Learning how to replace broken wheel stud is a simple procedure; however, without the right instructions, it can be difficult for some people to do it on their own. A broken wheel stud is a frequent problem that many automobile owners deal with.
Driving with a broken stud might be risky, so it’s crucial to get a wheel stud replacement as soon as you can. We will walk you through the process of changing a damaged wheel stud in this step-by-step guide.
How To Replace Your Car’s Broken Wheel Stud?
To replace your car’s broken wheel stud, you need to remove the tire, cut off the deformed old stud, dislodge it, rotate the wheel to slide it out, slip the new stud through the hub hole, secure it in place, and finally secure the lug nut.
1. Remove the Tire
The lug nuts on the wheel should be loosened using a lug wrench to start this process. As the weight of the car keeps the wheel in place while you remove the lug nuts, make sure you accomplish this before jacking up the car. Using a car jack, raise the vehicle off the ground once the lug nuts are free.
The appropriate lifting point should be located in the owner’s manual or on a label inside the vehicle. Place the jack underneath this point. To remove the tire from the wheel, first fully remove the lug nuts. While doing this, take care not to harm the tire or the rim.
If the tire is stuck to the wheel, you can even use a rubber mallet to hit the back of the tire or gently kick the bottom of the tire to free it. After the tire has been taken off, check the wheel and brake system for any wear or damage.
You should take advantage of this chance to inspect your brake calipers, rotors, and pads for damage and wear and replace them as necessary. Set away the tire in a secure location after checking the wheel and brake assembly. When putting the wheel back together later, you may use it as a guide.
2. Cut off the Deformed Part of the Old Stud
It is sometimes challenging to remove a broken wheel stud because it may have damaged the hub or other nearby parts. To make the stud simpler to remove if it is stuck or difficult to remove, you might need to cut off the damaged area of the previous stud.
The remainder of the stud should come out with ease once the distorted portion has been removed. By rotating the stud counterclockwise and using pliers or a wrench, you may take it out of the hub.
Once the old stud has been taken out, look for any evidence of wear or damage on the hub and its neighboring parts. Prior to attaching the wheel stud replacement, the hub may need to be fixed or replaced if it has sustained any damage.
3. Dislodge With a Ball Joint Separator
Ball joint separators can be used to free a broken wheel stud from the hub if it is impossible to do it by hand or with pliers. This device may be used to pry difficult wheel studs out of the way as well as separate ball joints, tie rods, and other parts.
To begin using a ball joint separator, center the forked end of the device around the stud’s base, making sure it is firmly in place. The tool’s opposite end should then be struck forcefully with a hammer to produce a separation force that will drive the stud out of the hub.
Use the ball joint separator with caution to prevent harm to any nearby parts, such as the hub or brake assembly. Once the damaged wheel studs have been removed from the hub, look for any evidence of wear or damage on the hub and its neighboring parts. Before installing the new stud, it’s also a good idea to give the region a thorough cleaning.
4. Loosen With a Sledgehammer
A sledgehammer can be used as an alternate technique to loosen the stud from the hub if a ball joint separator is not available or if it still won’t come out after several attempts. Use a sledgehammer by pressing the end of the hammer on the hub’s rear where the stud resides.
The stud will then be forced out of the hub by a separation force produced when you firmly strike the end of the stud with a sledgehammer. When using a sledgehammer, care must be used since striking the stud too hard or in the wrong spot might harm the hub or other nearby components.
The stud may also be bent or damaged if excessive force is used, which will make it more challenging to install the replacement. Before moving further with the installation of the new stud, it is crucial to check the hub and the surrounding parts for any symptoms of damage or wear.
5. Rotate the Wheel To Slide Out the Stud
To spin the wheel to make room for the old stud, just turn it until the space between the hub and the back of the wheel is large enough to slide the old stud out. This will allow you to remove the old stud and ready the hub for the new one’s installation.
Before installing the replacement stud, make sure the hub and surrounding components are in good condition. Inspect the region attentively for signs of damage or wear, since they might have an impact on the functioning of the replacement stud.
Before replacing the tire, be sure to clean the region around the hub and the surface of the wheel. This will assist to guarantee that the wheel is securely fastened and lower the possibility of any future problems with the new stud or other components.
Installing the new stud is the next stage in the procedure after the old stud has been taken out and the hub has been examined and cleaned. To do this, insert the new stud into the hub hole, secure it with washers or a stud installer, and then tighten it with a lug nut until it is securely fastened.
6. Slip the New Stud Through the Hub Hole
Installing the replacement stud is now possible once the broken lug stud has been taken out and the hub has been examined and cleaned. The replacement stud should first be placed in the aperture after being lined up with the hub’s hole.
Make sure that the hub’s matching splines are properly aligned with the splines on the end of the new stud and that the stud is orientated appropriately. The new stud must now be secured in place once it has been installed. The replacement stud can be pressed into position in one way, by using a stud installation tool.
In addition to preventing damage to the new stud during installation, this will assist to ensure that the stud is correctly positioned in the hub. To hold the new stud in place as an alternative, use washers and a lug type nut. Before attaching the lug type nut to the new stud with a lug type nut, slide washers over the exposed threads of the new stud.
When the stud is securely set in the hub, tighten the lug type nut until it is snug. When installing the replacement stud, it’s crucial to exercise caution since using too much force or aligning the stud improperly might harm it or other hub assembly components.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully while using the stud installation tool or tightening the lug type nuts. Before continuing, make sure the new stud is installed correctly by checking it again.
7. Secure the Stud in Place
In order to guarantee that your wheel remains securely fastened to your automobile, it is crucial to tighten the new wheel lug stud into position. In the beginning, take washers or a stud installer and place them over the new wheel stud’s exposed threads.
As you tighten the bolt into position, the washers will aid to prevent damage to the threads. The new stud should now have a lug type nut manually threaded onto it. Only one lug type nut, not all of them, should be used for this procedure.
A lug wrench should be used to tighten the lug type nut once it has been inserted onto the stud. In order for the stud to be securely fastened to the hub, tighten the lug type nut. To make sure the nut is tightened to the manufacturer’s suggested torque standard, you might need to use a torque wrench.
Avoid overtightening the lug type nut to prevent stud damage and potential wheel problems in the future. On the other hand, under-tightening can lead to a loose wheel, which is as risky. Give the wheel a light tug to make sure it is properly fastened to the hub once the lug type nut has been tightened.
You should inspect the lug type nut and stud for any problems and retighten as necessary if it wobbles or feels loose. It is advised that you carry out this procedure once again for every last wheel lug nut stud, making sure that each one is firmly in place before going on to the next.
Conclusion
You may save paying for a new wheel stud by replacing a damaged one yourself by using the instructions in this article on replacing a broken wheel stud.
To summarize, the main takeaways from our discussion are:
- To reach the damaged stud and replace it, it might be necessary to remove the tire and cut the distorted portion of the old stud off.
- The best approach is to remove the old stud using a ball joint separator, albeit employing a sledgehammer might not be the greatest choice.
- The old stud should be slipped out by rotating the wheel until there is space, but if there isn’t, a less-than-ideal solution could be required.
- The replacement stud must be inserted into the hub’s hole and fastened using washers or a stud installer after being firmly held in place.
- In order to complete the process, the lug nut must be fastened to the fresh stud and tightened until it is securely in place.
Given that a broken wheel stud may be quite inconvenient, always proceed with caution and take your time to guarantee a good repair.
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