screwed up stud on rear drum

[andrw]

one of the studs is screwed up, and no lug nut will get tight on it. my question is in several parts.

first off, is it safe to drive with only 3 lugs? or with one that isnt that tight?

secondly, is it worth replacing the drum, or should i look into doing a disc brake swap, and if so, where can i find the needed information on doing this swap?

i dont think i remember seeing it on stingers site (my second home)

thanks guys.

 

[JPR]

No its not safe to use just three studs. Pull the brake drum off, drive the bad stud out then replace it. You can usually pull the new stud in by putting it on then running the lug nut down with a impact. Do it yourself for less than $5. Cheaper than the disc conversion.

 

[andrw]

if only i had wired my compressor up

 

[andrw]

what do the studs attach to?

 

[JPR]

what do the studs attach to?

They are pressed in the axle flange.

 

[andrw]

going to attempt this with a breaker bar, wish me luck

 

[andrw]

i attempted to hammer out one of the studs and it appears the plate bent slightly. whats up?

 

[JPR]

I'm not sure what you are calling the "plate". Worse comes to worse you might have to pull the axle out of the housing.

 

[andrw]

alrighty. the thing that has the studs coming through it. i hit one of the problem studs with a hammer once, and it didnt move really, but it appears the "plate" (thiing that the studs come through, flange?) bent ever so slightly.

 

[andrw]

ps im attempting to do this without screwing with tthe drum brakes, i did once, and it was a bitch to fix.

 

[Stinger]

where can i find the needed information on doing this swap?

i dont think i remember seeing it on stingers site (my second home)

You didn't look hard enough

 

[andrw]

You didn't look hard enough

yeah i realized after i posted that it was there. my mistake

youve helped me out a bunch of times with stuff on here, whether you realize it or not, and your site has gotten me out of a bunch of jams. just want to thank you while i have your attention, for the site/the responses/the articles. all of it.

many thanks

 

[andrw]

all that and pep boys sold me the wrong damn studs. i slide it in and it fits all sloppy, the little grooved part isnt as wide as the stock ones. man am i pissed.

i need my car for my route tonight and im sure everyplace is closed. 7pm on a sunday.

what a day.

 

[Stinger]

I'm sure you can get away with running 3 of them tonight...just check to make sure they are tight a few times during the route.

Stinger

 

[85 Coupe 5.0]

You'll be fine with 3. I've done it with 5 liter equiped cars and 4 bangers. JUST DON'T POWERSLIDE ANY CORNERS.

As for the old stud, it will just pound out.

When you put in the new stud, first start it straight, then put three (3) washers on the outer side of the flange and the put the lugnut on BACKWARDS, WITHOUT THE DRUM ON, then take your tire iron and slowly pull it into the new axle. DO NOT USE AN IMPACT, it's a good way to screw things up, it takes very little effort if you do it the right way.

If you bent the axle flange trying to get the old one out, well, then that sux, as the brake drum will now have runout and so will the wheel. you will need a new axle.

If you need anymore help, i'll snap a few pics for ya real quick on how to do it, it's easy.

 

[mightypoof]

I'm pretty sure you didn't bend the axle. It is pretty tuff. I drove for a week or two on three studs, just take it easy on corners and try to stay at slower speeds. I used a big c-clamp to get it out. put on end of the clamp on the end of the stud and the other on back of the the axle flange. just twist her out, not too hard to do. Go to NAPA, I had two parts stores sell me the wrong one, same as yours, to small. NAPA got it first time though.

-Josh

PS-you have the drum off right?

 

[andrw]

awesome guys. thanks for the advice, i was fine checking the lugs periodically throughout the route. however, i got slammed with 6-7 inches of snow and that slowed things down a bit. why didn't you warn me?

anyway. im going to napa this morning as advised and im fairly sure i didnt bend it either, on second inspection. it looks like some of the rust came off in one spot and made it look as though it was bent.

85 coupe 5.0, ive printed out your instructions and will follow them to the letter.

many many thanks

 

[chaka]

Make sure you put some grease in between the 3 washers and the lug nut. You want the washers to act as a sort of bearings.

I know when I replaced the studs on the front spindle it was a pain to beat out and I would not have gotten it in with out the impact wrench. If you use the impact just make sure you don't strip the threads or you will be in the same boat again.

 

[85 Coupe 5.0]

here's a pic of the proper way to get the stud's in with minimal effort.

I had no trouble doing it this way. Just make sure you put the lug nut on backwards when you do this, otherwise you will ruin the lug nut. As stated above, put some sort of grease between the washers, it will make things a lot easier.

 

[gruvee87vertgt]

hey 85 coupe 5.0-where exactly do you put the washers? And why? thanx!