When you first notice that the wheel nut is loose and tighten it, you probably don't think too much about it. If it's loose every time you look, though, you need to replace the wheel nut and stud on your Pontiac Grand Am. The task isn't easy, but it's feasible if you have a little mechanical ability, the right tools, some time and a little brute strength.
Purchase a wheel stud the same size that you have on the vehicle. If you aren't certain what size that is, remove it and take it to the auto parts store so you get a good match.
Check for the jack in the trunk and also get out some blocks. When you replace the wheel stud in your Pontiac Grand Am, you need to block the tire diagonal to the wheel that needs the stud.
Jack up the vehicle and remove the calipers. Lay them on the fender or up on something so they don't hang by the line. Take off the rotor. In the back, you may have drum brakes. If so, remove the drum. You may need to remove the hub so you can clear the flange. Put it in a vise if you do and move to Step 5.
Look for an opening behind the hub. Line the stud up with the notched out area. This allows the stud to clear the hub from the back and makes insertion of the new one easier.
Smack the stud with a mallet to push it out the back. Put the new stud in the same area and manually insert as far as possible.
Put two wheel nuts on the stud and tighten them down. As you tighten, notice that the stud pulls through. Check the back and when the head of the stud is flush with the back you seated the stud.
Reassemble the parts in the reverse order that you removed them after you replaced the stud on your Grand Am. Tighten down the wheel nuts.
