The average cost to replace a wheel stud is $82, with $12 for parts and $70 for mechanic labor. Your automotive bill depends on your vehicle and labor costs in your area.

How long does it take to replace a wheel stud? It generally takes about 30 minutes to one hour for a certified mechanic to complete the job. This includes the time it takes for them to do an initial inspection along with the full wheel stud replacement.

How did we estimate these prices?
Jerry's experts researched and collected data from 2500+ real repair shops in all 50 states in the US, including everything from the total cost of repair services to the hourly labor cost for mechanic labor in each shop. We combined that data with our expert database of hundreds of real repair jobs, thousands of real cars, millions of real car part prices in order to best estimate the cost of each repair service. Our labor cost estimate is calculated by taking the average hourly labor rate for a certified mechanic in the US, times the number of hours it takes on average to complete a repair. We recommend you compare your local shops with Jerry and contact those shops directly to get final pricing for your vehicle.

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What parts do I need for my wheel stud replacement and how much do those parts cost?

Check your owner’s manual or ask your mechanic for precise parts. In general, here’s what you need for the replacement:

New wheel studs: The studs hold the wheel to the axle. Each wheel has four to six studs, so you might need to replace several if more than one looks damaged. Each stud costs about $2, with packages costing around $15.

If you’re planning to replace the studs yourself, you’ll also need these specialized tools:

Torque wrench

Allen wrench and boxed end wrench sets

Floor jack and jack stands

Hammer

Gear lube

Screwdrivers

Ratchet and socket sets

Tire iron

Wheel chocks

Some popular wheel stud brands include Dorman, ARP and Raybestos. You can purchase wheel studs from local parts stores such as AutoZone or Advance Auto parts, or from online retailers such as Amazon or RockAuto. The best parts for your car will depend on the make, model and year of your vehicle.

Should I buy OEM or aftermarket parts?

There’s not much difference in quality or price, so it’s a matter of personal preference. If you’re getting the wheel studs replaced at a dealership service center, they’ll use OEM parts—but feel free to pick up aftermarket replacement studs if you want to do the repairs yourself.

Where can I buy parts for my wheel stud replacement?

Popular wheel stud brands include Dorman, ARP and Raybestos. Shop for wheel studs at local auto body shops and auto parts stores like AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts. If you can’t find the correct size, order the parts online. You can also order from online retailers like Amazon or RockAuto. You can find the stud part number in your owner’s manual.

Find out what parts are recommended for my car

Where can I get my wheel stud replaced?

If you don’t feel like getting your hands dirty, leave this job to your mechanic. If you don’t have someone in mind, let Jerry's

GarageGuard™

help you research and find a trusted repair shop.

Here’s how it works: Jerry's GarageGuard™ compares fair price estimates from over 2,500 vetted repair shops in the US. You can see each shop’s real hourly labor rate, find out what’s included in the estimate, and read real reviews from customers—all so that you can choose the best service at a price that works for you.

Take a look at some of our vetted shops below and download the app to compare car repair quotes near you.

123 Reviews

Zimmerman Automotive LLC

7638 Airpark Rd A, Great Falls, VA

Shop Diagnostic Fee

(Included in service charges)

$50

Compare this shop for free with Jerry (301) 330-0299

173 Reviews

Victory Auto Service & Glass - St. Petersburg

3001 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, St. Petersburg, FL

Shop Diagnostic Fee

(Included in service charges)

$134.40

Compare this shop for free with Jerry (727) 822-0278

153 Reviews

John Nolan Auto Service

15 E 4th St, Newport, Cincinnati, OH

Shop Diagnostic Fee

(Included in service charges)

$100

Compare this shop for free with Jerry (859) 261-8833

152 Reviews

Olympos Auto Service

400 Jericho Turnpike, Mount Vernon, NY

Shop Diagnostic Fee

(Included in service charges)

$135

Compare this shop for free with Jerry (516) 739-1133

How did we vet these shops?
Jerry experts researched 2500+ real repair shops across the US. We talked to real shop customers, and analyzed both real shop pricing data and thousands of real customer reviews from each shop to verify them individually. We do not partner with the shops listed above, and our analysis is always unbiased.

How will a mechanic replace my wheel studs?

If you take your car to a tire shop or auto repair center, here’s how the mechanic will replace the broken wheel stud:

Raise the vehicle: First, the mechanic uses a floor jack and jack stands to elevate the car.

