Well I went to swap my winter wheels with my OEM wheels and I was given a present. This is the first time I went and did this myself and the last time I had a dealer do the work. Went to take off my real wheel and a nut and bolt were both stripped. I know nothing about this repar and I quickly searched and didn't find anything. Can anyone give me an idea on what has to be done to replace the bolt? I was told it is a pretty simple and routine thing to replace. Would it be safe to get it repaired at a tire place or dealer? Can I drive with only four lugs.

I went an bought a torque wrench and jack to do the job. No one else will every touch my wheels again.

dag

 

I don't know about the RX-8, but on other cars you just belt them out with a hammer. The new studs are then inserted from behind. These studs are usually splined and you can pull them up tight by putting the lug nut on and doing it up to pull the stud into place.

Easy job to do and will cost you five bucks maximum for the studs.

 

You can drive fifty thousand miles with only four lug nuts.....no dramas

 

Thanks Gomez. Hopefully I can get it replaced tomorrow - if I am lucky to find a place open on Sunday that will do it.

dag

 

You don't necessarily need Mazda studs. Any stud of an appropriate length with the same thread pitch will do the job.

 

Dag....How'dya go?

 

I am still driving with four lug nuts. Couldn't find anyone with the lug so I went to the dealer (had my 30K service too). They couldn't do the job because they realized they needed to remove and replace the wheel bearings to install the lug and they didn' t have the part. That was a week ago. Just called me yesterday and they wheel bearing came in. They are going to do it this Friday. Good new is they dealer said that since it was another dealer that did this, they are going to do this under warranty. I am just very nervouse driving without the lug nut. Thanks for checking in.

dag

 

Wheel bearing replace....wow, that's odd. At least it's all free. And relax, that wheel is going nowhere with four lug nuts. I once drove 10 miles (at walking pace) when a wheel fell off and snapped four studs. I jacked the car up, replaced the wheel (on the one remaining stud) and limped into town for repairs .

 

usually they break from someone with a happy airgun not paying attention
or a heavey aftermarket wheel.
now for studs i think they cost $1.50 at just about every auto part store i have been too.
I know Pepboys sold them.there is no specific car bolt like say 'hey i need a rx8 stud'
its listed under mazda,honda etc.
p.s what dealers are you dealing with ?

 

I decided to go to Mazda of Princeton. They are closest to where I work and they are not the dealer that stripped the stud in the first place. The weekend I discovered the stripped wheel stud, I went to Pep Boys, Advanced Auto, & Firestone and none of them had the wheel stud. As for the wheel bearing, I don't know a thing about what the dealer was talking about. They just said they had to take it off to replace the stud, and that a lot of times the wheel bearing gets damanged taking it off and on, so they are just going to replace it. Like you said Gomez - it's free so I am not that troubled by it. I can't wait 'til it is fixed.

dag