Is it safe to drive if there is a missing lug bolt What is a wheel nuts or wheel stud? What are the problems caused by a missing wheel bolt ?….?
The wheel nut, or wheel stud, is used to attach the wheel securely to the vehicle. The stud is a threaded fastener which attaches to the vehicle’s wheel hub and attaches discs, wheels and drums. The wheel nut holds the wheels that have been threaded into a stud.
Depending on your vehicle’s make and model, you may have four, five, or six lug nuts. Some vehicles come with indicators and loose wheel sensors. You can see it so you can identify it before the lug nuts fall off. It’s important to inspect the lug nuts on all vehicles. You should tighten them as soon as you notice one is loose. The lug wrench on your car can be used to tighten loose nuts.
Driving while missing a wheel nut can lead to unsafe driving conditions, including:
The wheel nuts are designed to hold pressure. Larger vehicles will have more nuts. A missing one of the nuts will cause more stress to the other nuts and eventually wear them out. This could have negative effects on wheel bearings. Wheel bearings may wear prematurely due to increased stress. It’s much more expensive to replace missing wheels nut than to repair them.
A missing lug nuts can cause wheels to wobble. As the pressure is not evenly distributed, the vehicle will shake. The wheels will feel heavier when cornering or braking, or at higher speeds. All of these actions can cause lug nuts to loosen or break. Broken studs can cause the wheel’s to fall if they are broken just once. This event is also known by lug shear and can occur especially with worn studs. You and your vehicle can be seriously injured if you cut your wheel.
In short, wheel bolts need to be checked regularly and missing wheel nuts must be replaced as soon as possible. Due to the additional pressure on the wheel, it is dangerous to drive with missing bolts. The extra pressure can cause wheel bearings and studs to become damaged or even fall. You will need to take precautionary measures when you purchase new tires for your vehicle.
