Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on?
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From: San Jose, CA, USA
Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on?
The only reason i ask this is because i've broken a wheel stud on my front pass side wheel. I dont want to separate the wheel bearings if i dont have to, so can get away with just 3 lugs on one rim? Thanks guys
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From: San Diego,Ca
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (aznmc16)
ya you can...when i got into a accident(long story short) i ended up backward in the dirt in the middle median area on a interstate highway,all four tires were flat and when i went to take one off the stud broke needless to say i drove another 4 hours to where i was going on 3 lugs...then back to my house again another 5 hours going around 75-80 mph, just make sure to tighten the other 3 lugs very tight. just dont drive on 3 lugs for an extended period of time like my friend did 
[Modified by dirtyazn, 1:24 PM 10/5/2002]
[Modified by dirtyazn, 1:24 PM 10/5/2002]
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From: USA
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (1fast92GSR)
I only have 2 lug nuts on each corner to save weight
[Modified by 1fast92GSR, 9:56 AM 10/5/2002]
[Modified by 1fast92GSR, 9:56 AM 10/5/2002]
Anyway I drove about 20,000 with three lugs on the passenger side. My car held up just fine, but that doesn't mean everyone elses will. The acura dealer wanted $300 to fix it. They said the wheel bearing had to be replaced because you can't use it after it is taken apart. Well, I found a local shop that did the job for about $50.
The integras are hard to replace lug nuts because you have to back the hub away from the bearings to switch out the lugs. It's not a do it your self job unless you are mechanically adept and have the right tools.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Bay Area, CA
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (Trench)
can't you guys take a little sarcasm?
anyway, you can also warp your rotors with a broken lug nut. same principle as not tightening your lug nuts properly
anyway, you can also warp your rotors with a broken lug nut. same principle as not tightening your lug nuts properly
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From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (aznmc16)
IT IS NOT SAFE. if you have to drive it... DRIVE IT SLOWLY. try avoiding sharp quick turns... cuz another stud WILL snap off.
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From: England/Florida/Portland
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (B00STeD)
I drove for 18 months with three lugnuts on passenger front and rear, no problems. The hubs are designed so that when they snap when repacing a wheel that it will survive your journey home.
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From: Orange County, CA
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (Arsenal)
i would just replace it just toget it out of the way and not have to worry about it. Though Im sure it is safe to drive it like that for a while. Or at least till your next paycheck.
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Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (1fast92GSR)
That's funny because I current have a car, the one pictured in my avatar, that has no rear brakes at all and all four wheels have only 3 lug nuts holding them on. And it's a 4 wheel drive off-roading beast.
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From: Fredneck, MD, USA
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (Brian_92GSR)
So in "Changing Lanes" when that one guy takes the bolts off of Ben Affleck's Mercedes, is that a realistic crash scene? Would it take that long for the wheel to begin coming off, and would the stability of the wheel degrade so rapidly?
Ben
Ben
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From: San Diego,Ca
Re: Is it safe to drvive with just 3 lugnuts on? (Trench)
I only have 2 lug nuts on each corner to save weight
[Modified by 1fast92GSR, 9:56 AM 10/5/2002]
Dude, you are strange. How much weight are you saving? 6 ounces? Yeah, thats worth about .000000000001 secs in the quarter mile.
Anyway I drove about 20,000 with three lugs on the passenger side. My car held up just fine, but that doesn't mean everyone elses will. The acura dealer wanted $300 to fix it. They said the wheel bearing had to be replaced because you can't use it after it is taken apart. Well, I found a local shop that did the job for about $50.
The integras are hard to replace lug nuts because you have to back the hub away from the bearings to switch out the lugs. It's not a do it your self job unless you are mechanically adept and have the right tools.
[Modified by 1fast92GSR, 9:56 AM 10/5/2002]
Dude, you are strange. How much weight are you saving? 6 ounces? Yeah, thats worth about .000000000001 secs in the quarter mile.
Anyway I drove about 20,000 with three lugs on the passenger side. My car held up just fine, but that doesn't mean everyone elses will. The acura dealer wanted $300 to fix it. They said the wheel bearing had to be replaced because you can't use it after it is taken apart. Well, I found a local shop that did the job for about $50.
The integras are hard to replace lug nuts because you have to back the hub away from the bearings to switch out the lugs. It's not a do it your self job unless you are mechanically adept and have the right tools.
..i paid $2.88 for the stud and did it myself....do yourself a favor and learn how to change a stud....its really soooo easy to do, all thats really hard about it for someone thats new is that you need an impact driver to get the screws off that hold the rotor on
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