Wheel Stud Replacement Cost

Do you want to know the average wheel stud replacement cost so as to know how much you will be charged when you want to get a replacement? If so, you are on the right page because we have the answers you need.

At times wheel studs are mistaken for lug nuts which should not be, as they differ. Wheel studs are bolts that firm the lug nuts enough to hold the tires to the hub.

It is quite risky to drive a vehicle that has problems with its wheel stud. Hence, replacing a damaged wheel stud immediately is advised.

For vehicle owners who do not know much about wheel studs, this article examines the cost of replacing wheel studs, when to consider changing wheel studs, how to prevent wheel studs from getting damaged easily, and other facts known about wheel studs.

The wheel stud replacement cost range of $75 to $250 depends a lot on the brand of vehicle, its model, and the location where the replacement is to be done.

Luxury cars such as the BMW can cost up to $200 to replace the studs, while regular vehicles may not cost more than $80.

Also Read: How to Remove a Stripped Lug Nut (Step by Step)

Factors Affecting Wheel Stud Replacement Cost

The price of a wheel stud itself is not too expensive. However, changing all the studs or even more than one of them will cause a significant increase in the price.

Like many vehicle repair works, the brand and model are major factors to consider in estimating the cost of replacing wheel studs.

The location where the repair is to take place also has a major impact on its cost since a large part of the cost goes to labor fees.

Taking a vehicle to professional dealers to replace studs will usually come at a greater cost than having it done at a chain repair shop or a local workshop. If the vehicle requires some other repairs, it will cause an increase in the price.

Parts Cost for Replacing Wheel Studs

Replacing parts of wheel studs does not come at a great cost. Carparts.com have its prices for studs within the range of $5 to $6.

These studs can also be bought in packs containing ten studs, which could be bought for around $18 – $40. At retail shops such as Advance Auto Parts, replacement studs are quite cheap and can be gotten at a price between $2 to $3.

If the vehicle owner chooses to replace it by himself, a lug wrench with a tie rod end remover is required. These tools can be bought at a reasonable price or gotten from a number of stores that rent out mechanical tools.

A socket and ratchet set may be used as a substitute for a lug wrench if unavailable.

A lug wrench may be bought for $25 or even less. The tie rod end remover ranges from $17 to $30. If there is the need also to buy a socket and ratchet set, it costs less than $30.

Generally, all necessary parts required to perform this task project may be at a price not exceeding $50. The cost for these parts varies depending on the garage.

Although, it should not cost too much as there is usually no charge for buying the tools.

Buying new lug nuts for every stud that is replaced is highly recommended. Usually, while installing new wheel studs, the lug nuts suffer some damage.

Labor Costs for Replacing Wheel Studs

The work done in replacing wheel studs is usually not much and usually concluded within an hour. However, the cost attached to the work done may vary due to the location and place where the work was done.

If the tires have been replaced already or some other repairs have been carried out on the vehicle, it may be possible to get the wheel studs replaced without causing much increase in the labor fees.

This cost is usually determined by the amount the garage charges per hour. Taking the vehicle to a tire or chain repair shop will probably not cost as much as having it done in a specialist’s garage. Meanwhile, it is also possible that the local garage offers a better deal.

An average mechanic will put his labor fees between $80 – $100 every hour. Since the replacement can be done in 30 to 45 minutes, the total fees for labor should be less than $100.

Many people usually pay around $60 to $90 as labor fees for replacing wheel studs.

If the work is to be done at a dealership, the price is expected not to be the same as a local garage and may be done at an extra cost of $15 to $25 per hour.

Hence, the total labor fees if the replacement is done at a specialist’s garage may cost as much as $95 to $125 for an hour of work.

Dealers usually charge for an entire hour, not considering the time it took to complete the job. So taking a vehicle to a dealer should come with the expectation that the payment standard would most likely be at an hourly rate.

Also Read: Rod Bearing Replacement Cost

When Do You Need Wheel Stud Replacement?

Wheel studs require replacements when they get damaged, rust, or break. If a vehicle uses custom tires, longer studs may be required to work perfectly with the tires.

Although studs are built to remain in good condition for as long as a vehicle works, it is not uncommon to have a situation where a wheel stud breaks. Usually, this will happen due to the lug nuts being overtightened, vandalism, or rust damage.

A known issue with wheel studs is that their threads usually get stripped when replacing a tire. Wheel studs hardly break on their own if not affected by some other factor.

Environmental and weather conditions may increase the chances of a stud getting damaged.

For instance, in a region that experiences road freeze, salt is usually used on the roadways. This act may hasten the rate at which wheel studs rust and break off easily in such regions.

Another instance is if a vehicle owner resides in a place with very bad and rough roads, it could cause problems for the tires, which could have a negative ripple effect and cause problems for the wheel studs.

When the wheel studs of a vehicle get damaged and require a replacement, some of the signs that may be noticed in this situation include:

• Studs start to rotate and do not stay tight at a spot as they should.
• The Wheel stud is bent or broken.
• Stripped threads will be noticed on the studs.
• The studs will look rusty.
• Lug nuts will not be found in place.
• A corner of the vehicle starts vibrating.

