What are the signs of a damaged or broken wheel stud?

Warning signs include a wobbling wheel, a clicking or knocking noise from the wheel area, difficulty tightening a wheel nut, or visibly stripped or sheared threads. A broken or missing wheel stud puts extra load on the remaining studs and should be addressed promptly.

What causes wheel studs to fail or break?

Wheel studs commonly fail from over-tightened or incorrectly torqued wheel nuts, corrosion, cross-threading, or running with loose nuts. Once a stud is stretched, stripped or cracked it cannot be reused and a wheel stud replacement is needed.

How do I find the right wheel stud for my car?

Wheel studs (also called lug studs) vary by thread size, length and the knurl that holds them in the hub, so the correct part depends on your exact vehicle. Enter your registration above to see wheel studs confirmed to fit, and replace any neighbouring studs that show damage.

How much does a wheel stud cost?

The price of a wheel stud depends on your exact vehicle and the brand you choose. Enter your registration above to see parts confirmed to fit, then compare prices from the brands we stock on this page. Free UK delivery on orders over £99.

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Wheel Stud buying guide — what to know before you buy

Wheel studs are the threaded fasteners pressed into the wheel hub that the wheel nuts tighten onto, securing the road wheel to the vehicle. A damaged or snapped wheel stud must be replaced immediately — driving with a missing or broken stud puts excess load on the remaining studs and creates a risk of wheel separation.

Types and thread specifications

Wheel studs are pressed into holes in the hub flange and are retained by a knurled shank. They come in various thread pitches and lengths — using the wrong pitch causes cross-threading that destroys both the stud and the wheel nut. Common European specifications are M12×1.5 and M14×1.5; Asian and American vehicles use different pitches. The stud length must allow at least six full thread engagements of the nut, otherwise stripping is likely.

Extended or longer studs are often used when fitting wheel spacers, as the extra thickness of the spacer reduces the usable thread length on the original studs. Always ensure sufficient thread engagement after fitting any accessory.

How wheel studs fail

Wheel studs most commonly fail through cross-threading — caused by attempting to fit a wheel nut at an angle, particularly in a roadside tyre change in poor conditions. Once cross-threaded, a stud must be replaced. Over-torquing by an air impact driver, especially without a torque stick, can stretch or snap studs. Corrosion in the hub flange bore can prevent the replacement stud from pressing in fully, reducing its clamping strength.

If more than one stud on the same hub has failed, or if the hub shows signs of impact damage, inspect the hub and bearing carefully before fitting new studs.

Replace immediately if snapped or cross-threaded
Match thread pitch and diameter exactly
Ensure minimum 6 thread engagements with nut
Do not re-use a stretched or corroded stud
Apply anti-seize to the press-in shank if the bore is corroded

Replacement

Wheel studs are pressed into the hub from behind. On many designs the hub must be removed from the vehicle to allow the stud to be pressed out and the replacement pressed in correctly. Some studs can be driven out from behind with the hub in situ and a new stud pulled through by stacking wheel nuts as a slide hammer — check the clearances on your specific vehicle first. Use the registration lookup to confirm the correct stud for your hub.