more than 50 miles at low speeds (under 50 mph) to reach a repair shop. Even this poses significant risks and should only be done in an emergency.
Driving any faster or farther than that greatly increases the chances of wheel separation or major damage. Some vehicles may not even be safe driving 50 miles missing a lug nut. The only truly safe option is to have the vehicle towed to a repair shop if a lug nut is broken or missing.
What if you only have one broken lug nut?
Having even a single broken or missing lug nut is dangerous. While having just one broken lug nut is not quite as risky as having multiple broken ones, significant safety hazards are still present.
With only four fully attached lug nuts per wheel, the wheel is more likely to wobble and work itself loose. The remaining lug nuts experience increased strain that can lead to failure. Potential wheel separation is still a major risk, especially at high speeds.
No vehicle is designed to be safely driven missing a lug nut. Any broken or missing lugs should be addressed immediately before attempting to drive the car.
Can you replace a lug nut yourself?
It is possible for many car owners to safely replace a broken or missing lug nut on their own. However, there are some important factors to consider:
- Proper tools – You need an adequate lug wrench, socket, or impact wrench to apply the full torque spec.
- Replacing in pairs – It is often recommended to replace lug nuts in pairs on the same wheel to evenly distribute torque.
- Retorque after 50 miles – Always recheck and retorque the lug nuts after driving 50 miles to ensure they have not loosened.
- Proper torque – Use a torque wrench to achieve the automaker’s torque spec. Under or over tightening is dangerous.
- Wheel damage – Make sure the wheel’s stud holes are not damaged. This can prevent proper lug nut tightening.
- Shop repairs – More extensive repairs like broken studs or wheel damage will need to be done by a professional shop.
As long as the wheel and studs are in good shape, properly replacing one lug nut with proper tools and by following the automaker’s torque procedure can be a safe DIY repair in many cases.
When should you replace all lug nuts?
There are certain scenarios where you may need to replace all of the lug nuts on a wheel at the same time:
- Multiple broken studs – If two or more studs are broken, damaged, or rusted, it is safest to replace all the lug nuts so they match.
- Wheel removal and reinstallation – Always put on new lug nuts or fully re-torque the originals anytime the wheel is removed and put back on.
- Unknown maintenance history – If you are unsure of the last time the lug nuts were replaced, installing fresh ones reduces risk.
- visibly damaged or rusted – Corroded or visibly damaged lug nuts should be replaced.
- High mileage vehicle – Many experts recommend replacing all lug nuts after 50,000 to 60,000 miles as preventive maintenance.
While a single new lug nut can be ok in some situations, fully replacing them reduces the chances of future lug nut failure or loosening. The cost of a full lug nut set is relatively low compared to the safety benefits.
How much does it cost to replace a broken lug nut?
On average, the cost to replace a single broken lug nut ranges from $10 to $30 for parts and labor. Here is a breakdown of costs:
Parts Cost | $5 – $15 per lug nut |
Labor Cost | $5 – $15 for install |
Full Set of Lug Nuts | $40 – $75 |
Mobile Repair Service | $70 – $120 |
Parts expenses include just a single replacement lug nut up to a full set. Labor at a shop involves jacking the vehicle, removing the wheel, installing the new lug nut, reinstalling the wheel, and torquing the lug nuts.
Mobile repair adds a trip charge and convenience costs. Buying a full set of replacement lug nuts for future use is a smart budget-friendly option in many cases.
Can you drive a car with three lug nuts?
No, it is never safe to drive a car that is missing lug nuts. All vehicles require having the full set of lug nuts installed and properly torqued on each wheel.
Driving with only three lug nuts is extremely dangerous and puts you at high risk for wheel separation, loss of control, and accidents. Even with three lug nuts, the wheel can still wobble, strain the studs, and eventually fail.
Before attempting to drive any vehicle, make sure all wheels have the complete and proper number of lug nuts installed. Never remove them to alter the car’s appearance by “stretching” the tire sidewall. Proper lug nut maintenance and installation is a key part of automotive safety.
What causes lug nuts to break?
There are a few common causes of broken or damaged lug nuts:
- Rust and corrosion – Exposed to water and salt, lug nuts can corrode and weaken over time.
- Improper torque – Over or under tightened lug nuts can break under stress.
- Impact damage – Hitting curbs can damage the lug nuts or wheel studs.
- Worn or damaged studs – Lug nuts secure poorly if the wheel hub studs are worn down, bent, or damaged.
- Faulty parts – Low-quality, defective lug nuts may have internal flaws or weaknesses.
- Cross-threading – Forcing misaligned lug nuts onto the bolts damages the threads.
Regular lug nut inspection, maintenance, and replacement can help identify and prevent many issues that can lead to lug nut cracking or failure.
Can you repair a broken lug nut?
It is not recommended to attempt to repair broken, cracked, or damaged lug nuts. Once a lug nut becomes faulty, it needs to be fully replaced. Here are some reasons why repair is not advised:
- Strength is compromised – Even if welded or glued, weaknesses remain in the lug nut that reduce its load capacity and make failure likely.
- Inspection and fit issues – A repaired lug nut may not fit the stud properly or be able to be torqued down fully.
- New lug nuts are inexpensive – It costs only a few dollars to replace with a high-quality new lug nut.
- Safety risk – Attempting to repair and reuse a damaged lug nut could lead to serious wheel separation accidents.
Never take chances with faulty lug nuts. A proper repair involves fully replacing any broken lug nut as soon as it is discovered.
How to prevent lug nuts from breaking
You can help prevent lug nut cracking or failure by following these proactive maintenance steps:
- Torque to spec – Always use a quality torque wrench to achieve the automaker’s torque settings.
- Re-torque after 50 miles – Retorque the lug nuts after the first 50 miles of driving on new wheels or lug nuts.
- Check before long trips – Quickly inspect wheel lug nuts before road trips or extended driving.
- Replace corroded lugs – Do not reinstall visibly rusted or corroded lug nuts.
- Avoid impacts – Drive carefully over potholes and curbs to avoid wheel damage.
- Rotate tires regularly – Tire rotation promotes even wear and lug nut stress.
- Refasten after impacts – If you do hit a bad pothole or curb, re-torque the lug nuts immediately after.
- Upgrade to chrome or stainless steel lugs – These resist rust and corrosion far better than standard lug nuts.
Staying on top of minor lug nut maintenance today helps avoid major wheel failures and accidents down the road.
Conclusion
Driving any distance with a missing, cracked, or broken lug nut is an extremely dangerous proposition that risks wheel separation and loss of vehicle control. In most situations, the vehicle should be towed to a repair shop immediately to have the damaged lug nut properly replaced and all lug nuts re-torqued.
Never take chances with your safety or that of other motorists and pedestrians by continuing to drive once a lug nut issue is discovered. With regular proactive maintenance and inspection, lug nut failure can usually be avoided in the first place.