Damn that sucks.
Someone else here would know best how that might happen, but I'd have to guess they were on way way too tight.
Or they were substandard bolts to begin with.
I've never heard of this happening.
I have broken wheel studs on other cars, but that was through excessive force, seized nuts, that kind of thing -- always in the garage, never on the road.
nxm150 said:
Yes, stubs are still in the hub.
So just the heads broke off the bolts, leaving the threaded rod?
I have 3 of the lug nuts. I think the 4th one is still in the wheel, but broken off.
As far as I know, the Elise has no lug nuts, only bolts. There might be a bolt head still stuck in the wheel, since they're tapered, but I'd be surprised if it's in that well. Can you take it out of the wheel? How did you recover the other three after they broke off on the road? Find them near the curb, or still in the wheel?
Just trying to get an image of what went down..
Has anyone messed with your wheels other than the factory? Are they all stock rims/tires?
As for getting it back in your garage, you should be able to do it.. You might have someone 'hold up' that corner of the car and gently roll it on the other three wheels into the garage, or better yet, put a dolly or creeper under it. Does it teeter on the two corner wheels, or put a lot of force on the missing wheel?
Otherwise, just leave it until a mechanic can take a look at it. The weather won't hurt it.