Replacing Wheel Studs Questions

[snettleship]

I'm in the process of replacing the wheel studs with longer ones. I have different wheel thicknesses and also thinking about spacers.

 

Anyway, I pulled off the front hub and the rotor. I tapped out the existing studs with a Socket extension. Two of the 4 studs have always be a little loose. I replaced these with new studs by agains tapping them in with a hammer and socket extension. But, of course those two studs are still a little loose. Should I get larger diameter studs or do something with the hub?

 

I wasn't planning to replace the wheel bearing since they were replaced last year. Any advise for repacking and replace them.

 

After the fronts will be the rears. Any advice there (Drum brakes)? Thanks

 

Scott

[solder_guy]

Should I get larger diameter studs or do something with the hub?

 

I hope you find the right ones for your hub! Good luck!

 

I replaced the studs in my rear drums to longer ones .. My rear end is Toyota Corolla and I found some longer ones on a Toyota Pickup in the junkyard. Very tight!

 

Rob

Edited June 25, 2009 by solder_guy

[Ian7]

Looseness will allow unplanned bending loads in the studs, urge you to replace them with ones that have the proper interference fit in the hub.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Looseness will allow unplanned bending loads in the studs...

 

Depending on the design, fitment, etc it may or may not. The tension of the stud is probably doing all the work.

 

However, I do agree with Ian. It never makes sense to play around with these things. A failure could mean disaster.

 

Don't just simply buy larger diameter studs. Buy the ones that CORRECTLY press fit into your hub.

[snettleship]

I think I have the ones that are correct for the hub. But, I believe in the past a couple of wheel studs have been "spun". I've had to cut off several Lug Nuts, One time when I had a shop put on the wheels with excessive torque. With this one hub, 2 studs fit great, the other 2 are not as tight as they should be.

Edited June 24, 2009 by snettleship

[Ian7]

... the other 2 are not as tight as they should be.

 

Curious how you judged this. If you didn't need a hydraulic press to put ALL the studs in, then they are ALL too loose :-)

[scannon]

Some auto parts stores carry a large selection of wheel studs along with a catalog that gives dimensions. Take one of the goods ones along and have them measure it and then see if they can find one with the same thread and correct length but a slightly larger knurling. Otherwise it would be wise to replace the hub.

 

NAPA and Checker in my area both have the same ones.

[11Budlite]

I've gotten Dorman studs at my local NAPA store but if you want to do some research online you can view their catalog here: http://www.dormanproducts.com/catalog/2006_hardware.htm

Go to section #10 for wheel studs and then it's just a matter of going through all the pages to find something that will work.

 

ARP also makes some nice wheel studs but they're pretty expensive. Check out pg 66: http://www.arp-bolts.com/catalog/Catalog.html

 

They also have a recommendation for the clearance between the stud and hub depending on hub material. Cast iron/steel hubs are .005" and aluminum hubs are .007". See it on pg 9: http://www.arp-bolts.com/FAQ/FAQ.html

 

Have you measured the ID of the hub holes that are loose and compared them to the other ID's?