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I broke yet another wheel stud and instead of paying the dealership $70 to do it, I decided to do it myself this time. I spent $4.04 (for replacement stud) + $1.00 (for 6 washers). This sure beats paying somebody else to do the work and is definitely more gratifying.
Hopefully, this DIY helps you guys who need their wheel stud(s) replaced.
level of difficulty:
1.5 out of 5 (5 being hardest)
approximate install time:
45-90 minutes
tools:
floor jack and jack stands
socket wrench/ratchet
14mm (9/16") and 19mm (3/4") sockets
wd-40 or pb blaster or liquid wrench
~6 washers
hammer or mallet
Replacing the wheel stud:
*I did the rear left side. The fronts should involve the same steps, but may or may not require different socket sizes.
1: Jack up the car high enough using the standard jack points (or frame) so you can slide under the car easily.
2: Remove the wheel, exposing the studs, rotor, brake components, etc.
3: Locate the two 14mm bolts holding the brake caliper in place and remove them.
*Spraying the bolts with wd-40/pb blaster/liquid wrench makes the job much easier, especially if these bolts have not been removed recently.
**The bottom bolt cannot be taken off due to limited space behind it, so I used my floor jack to push up the suspension to create more space.
4: Put the bolts some place where the grease won't collect stuff off the ground.
5: Rest the brake calipers so that it does not put any strain (put weight on) the brake lines. Take off the brake pads, if you haven't already.
6: Locate the two 19mm bolts holding the brake caliper bracket in place and remove them.
*Spraying the bolts with wd-40/pb blaster/liquid wrench makes the job much easier, especially if these bolts have not been removed recently.
**I couldn't take off the bolts by hand so I used the floor jack (while making sure the socket is on the bolt completely as to not strip it).
7: Put the bolts some place where you won't lose them.
8: Remove the brake caliper bracket and the rotor and set it aside. They should just slide right out.
9: Spray wd-40/pb blaster/liquid wrench where the broken stud is and around it. Hammer away at the broken stud. (Optional: thread in an old/useless lug nut a little bit for added length and to prevent the stud from flying somewhere)
*Alternatively, you can use a C-clamp or something similar to get the stud out, if you don't feel comfortable hammering.
10: Take out the broken stud.
11: Spray the new stud down with wd-40/pb blaster/liquid wrench and put it through the hole where the broken stud was. Place ~6 washers on the stud and tighten the lug nut. Stop tightening when you can feel the head of the stud become flat like the other studs.
12: You're done! It should look like this.
13: Now put everything back together in the opposite order that you took them out in.
[self explanatory]
I did hear that, but i highly doubt hammering it will affect it too much. As long as you spray it down with copious amounts of pb blaster (which I used), it doesn't take too much effort hammering it out.
Just to make it easier, you could have started with step 6. There is no need to remove the slide bolts with grease on them to remove the whole caliper if you are taking off the bracket as well...
Just to make it easier, you could have started with step 6. There is no need to remove the slide bolts with grease on them to remove the whole caliper if you are taking off the bracket as well...
Just my , thanks for the write up!
Very true.. haha I was also inspecting my brake pads, as it was giving off too much dust. Good point, though.
Good write up and good pics. Small comment on the 19" bolts.
The method of the jack and the socket is kind of dangerous. That can slip out and go off flying and hurt something, or worse, damage the car. And, I don't think your socket wrench will last long doing that.
The proper tool is a breaker bar. I got one in a 1/2" drive and boy it makes easy work of about anything. If you plan to do a lot of suspension work on your car, brakes, etc, I highly recommend picking one up. It will save your time, your knuckles, and your socket wrench.
Now, the trick of the breaker bar is on the length of the bar. So another way to make this go is to extend your socket wrench arm with a tube of some kind. Back before I had my breaker bar I used to use the handle of my jack. Just slip the socket handle into it, and go. An extra foot of leverage will do the job nicely.
To put the bolt back you should use a torque wrench, and there is another long armed device that can help you take things off. Most people think of the torque wrench to put things on, but it can take the same bolt off easily. Again, the trick is on the length of the leverage.
One more option : there is a way to interlock two open end wrenches to make up a longer armed wrench. Under some situations this is a good trick to get a bolt started. Be careful because this can also slip and it can hurt.
Nothing beats the right tool. You will save so much time and frustration you will not know how you lived without it before. One 1/2" breaker bar can make any suspension/brake or tranny job a stroll in the park.
Oh, and another tip. Along my car travels I picked up a set of sockets of the kind you use for power tools (compressors, air tools). They are black and MUCH harder than regular sockets. They are great for work on suspension and brake jobs, and they won't eat up the bolts (as easily). They are heavy, so I keep a regular set but also have these for those tough jobs. Is a few extra bucks, but I bought them 10+ years ago and have never had to replace one.
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I have a red Z.
The red Z runs.
Run Z run!
The end.
wow another stud.... you should start using a tq wrench, good right up! you still have that headlight?
Torquing them down wasn't the problem this time. The lugnut crossthreaded as I was taking it off. The lugnut stripped and got stuck between the threads on the stud. I tried to clean the stud, but the threads came off along with the lugnut strips that was on it. So, new stud.
And yes, I still have have the headlight casing. You never showed up to pick it up at any of the places. I have to go find it again and you'll have to come to McKinney to get it now.
Slaponte, I do have a breaker bar, but it didn't fit with the socket. Go figure. The jack method isn't too bad. I made sure that it wouldn't fly off or strip the bolt by holding it down on the bolt securely with my right hand while jacking it up with my left. Breaker bars that fit would definitely help, too, though.
Redlude97, I thought about putting it in the freezer, but that seems like it may hurt it as any material will break more easily when in lower temperatures. I have heard it before, however.
thanks for the right up. is there a better way rather than pounding the stud out with a hammer? how do the shops do it?
If you're worried about damaging something, then just be sure to look at the components where the "banged" stud will hit as it comes out. It shouldn't matter though. And no, I don't know what the shops do, but I don't imagine it to be much different from banging.
Tried doing this with my buddy, that bolt was so hard when i cranked it with my own strength my whole nipple of the ratchet twisted off. now i only have 2. things are no joke to get off. wd-40 did not help much. Did not think of the jack though.
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Almost everything I say, is about a 1/4 of the way thought through.
Tried doing this with my buddy, that bolt was so hard when i cranked it with my own strength my whole nipple of the ratchet twisted off. now i only have 2. things are no joke to get off. wd-40 did not help much. Did not think of the jack though.
I did the exact same thing. I have a better breaker bar now, though, thanks to it breaking.
Yeah, using the jack (which can put much more force than you can) definitely helps. If you have a long enough breaker bar or a pipe to lengthen, it'll make things a lot easier.
Thanks for posting this. I just painted my brake calipers, but in the process I had a lugnut cease up on me and eventually broke the damn stud trying to break it free. I'll definitely be using this in the near future to replace it.
Nice.
Does removing this stud apply to any other stud that is "pressed" on the Z?
Because on my rear shock mounts (the 2 bolts that come down from the frame) one bolt is slightly bent. If I pb blast it and start hammering, will it come out?
DIY: Wheel Stud Replacement (lots huge of pics)
, thanks for the write up!
I have to go find it again and you'll have to come to McKinney to get it now.
I have a better breaker bar now, though, thanks to it breaking.
