How Strong Are Lugs?

"Thunder" (Thunder)
10/26/2013 at 20:55 • Filed to: Tires

So... I had to take my daughter to dance rehearsal today. As we arrived, another dancer was delivered by their mother. I walked near their minivan (so many cliches in this post already LOL) and heard the right rear tire hissing up a storm. So, I offered to put the spare on for her while our kids were in their class.

That's how I was faced with a roughly 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with a rapidly flatting right rear. Step one: find the jack. Not too hard - it's in a little cubby over the left rear wheel well. Got the jack in place and just under the current height of the vehicle so it wasn't a battle squeezing it in later. All's well and good, now let's grab the spare. Where's the spare? Not in the back... not under the back... not... anywhere? Hello, Google... ok - it's under the vehicle, accessed via something in the floor between the front seats? Really? OK... I found a release-thing there, and used these two extensions to wind it down to the ground. Now I can SEE the spare tire, in a little tray thing, but can't get it released. Probably spent 20 minutes at least trying to get it to let go; ultimately figured out there was more slack to be had so I could analyze the mechanism and get the darn thing loose.

I had already loosened the lugs a little on the flatting tire, so that was ready... but one just wouldn't go. I tried tightening it back up, then working back on it... again, and again. Figuring it might just be cross-threaded, I put more oomph into getting it off... and the darn lug sheared off, half in the lug nut, half on the hub. Well, that's a new one for me.

I finished getting the flat tire off (it had a good inch-and-a-half square by 1/4" thick GOLD thing in it), and put the spare on with 4 lugs. I told the lady not to drive too far on it, and to go slowly, and get it to a shop soon.

So, how strong are lugs? Did I do something wrong, or was it just blasted on there by a pneumatic tool at some point? I've probably changed tires a hundred times (being a native of upstate NY, I always had a set of separately-mounted snows) and never had a problem like this.

Also, how difficult is it to replace a lug? How much is she going to be out, in addition to the tire repair (if that's even possible with a gold bar in the tread)?

DISCUSSION (7)

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 20:59

Replalcing the lug is easy. We took our Pilot SUV to BJs Tire Center and they lost a lug for it. The Honda dealer charged us $2 for it. Installing it was snap too. Its not a big deal.

deekster_caddy > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 21:00

It happens. I've seen cars w two lug nuts missing. As long as it's a factory wheel the hub bears most of the load and the lugs just keep it in place. You could probably get a ways on just one lug nut in a desperate pinch.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 21:00

It's not a particularly time consuming repair to replace the stud. A brake shop can do it in a half hour or so. Probably just had messed up threads or was rusted on to begin with. I've had a couple of mine replaced.

BJohnson11 > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 21:02

Replace the lug? Probably about $2.00 at the right shop (as long as they're press in lugs). Shop presses them out, then just presses a new one in.

And she should be more than ok on 4 for now. Once upon I time I had 2/5 lugs on my Expedition shear off while driving (over tightened from the shop). Was able to drive for a little while before I got to the shop. Dangerous, maybe, but doable.

desertdog5051 > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 21:04

Lugs are strong, but mother nature is stronger. Hopefully, just a stout punch and hammer to drive the remains out of the hub. New one is pretty easy to install. Get it in as far as you can and put on the wheel and use an impact to draw it all the way. Antiseize the threads before you put the nut back on (on all lugs).

Thunder > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 21:19

Thanks to all who posted about how inexpensive it will be for her to replace the sheared lug. I'm glad to hear it - I didn't think it would be expensive, but still didn't feel good about not leaving her in a condition of being 100% ready to just go have the real tire fixed and go on her way.

Busslayer > Thunder
10/26/2013 at 21:36

I have broken a number of studs over the years. Replacement typically involves removing the caliper and rotor. Then knock it out the back with a BFH. The new one is inserted and seated by tightening the lugnut with an impact, or some muscle on a breaker bar. A shop will probably charge $25-30.