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Broken Wheel Stud

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:28 pm
by Steve_S
Rear driver's side wheel stud broke off when tightening wheel nut. I tried drilling and knocking out stud with hub still on the car, but not much success.

In any case, could I have fitted new stud with hub on the car?

To remove the hub do I need a special rear hub extractor tool as one of my manuals says?

If I decide to take it to a garage instead, would I be safe to drive the car a few miles with only 3 nuts on one wheel?

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 4:41 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes safe with 3 studs - but replace all 4 anyway. Hub comes off easily - maybe need help from two tyre levers - but no puller needed. Broken stud should come out fairly easily - hit it harder !

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:45 pm
by rayofleamington
If I decide to take it to a garage instead, would I be safe to drive the car a few miles with only 3 nuts on one wheel?
Not really recommended but if you keep the speed low then you reduce the risk. The loading on the remaining 3 studs is pretty nasty so as loang as you don't kerb the car and don't storm over pot holes and speed bumps then it is unlikely to cause an issue.

The hub comes off pretty easily if you have something decent to lever it with. The hard part is loosening the retaining nut, although it can be done with a chisel :oops:

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:07 pm
by bmcecosse
And a large hammer. Big nut is LH thread on that side.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:09 pm
by Alec
Hello Steve,

As Bmce says " hit it harder !", they do come out. The only problem is that a lot of the effort is lost unless you are knocking onto a solid base so it would be more effective to remove the hub and support the flange say across the jaws of a good vice and give it a good thump. Use the nut to pull the new stud into place.

Alec

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:13 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes - that's very important - make sure the stud is pulled right home - and recheck the wheel nuts after a few miles anyway !

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:27 pm
by RogerRust
its worth warming it up and using some wd40 or better still penetrating oil. I put mine in a hot oven then oiled it it came out easily.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:33 pm
by Alec
Hello Roger,

"I put mine in a hot oven" doesn't that harm the seal?

really heating is not necessary.

Alec

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:38 pm
by RogerRust
Thats true I did the seal and the bearing at the same time so warming it up made sense. It was a few years ago I'd forgotten about the seal

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:35 am
by Scott
Don't you guys use the axle to remove the rear hubs ?

Remove the axle, turn it round & slide it over the studs. Screw on a couple of wheel nuts & then tighten up them up to pull the hub off.

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:32 am
by bmcecosse
You probably mean the 'half-shaft' in UK speak ! The whole assembly is the 'axle' to us.

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:29 pm
by rayofleamington
Don't you guys use the axle to remove the rear hubs ?
much quicker to use a long lever (crow bar), but yes - I guess you can improvise a 'puller'

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:59 pm
by bmcecosse
Two tyre levers does the job easily. But Steve - you need to wonder why the stud broke in the first place - this is a very unusual (thankfully) happening. Was there some trauma leading up to the event ?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:01 pm
by millerman
Scott

A very good idea.
I hesitate to say how many years ago I used the half shaft to remove hubs, I suspect those with the comments haven't used the method you advocate!

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:20 pm
by Steve_S
Thanks for all the advice. I got the hub off and it is now soaking in oil to loosen stud. Not sure when I will be able to finish the job at the moment.

I only bought the car a few months ago and it had no history. I suspect a previous owner may have fitted wide wheels as the rear wings seem to be slightly widened. If they were running wide steel wheels these may have stressed the studs. One of the other studs has been replaced by one that is shorter, presumably a front stud.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:05 pm
by bmcecosse
I would change them ALL !