Remove the wheel and tire assembly: To do this, the mechanic also has to remove the brake rotor and caliper.

Remove the broken stud: There are several ways the mechanic might do this. They could use a compact tool, slide the stud out by hand, or tap the stud out with a sledgehammer.

Insert the new wheel stud: Next, the mechanic slides the new stud into the hole from behind the hub. They will replace the brake caliper and rotor.

Tighten the wheel lug nuts: Lastly, the mechanic puts the tire onto the studs and secures them according to factory specifications.

Good to know: The mechanic tightens the wheel studs using a star or crisscross pattern. This way, pressure is evenly distributed.

Is it okay to drive with a missing wheel stud?

If your wheel is just missing a single stud, it’s alright to drive for a little while until you can get it inspected. But if more than one is missing or broken, it’s not safe to keep driving. A missing or damaged wheel stud can cause the following problems:

Damaged bearings

Stress on the other wheel studs

The wheel comes off of the vehicle

Increased risk of car accidents

What is a wheel stud?

If you look at the wheel hub assembly, you’ll see large steel bolts holding the wheel to the axle hub. These bolts are threaded and secured with a lug nut. There are usually four to six studs for each wheel on your car.

Since the wheel studs keep the wheels on your vehicle, it’s important to get defective, loose, or missing studs replaced as soon as possible.

When should I replace the wheel studs on my car?

The most common symptoms of bad wheel studs include:

A loose wheel: If the wheel studs are wearing out, you’ll notice the tire begin to wobble, vibrate, or loosen while you drive. Get to a tire shop or mechanic as soon as possible since the wheel could break loose from your vehicle.

Missing studs, broken studs, or damaged threads: If you find a broken stud lying on the ground near your vehicle or a mechanic sees that a stud is missing or bent, your vehicle needs new ones. A mechanic might also check the stud threads during maintenance to see if they’re rusted or worn and due for replacement.

A spinning stud during maintenance: If you or a mechanic sees the stud spin in place while fastening the lug nut (during a tire replacement or rotation), it’s a sign that the stud needs to be replaced. They should also check the mounting hole in the wheel hub for damage.

How often should a wheel stud be replaced?

Wheel studs may last the life of the vehicle, so you only need to replace them if they look rusted or damaged.

Are wheel studs easy to replace?

While it seems simple to swap out wheel studs, this is a job best left to the professionals. There’s just too much that could go wrong if you DIY. Plus, you’ll need specialized tools to remove the wheel bearing.

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FAQs

What causes wheel studs to break off?

Wheel studs don’t usually break off unless there was a problem with them when you had new tires installed. Specifically, if the lug nuts were over-torqued or under-torqued, the tire can work its way loose and break the studs.

What holds wheel studs in place?

Wheel studs are pressed into the mounting holes, and the ribbing on the studs grips the holes. Then, lug nuts are attached to keep the studs firmly in place.

Meet Our Experts

John Davis

Car Expert

Certified mechanic with 10+ years of experience

John Davis is an expert automotive writer and former automotive mechanic. John's work spans multiple categories, and he relishes the opportunity to research a new subject and expand his area of expertise and industry knowledge. To date, John has written more than 200 articles covering car maintenance and care, car advice, how-to guides, and more.

Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team, John worked as a mechanic and freelance writer, creating content for clients including HotCars and SetPower.

Jessica Barrett

Car Expert

Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit.

Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.

Kathleen Flear

Car Expert

Kathleen Flear is an expert insurance writer and editor who heads up Jerry’s editorial team as director of content. Kathleen empowers drivers to make smart car ownership decisions through best-in-class articles on insurance, loans, and maintenance. Prior to joining Jerry in 2021, Kathleen served as managing editor for a team of SEO content marketing professionals at Article-Writing.co and worked as a freelance writer and editor for a range of digital publications, including Chicago Literati magazine and Golden Words. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Queen’s University, and a master’s degree in creative writing and fiction from Sierra Nevada University.

*The price information provided on our car repair webpages is intended for general informational purposes only. Actual prices for car repair services may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to the make and model of your vehicle, the extent of repair required, and the prevailing market conditions. All prices for real repair shops are estimations based on our research only. Therefore, the prices listed on our webpages should not be considered as final quotes or binding offers.