1. The Wheel Is Loose or Wobbling

Lug nuts should evenly secure the tire and wheel assembly to the hub with the studs tightened as required. When lug nuts become loose, it can make the wheel start vibrating, wobble and loosen, which can cause problems on the lug nuts and studs or make them break off, which could cause the tire to detach from the car.

2. Missing or Broken Studs or Damaged Threads

If a stud is broken or cannot be found, the particular lug nut connected to the wheel stud in question will also be missing while the tire remains tight. When a stud has worn threads, is rusted, or is damaged, the lug nut might find it difficult to reach the torque needed, and the tire could detach from the vehicle while driving.

3. Stud Turns in Place When Fastening Lug Nut

If it is noticed that while tightening a wheel to its hub, the stud rotates with the movement of the tools, a replacement becomes necessary. While replacing, inspect the mounting hole properly to see any signs of damage.

If any of these signs are noticed, it is vital to fix the problem without wasting much time. If neglected, it’s possible that a more severe problem could hit the vehicle in no time.

Also Read: How Much Does a Dyno Tune Cost?

How to Replace Wheel Studs

1. Lift the vehicle with a steel Jack stand to support the vehicle.
2. Remove the tire, wheel assembly, caliper, and brake rotor.
3. If a vehicle has sufficient space behind the hub, use a compact tool to hold the defective stud out of the hub.
4. In vehicles without space to get behind the hub and a compact tool cannot be used, the hub must be removed. If the hub has to be forcefully removed from the knuckle of the steering, then there is usually a need to change the wheel bearing due to the hub removal. In some circumstances, the whole bearing assembly and hub may be changed, including all the studs.
5. The replaced stud(s) should be properly fixed into their right position, from behind the hub with brake rotors and caliper reinstalled, then the wheel is held firm with the studs.
6. The lug nuts of the wheel should be tightened based on factory specifications.

Check out this video for more tips on how to perform a wheel stud removal and replacement

Is It Safe to Drive With Wheel Stud Problems?

Note that it is unsafe. However, if a vehicle with stud issues is driven without a choice or during an emergency, then that should be done at a very low speed, and the distance to be covered must be very short.

However, in a case where the studs with issues exceed, it is better to have the vehicle repaired before using it for any other trip. If all studs are well-positioned and tightened as they should, it stops the rotor from distorting.

After a long time, missing studs may damage the tires, brake rotor, and other remaining studs. A vehicle may start vibrating when it is driven with a missing stud(s) and could affect the lug nuts or other studs, making them loose. This can cause the tire to detach from the vehicle while driving.

How to Prevent Broken Wheel Studs

Most times, a damaged wheel stud occurs as a result of human error. These vehicle components are built to last a very long time, and breaking them requires a lot.

Here are a number of the most popular factors that cause studs to break and ways to prevent them from doing so.

1. Improper Torquing of Lug Nuts

Lug nuts require an appropriate force to be used in equal proportion on all vehicle wheels. Not tightening lug nuts properly means they might fall off if they become too loose.

If they do not fall off, the space created between their current position and where they ought to be properly fixed will damage the stud threads in the long run. However, if they are over-tightened, studs may break off due to too much pressure.

2. Loss of Clamp Force

If dirt or rust is found on the tire’s rim while fixing the wheels, it can cause corrosion on the brake rotor, rim, or brake drum. With time, this will cause a movement between the brake rotor and rim, which eventually can cause wheel studs to break off.

3. Improper Installation of Lug Nuts

Lug nuts ought to be fixed on the studs and turned with the hands a minimum of four times to ensure they are well installed on the wheel studs.

If a vehicle owner replaced his tire himself (or even when done by a professional), it is not so difficult to fix lug nuts properly on tires even without going through this step. Fixing lug nuts properly, applying the right torque on them, and doing so in the shape of a star helps prevent damage that could be caused to the stud threads.

4. Cross Threading Lug Nuts Onto Wheel Studs

An Impact wrench not used in the proper or correct setting or threading lug nuts hastily can lead to this problem. It is essential to lug the nut slowly onto the wheel studs.

4. Rust Damage

If a vehicle owner resides in a region where salt is applied on the roads in the winter, the wheel studs of the vehicle face a higher risk of suffering rust damage.

When wheel studs start to rust, removing lug nuts becomes a tough task, and fixing them properly without causing further damage or causing the studs to break off may become more difficult.

If this is the reality of a vehicle owner (salt is usually applied on roads), it is advisable to inspect the studs for rust yearly. Suppose any sign of rust is noticed on the studs. It is safe and highly recommended that the studs be replaced before they start failing.

Conclusion – Wheel Stud Replacement Cost

Having said all this about wheel studs, it should not be forgotten that although studs are made to last for the lifetime of a vehicle, they may encounter challenges due to different factors which may cause them to get damaged over time.

A damaged wheel stud does not cost a fortune to replace as labor fees take the most money when replacing them.

However, this price is highly influenced by factors like the brand and model of the vehicle and the location where the replacement is to be done (i.e., the workshop where it is done and the environment), as some towns are generally known to be more expensive than other towns.

Replacing a wheel stud is a task that is not too difficult and may also be done by the vehicle owner if he has the requisite knowledge and tools to carry out the task successfully.