PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Hey guys, what's up?

I will be replacing a couple of wheel studs tomorrow and wanted to get confirmation from youse guys that I'm going about it right. From reading posts on here, here's the game plan:

remove the tire
remove and support the brake caliper
using a screw driver in the slots, take the axle nut off (34mm socket, right?)
Remove the brake pad holder thing
Pull the rotor off
knock out the old studs
put in the new ones (not 100% sure on how to get the new ones in properly)
installation is reverse of removal

Sound about right?

Edit:
Also, autozone lists the wheel studs for $2.49 each, are those ok, or should I see if the dealer has some that might be better quality?

The studs are actually in the hub itself. They are not in the rotor. You will want to torque down on the new stud to make sure it is seated all the way. Do this by putting a nut on it and tighten it until the head is pulled up to the hub flange. If not it could cause some serious wheel wobble. You might have an issue with clearance on getting the new one in. If that is the case you might have to remove the hub itself. To get a good idea, look at the picture of the hub assy.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/ ... 214_11189_

Why take the axle nut off? For clearance when inserting the new studs?

FYI, the brake pad holder thingy is the "caliper bracket."

I bought a stud from AutoZone, have had no problems, but then it was only one stud.

Ken_W

Yes, only remove what you need to get the stud out and the new one in. If you put the front of the car on jack stands, you can then just rotate the wheel to get to the next one.

I might have been able to do it without taking the axle nut off, now that I've seen what all is in there. I did have to loosen the hub from the support that it's attached to, I needed just a 1/4" or less more room to angle the stud out and to get the new one in. All in all, it was fairly easy. Only a couple of $$ in the swear jar

Ken_W wrote: FYI, the brake pad holder thingy is the "caliper bracket."
Ken_W

Yeah, that's what I mean to say


Thanks for your help guys.

Now that the fun is over with, I'm gonna try to get my money back from the tire shop that cross-threaded the lug nuts, then jack-hammered it down with the impact wrench. I bought 4 used tires at the last minute to pass the state inspection, had to go to a place that I don't usually use. The car was pulling a bit to the right, so I though I would flip the left and right to see if it stopped or pulled the other way. It was hard as hell to get the lugs off on these two studs, and when I went to put them back on, the sky started falling. Ended up replacing 2 studs and 2 lug nuts.

Anyone else ever have this happen at the tire shop? I cringe when I see/hear them using the impact gun to put the lugs back on at some of these fly by night places.

After working at a shop that did quite a few tires, the impact isn't a bad tool, just gotta thread the nuts on by hand and use a torque stick, which stops turning the nut after its set torque.

If the torque sticks are the colored stick about 6in long or so with a 'socket' on one end, they had a set hanging on the wall, covered in dust.

Yeah, those are torque sticks. I agree that some cheap shops just crank it down with the impact. Some people don't actually do what's right, they do what's fastest....

kristie_jeff wrote:I

Anyone else ever have this happen at the tire shop? I cringe when I see/hear them using the impact gun to put the lugs back on at some of these fly by night places.

the local Sears store ran mine on and off with their speed wrench. Crossthreaded certain ones and then ran them right on. Then when they went to take them off they were bound up. I was told the dirt on the threads and the high speed running on and off also jams up the threads.

They refused to repair the one they broke. I'll never go back and I discourage everyone away from that particular store.

I was only there because the NTB lifetime rotation was honored by Sears, who owned the local NTB before they sold out part of the holdings.

I just had my tires rebalanced at the place i always go to and when the boss or the one worker that been there for along time does it my car is fine but then they have these young guys always in a hurry. they balanced them and it still shook so i was going to loosen the wheel and retighten since they are custom wheels since that usually fixes the problem. you have to put the lug nut in just right and slow to get them all even. well this guy was in a hurry ans when i tried to take the wheel off today one wouldnt come off so i retighten it and left it and will be taking it back or making them reimburse me for the new stud. I am going to get from the dealer tomorrow. but they will be hearing about it too.

Good to know robjr, but this thread is almost a year old. Please don't drag up old threads, if you feel it's that important make a new thread and link back to this one.

sorry man, didnt realize...im just upset about it and was looking on here to do myself cause i dont want them messing with my car.. have a good one