I snapped the tire bolt off my left rear tire. Now I'm getting conflicting advice. Should I drill the bolt ( I don't even know what that really means) or should disassemble the brakes and hammer the bolt out? How much does a new bolt cost? Is any of this good advice? Is it safe to drive on 4 bolts instead of 5?

Drilling the bolt means getting a drill bit around the same size as the bolt you're drilling and drilling through it so eventually the head is separated and you can knock it out.

^ Is that necessary? Or should I just hammer the bolt out and buy a replacement?

Get it out, and get a replacement stud. I wouldn't recommend driving with a non-functioning one, but it may be ok as long as you take corners slowly and don't drive too fast.

If it's a 5-bolt hub its not that big a deal to drive with one missing.

Take the hub to a machine or mechanic shop and get them to press out the broken stud and replace it with a new stud. (Got to buy the replacement stud at an auto shop, unless the mechanic has one)

Tell me, how did you tighten the nuts? I use an impact wrench on mine and I've never broken a stud. Did you use some really long breaker bar? :D

^ Weird you should mention the impact wrench. I had my oil changed not the long ago because I don't have a jack or anything and whatever 20 bucks, not that bad. They say they'l rotate my tires for free. I'm like 'okay, good deal'. We'll not so good 'cause when I go to change the tire next time, every bolt is way too tight. 8 bolts later and.. snap.

^ sounds like the shop that rotated your tires gots some explainin to do...
its what you get for going to those cheap places to get your oil done, i've heard many horror stories from cheap places. definitely over-torqued your bolts, i'd get them re-torqued all around, and get the hub fixed, all on the place that changed your oil's bill... really does sound like its all their fault, if they were infact the last people to touch your tires...

Stupid monkeys with impact wrenches can warp your hubs in the worst cases. Most lugs are specced around 70-80ft/lbs, and that's pretty easy to exceed with a big wrench, even more so with an air tool.

Just bang the friggen thing through.
Put the new one in and suck it up with an impact gun no need for drilling or pressing hubs/

It's pretty easy to get out if you've got access to a mig welder. Weld a smaller dia bolt to it and you should be able to pull it out without taking off the drum/rotor.

^ Weird you should mention the impact wrench. They say they'l rotate my tires for free. I'm like 'okay, good deal'. We'll not so good 'cause when I go to change the tire next time, every bolt is way too tight. 8 bolts later and.. snap.
They weren't suppose to turn it up to full impact, fuck that! and normally check it with a brace after it.
Hope you went back there and ripped their heads off. :confused:

Just bang the friggen thing through.
Put the new one in and suck it up with an impact gun
This normally works for me, ^ dependant on the car of course.

Drill into the centre of it with a bit that is decent smaller than the stud you want to remove. Tap a left hand thread into it. Wind in bolt. Unscrew.

Just bang the friggen thing through.
Put the new one in and suck it up with an impact gun no need for drilling or pressing hubs/

If you have ever dealt with this before, it shouldnt be a question. Go to the parts house and pay the man 2 bucks for the stud and nut and follow his instruction, which by the way is the same as quoted.....punch it through the back with a medium sized hammer and a punch. Knock it out, put the new one through the back and tighten it with the nut to pull the stud until its seated against the axle hub and use the prescribed torque specs!

-or- take it back to the tire place and make them do it right.

Drill into the centre of it with a bit that is decent smaller than the stud you want to remove. Tap a left hand thread into it. Wind in bolt. Unscrew.
It didn't even dawn on me the car might be one that uses bolts instead of studs.
The op did say" snapped bolt"
I wonder how he made out?

It didn't even dawn on me the car might be one that uses bolts instead of studs.
The op did say" snapped bolt"
I wonder how he made out?
If worst comes to worst with a stud you can grind flats onto it and use a puller, with the aid of a little heat, to rip the fucker out. I wouldn't recommend it as a first option though,ahah.