The wheel studs are the main components that hold the wheel to the wheel hub assembly. The lug nuts tighten the wheel to the facing of the wheel hub assembly by compressing the back of the wheel against the wheel studs. These threaded wheel studs can break if to much pressure is applied when tightening the wheel to the hub. Once that the wheel studs crack or break, they will need to be replaced. A broken wheel stud can cause the other wheel studs to have to carry more weight. This can result in all of the studs breaking.
Park the vehicle in a safe and level working environment. Set the emergency brake.
Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with the broken wheel stud with the lug wrench.
Jack the end of the vehicle up that has the broken wheel stud. Place jack stands under the designated jacking points on both sides of the vehicle. Then, lower the vehicle onto the top of the jack stands. Leave the jack in place.
Pull the wheel of by unscrewing the lug nuts from the wheel and pulling the wheel of of the hub assembly. Place the wheel flat down.
Insert the small pry bar into the top of the brake caliper window. The brake caliper houses the disc brakes. Pry the outer disc brake pad towards the back of the brake caliper so that the caliper will loosen from the rotor.
Remove the two mounting bolts on the back of the caliper with the 1/2 inch drive ratchet and a socket. Pull the brake caliper off of the brake rotor and hang the caliper to a suspension component with the bungee cord.
Remove the brake rotor off of the wheel hub assembly by either pulling the rotor straight off or by removing the bolts with a ratchet and a socket. Then, pull the brake rotor off of the wheel hub.
Screw one of the lug nuts onto the broken wheel stud if possible. Hammer the end of the lug nut until the broken wheel stud comes out the back side of the wheel hub assembly. Unscrew the lug nut and finish hammering the wheel stud out of the hole. If the wheel stud is broken off short, line up a center punch in the center of the broken wheel stud and hit the center punch until the broken stud comes out the back of the wheel hub assembly.
Reach around the back side of the wheel hub assembly and pull the wheel stud the rest of the way out of the hole. Then, insert the new wheel stud into the hole. Match up the grooves on the new wheel stud with the groove holes on the wheel stud hole. Tap the end of the new wheel stud with the hand held sledge hammer until the wheel stud is completely through the hole. Make sure that the head of the new wheel stud is flush with the back of the wheel hub assembly plate.
Reverse the same above steps for reinstalling the brake components and the wheel. Jack the vehicle back up and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
