So I started hearing this slight thumping noise on the drive home from work yesterday, and then agian on the drive in. (couldn't find anything apparent when I looked yesterday - coming from the driver side back).

A co-worker get's in this morning and tells me a lug nut is missing. Low and behold it's sheared off and all the rest are very loose. ACK!

How difficult is it to replace a lug on a drum rear? (81 Camaro)

Not too sure if they loosened on their own (they were nice and snug last time I put them on) or if someone is trying to kill me (although the locking nut was loose too!).

Is it safe to drive with only 4 lugs?

Thanks,
Grant

 

Torque the rest down and drive it until you can replace it. Unless you're going to run some really sticky tires and launch high you'll be fine.

 

I spun three on the front and replaced them with arp's , now I have two ( one on each side of the rears ) lose , they just spin . Pisses me off ! If you have to replace them anyways I would sudgest the arp units , pretty tuff looking

 

They are easy to do. Remove the wheel and drum. Grab hammer and drive all 5 of them out. Install the new ones by putting them in the holes, and using an old open end lugnut with some washers. Just tighten the nut into the washers until the stud bottoms out. Throw that nut in the garbage. Replace all 5 lugs AND nuts as they have seen undue forces. Do not re-use the lugnut you use to tighten the lugs in with. If you go with longer ARP lugs like the bitch said make sure you can fit them or else you will need to pull your axles to get them in. The stock ones should be readily available at lordco.
CoryM

 

Thanks guys! Looks like I have my project for the weekend.