Wheel studs keep breaking?

Tiny
DMACK00
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 PONTIAC G6
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,000 MILES
Hey, I keep having wheel studs snapping on my car. I have changed already four times in the last three months. I also used a torque wrench, and they snap when I was torquing them. But I mainly hear them snap when driving. Does anybody know why they keep snapping?
Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 AT 6:35 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 836 POSTS
Hello,

Usually wheel studs will only break off while driving if you have a loose wheel on your car. The loose wheel might be due to over-torquing or under-torquing the lug nuts when the wheel was installed.

Are you using original or aftermarket rims on your vehicle?
Non original rims may have a problem with the center spigot (center part of rim) not being of the correct diameter to fit the wheel hub correctly, see image 1 below
This usually can be rectified by fitting spigot rings of the correct diameter, see image 2+3+4

A good article:
https://www.oponeo.co.uk/blog/hub-diameter-wheel-central-bore-and-spigot-rings

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Boris
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Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 AT 9:07 AM
Tiny
DMACK00
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Thanks for the response. I have original rims on my car. I also thought it was the rims, but I switched tires from drivers' side to passenger and they still snapped off. Is it possible that an bad wheel hub can lead to this?
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Wednesday, February 8th, 2023 AT 5:58 AM
Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 836 POSTS
Hello,

Do the wheel studs only snap off on one wheel?
If so, I would next check the diameter of the wheel hub center and compare with other side.
See image below
Check that the dimensions are the same.

If you need to replace the wheel hub below is a good video:
https://youtu.be/9NVBeO6b7Ow

Cheers, Boris
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Thursday, February 9th, 2023 AT 3:23 AM
Tiny
DMACK00
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Hey so yes, they only snap on the one side which is the passenger side of the car. The studs only last two weeks.
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Thursday, February 9th, 2023 AT 6:03 AM
Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 836 POSTS
Hello,

I would suggest to possibly looking at fitting in a new wheel hub.
Like that you know that all dimensions are what they should be.
After the fitment take the vehicle for wheel alignment.

Cheers, Boris
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Saturday, February 11th, 2023 AT 7:17 AM

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