2001 Astra wheel problem

[thesack18]

hi guys

the other day i was changing the tyres on my girlfriends Astra and when tightening the nut, ive done it up too tight and have ended up stripping the nut. its not the stripped nut that is the problem though as where the nut screws into is stripped as well now.

is this an easily fixed problem? if so, what exactly has to be done?

i dont plan on doing this one myself but would just like to know the process involved.

also, how dangerous is it to be driving the car with only 3 nuts in the wheel?

thanks guys!

[Wonky]

I don't know on modern cars as haven't been able to work on a car properly for many years but on older cars replacing a wheel stud was supposedly a pretty quick and simple, straight forward job. (Never tried it myself.)

I would certainly get it fixed ASAP. With a Commodore or similar I'd be prepared to risk driving around for a while with 4 of the 5 nuts holding it on given the torsional angles involved but I wouldn't want to do the same with only 3 out of 4 nuts! That means basically one half of your wheel is effectively loose! Maybe I'm just a worry wart though....... :D

[ATTNSEEKR]

sounds like its not a nut, more so a bolt type deal? so you have threaded the brake hub?

id say time for a new brake rotor(or whatever it bolts to) and some new bolts

[Ron SS]

Astras have bolts not studs ... yeah a real pain to change wheels because of it too. . It seems you have cross threaded the bolt when screwing it in. Buy a new bolt ... then you have to tap the threads in the hub. Any decent garage will have the tap; they are metric and a common thread size. I wouldn't drive on a wheel with only 3 of the four bolts in place. Ask your nearest forum sponsor to help you out. Good luck.

[thesack18]

ok thanks guys

yeh its a bolt problem sorry. im pretty sure ive threaded the break hub by the sounds of it.

i think there was a tiny problem with them before, but now ive completely ruined it.

will be getting it looked at this morning. hopefully its not a huge thing and can be fixed today

[Dacious]

Helicoil kit, $30-40 bucks at a tool joint. Comes with a tap, just drill the hole out, tap it, screw the thread in with the tool, break the tang off with a rap from a hammer - job's good. Enough threads in the kit to do two or three wheels. Stonger than the hub. Take your bolt in and make sure you get the right thread.

[Benboy]

M'mmm, think carefully as to how you repair it, your life and that of tohers may be in the balance - if dodgy repairs should fail. If it's worth reapairing then I always maintain that you should do the job correctly.