Tomfun

I have calipers/rotors off and am attempting to replace the stock wheel studs with longer ones, however I can't get past stud #1. I haven't tried any others since it doesn't really matter if I can't get them all.

Seems like a C/G clamp with a socket on the back side is the usual method when the hub is on the car....so thats what I did. Once I couldn't turn the clamp anymore I put a pipe on the end....


Just bent the clamp.... Figured I would get something a little more heavy duty so I put a drill press vise on it. Pipe to help get more torque.....beautiful! It starts turning.....



Nope, just destroyed the handle. Anybody else have a great idea? Buy a slide hammer and pull the hubs so I can put it in a big boy vise? Give up and take it to a shop? Any advise would be appreciated.

Please excuse the messy background - the garage is in chaos right now.

Cheers,

Tom

Spyerx

ugly job... if you can't get them out while on the car.... pull the hubs and use a hydraulic press, but pulling the hubs off will destroy the bearings.

have you tried HEAT!?!???

Tomfun

AAARRRGGG no I haven't.....I'll have to clean up quite a bit before busting out a MAPP torch...

Goughary

A regular c clamp won't work. You need something more like a ball joint press tool.

Tomfun

You da man. Took your advise and bought a ball joint press on Amazon - love it of hate it, they delivered 3.5hrs later.




This thing is definitely much more substantial than a c clamp, although I'm still disappointed in my drill press vise.... Anyways, greased up the threads and reefed on it... 5mins later all 5 were out of the first hub.


Thanks gentlemen for the help/advise.

Cheers,

Tom

911PERVY

Tool upgrade needed! That 1st clamp looks crap, not surprising it didnt do the job!

abarthguy

Yes, Harbour Freight is NOT your friend when looking for tools that can do a tough job!

tjb616

For what it's worth, HF does sell the tool shown above and it works fine. I've done probably 60 studs with it and although it says not to use an impact gun, a small one makes quick work of the studs and hasn't broken the tool yet.

mark lintott

What length studs are you changing to? I want to do mine as the spacers I have (5mm) are about the limit if I want good coverage on the threads.

Glad is is really doable in situ - should be fairly easy once you've figured out a method to get the things out...?

Cheers

Mark

Tomfun

I went with 66mm studs and open lugs. I'm planning on running 15mm spacers front and back for now and see how it looks. Once I had the right tool it took about 5mins with the rattle gun to press all the fronts out and same again to pull the new studs in. I haven't tackled the back yet.

Tom