My niece just brought her car in for a state inspection. Of course, they found everything wrong with it, most of which had nothing to do with safety, but that is a different story.

One item was brakes. When she brought the car home, I decided to check them out and noticed one lug nut and bolt was missing (the bolt had been torqued off). Is this a safety concern? (I wonder why it was not mentioned). How does one go about replacing the bolt?

This is a 97 Infiniti I30. The bolt is on the rear disk.

Thanks

 

It depends on the states criteria. It is possible that the lug stud is not an inspection item, and it is possible that is why it wasnt mentioned. It would be a safety concern in my opinion, having been a state inspector for years.
Each state has a set of inspection items that must pass in order to pass the inspection.
In order to replace the broken or missing lug stud you will need to remove the brake caliper and rotor to gain access. Then just knock it out with a hammer and possibly a chisel. Install the new stud with a regular lug nut turned backwards and a large nut or a stack of washers that will slip over the stud without damaging it. Tighten the lug nut and it will pull the stud into the hub.
Hope this helps ya,
Billy

 

By missing a lug you are putting undue stress on the remaining lugs to carry the load.

 

After driving commerically for 30 years one concern was lug nuts. Safety inspection aside it is there for reason. They are not hard to replace and will eliminate a concern.

 

I am going to take care of it in the next day or so. For some reason I thought I had to remove the hub and all, but thanks to the responses, it sounds pretty easy. Since I will have the rotors off anyhow, should make it that much easier.

Thanks again!!

Dave