What Would Cause Wheel Studs to Break on a Trailer Hub

Updated 11/24/2024 | Published 08/10/2015

Question:

i bought this last year. When driving home, the right wheel broke all five studs, it bent the fender up and it flew into the bushes. 45mph. Why would this happen? I am trying to match up the 5 correct studs nowwhich is not going easily. We r at Mavis trying to put new tires on, but three studs are loose. He is going to the parts place to try and match it up. What a pain.

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

Wheel studs can break from too much torque on them or from having them too loose which creates movement which can eventually cause them to break. My brother kept breaking wheel studs on a car he had because he was using the wrong lug nuts.

In your situation it sounds like the lug nut torque should have been checked prior to your trip. Typically studs will break one at a time. It almost sounds like one broke and then the movement took the rest out.

expert reply by: Jameson C