Unbelievable I was changing my wheels today, and I sheared off a lug on the rear wheel of my 2005 scion tC. I still have 4 left so I feel okay driving it for a couple weeks but....HOW DO I FIX THIS!!!!

My dad tells me some cars have 'knockout' lug bolts. So instead of replacing half the rear end, you can just knock out the bolt and stick in a replacement.

Anyone know anything about this?! My wife is gonna kill me if she notices before I fix this. She's already threatening to put me on the couch for sleeping too late (well the heavy drinking probably doesn't help either).

Take it to a wheel/hub/tire place. They'll be able to replace the bolt for you. It's very inexpensive.

Ah man that sucks. If you have the tools, you can drill it out yourself and use whats called a reverse tap / or extractor... But like the previous post said.... most wheel and tire shops can do this for you very easy and pretty cheap.

Same thing happened to me a while back. I took my car to Discount Tire and they fixed it.

Next time use a torque wrench

yea the tc does have the lugs that "knockout" you just need a place to press out the lugs so you can replace them.

get a lug nut and stud. take tire off, then take caliper off, remove rotor. Knock out broken stud. Put in new stud ( if you have or can get a stud installer would be better, if not use some washers and put new nut on and tighen down until stud is all the way inplace.

That happens to the best of us. I've done that at least once on every car I've owned.

Seriously? I've owned and built performance cars for more than 20 years and have never sheared one off. lol.
There are a few reasons why that would happen. One, could be impuraties in the metals of the parts they used for the studs. The second one is unfortunately much more common. Shops not paying attention to what pressure their air tools are set to and over torque the lugs.... and/or not use a torque wrench (like mentioned above).
Either way... its a fairly easy, inexpensive to to fix.

x2! Best $25 spent. I highly recommend any car owner (esp. the DIY peeps) to have one.

since no one has said this yet I will. Don't drive with just 4 lugs on for a week. Get this fixed ASAP. Most will tell you its fine nothing will happen. DON"T TAKE THAT CHANC, with your life and other peoples on the road. You will be cause un even street to the other bolts. So please get this fix ASAP. you can buy and have the bolt installed at any tire shop or repair shop, It take about 20 minutes do replace. and should run you about 40 bucks

3X and buy 2, Keep one in your trunk just for your lug nuts set to the proper tq for you lug nuts. It make taking off and putting on you wheels so much easier also.

Until today I've never sheared a lug, but I'm guessing like is mentioned above, this is probably due to some hyperactive grease monkey with an air hammer, or metal impurities.

After this happened I pulled out the torque wrench and set all the lugs to 76 ft/lbs as the owners manual recommends, but which seems kind of light to me.

Good to know this is just a knock out lug, any idea where I can get a new lug? My local auto store thought I was crazy (actually they had one for the front but not the back..go figure).

Finally I understand this isn't the ideal when it comes to safety but 4 lugs for a couple days on a rear (non-drive) wheel ain't gonna hurt no one. My tendency to drive drunk is a much bigger risk. (kidding. I only drive drunk when it's really necessary)

if your rear wheels had no braking power then I would say you would be fine. But stress is transferred on to the bolts when the brakes are applied, the stress is not that of the front wheels but you still have it. I just wouldn't take that risk. if one bolt was damaged, The others might also be damaged. and the 5th lug not being on, will give the wheels some room to travel. not good for Stopping.

I do enjoy stopping.
Your concerns for my safety have convinced me. I'll get this fixed Monday.

emsmith.....


you were doing ok until the last sentence there.... with the driving drunk deal.
there is NEVER a time that it is necessary to drive drunk. I've had a family member killed by a @#$!@#$#%#$%@$ drunk driver.... So no... I dont find that amusing or funny.

i took mine to just brakes and they did it for 25 bucks i think.

Okay all... I'm done with my rant.... after you have a member of your own family killed by someone that thought it was a good idea to get behind the wheel drunk... it just rubbed me the wrong way.

(i was kidding)

I know you were kidding. I said I was done with my rant. I just felt like that's not something that should be considered a joke when people die. thats all.
It's over and peace is back in the forum