Help! Loose wheel stud thus cannot remove lug nut! The title says it all. I was taking some measurements before purchasing tires. I have Weld Prostar wheels which have a thick center. The wheel studs are 2.25 inches long. Here are my options as I see it. 1. Remove the 4 bolts holding the backing plate on and try to get a pair of vise grips on the back of the stud 2. Take an angle grinder and cut the head of the lug nut. The head of the nut is just past the threads of the stud so I may get lucky and not destroy the stud. I could then slide the wheel over the long shank. What do you think? I just discovered I have 2 other loose studs (luckily no lug nuts are on them). How do I fix this? Are they just pressed in? Im not sure if the axels are bolted in or C clipped.
Wheel studs are pressed in. As far as I know you'd have to pull the axle's to change them. The studs have a knurled shoulder that bites into the axle flange. I have seen guys weld them on the backside but that sure makes for a PITA if you want to change them in the future.
Have you tried to tighten the lugnuts and pull the studs back into the flange? this sometimes works if the knurled part is not completely stripped. I have also removed lugnuts from loose studs by pulling the wheel outward and turning the nut off. This may do damage to the aluminium wheels though. There is no easy sure-fire way to do this. Pulling the backing plates or flanges may help some but I am not sure how much this will help.
Yes I have tried all of your suggestions. Thanks I guess I can pull the axels (something I have never done). The studs need to be replaced or repressed. 1 step forward 5 steps back. I will probably start another thread "How do you remove axels" I do not know if they are bolted or C- cliped Thanks for your time DualQuad55 and furiousgoat.
that is one way I was thinking. Hold the lug nut still will a box end wrench. By reading this, I take it is on the rear end. What rear end is it?
I never tried to drill the center of the stud out. If the lugnuts are open on the ends, a slightly oversize drill (bigger than the stud) should work even better. In theory, once you drill past the head of the lugnut, it should start cutting into the shank of the lugnut and possibly cut it off there. You will need to be able to hold the lugnut still as you drill though. As far as removing axles, I don't remember which axles were c-clip or not by looing at the rear cover anymore. But if you 1. remove the rear cover, look at the axle ends about 1/4" in from the cross pin of the diff. you should see what looks like 'c' clips holding the axle in. 2. remove the 5/16? head bolt that locks the pin in, 3.slide the pin out, you will need to roll the carrier as you get the pin to come out. 4.push each axle in about 3/8" 5.use a magnet to pull the clips off the axle(they fit loose on the axle, are only held in by the grooves in the side gears) 6. pull the axles out. If the axles are the c-clip type, you won't need to pull the backing plate bolts as long as the drums are not worn excessively. If the axles are not the c-clip type, you don't have to do any disassembly of the carrier. You may not be able to undo the nuts for the backing plates as they are usually installed from the inside to a 'T' style bolt. In this case, cutting the lug nuts off may be the only option if they can't be drilled out. Good luck, sounds like most of my 'simple' projects gone awry.
Hang on here. Don't they make a tool called a "nut buster" that is just for this sort of thing. It clamps down on the nut and as you tighten it, it splits the nut without damaging the stud. Here's one. I don't know if it will fit on a wheel though:http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...3&R=34573&cm_ven=TL&cm_pla=DF&cm_ite=handtool Here's another style: http://www.toolprice.com/c=8ajTOauTDAnWshMf61ydS2JGu/product/8766E They sell both styles on ebay as well: http://search.ebay.com/nut-splitter...rgnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZunknown
Have you tried to use an impact gun to remove them. Its kinda like when you have to remove the nut off a alternator to change the pulley. The gun moves the nut fastner than the shaft can turn and off comes the nut. Don't know if this will work with a lug nut but you have nothing to loose. Good luck!
would it be possible to just spot weld the stud to the axle flange & remove the nut that way if a nut breaker woill not work?
Unless there is something I'm missing he's got a BRAKE DRUM in the way, how is he going to pull a non c-clip axle if he can't get the 4 bolts out of the retaining flange??? A nut buster would work if you could get to it. Odds are your wheels will not allow for the clearance you need. Assuming you have Buick rally's on there I like the idea of holding the outside of the lugnut with a wrench and drilling on the stud. A creative person might try using one of the stubby type easy-outs (don't even try this with the ones that look like a tap!!! YOU WILL PROBABLY REGRET IT!) hold the stud in place with one wrench on it and the other on the lug nut. If it doesn't work just keep drilling. Worst case you may have to pony up for a carbide drill bit as I'm betting those studs are hardened. I'd bet a good cobalt drill would cut the studs fine, just don't spin the piss out of the drill bit. Faster is not better with a drill bit as most seem to believe. regards
Not sure what model/year car you're working on. If its an A body GS w/ the 10 bolt, then the axles will not be C clip type. But held in with the four bolt bearing retainer. You won't care about destroying the stud as it cannot be reused. The studs are knurled and just press in. You'll need an oversize knurled stud. Most auto parts stores should be able to get them for you. The stock size is .486", oversize is .580". Jegs has a listing in their catalog. They also make a screw-in stud. With the thicker hub of an aftermarket alum. wheel you'll want the longer stud anyway. Check Jegs or Summit.
For the wheels sake just ruin the stud and buy them new . Sounds like you might have the wrong size studs in place anyway I say if your really good with a dremel you might be able to cut the lug nut off then change all the studs .
Problem solved Here is what I did - I took the angle grinder and removed the lugs shoulder and slid the wheel over it. Why didnt I think of this before? Im going to tack the other loose stud to the backing plate now that I can remove the brake drum. Saturday Im buying big FAT TIRES!!! Thanks for the help
