'83 Eagle Front Wheel Stud Replacement

[djm3452004]

Good Evening, All --

Probably a very silly question, but is there any way to remove/replace the front wheel studs without completely disassembling the front wheel bearing assembly?

I wanted to get a total length on one with calipers and tried to tap it through to remove it, only to have it bind on the iron hub casting behind it and not be remotely close to coming out.

This seems like something that should be a simple replacement item, and I must be missing something obvious.  Any thoughts? 


Thanks in advance --

David

[Mitch]

Pretty sure you have to remove the rotor.

[djm3452004]

Thanks for the reply! 

Yes, I had pulled the rotor.  The stud would not back far enough out of the round steel flange to be removed due to the cast iron hub housing sitting directly behind it.  I was hoping that the cast iron hub had a clearance section somewhere in its circumference to allow for easy stud removal, but it does not.

In my case, I'm not dealing with a broken stud, but they happen all the time.  It seems I'm missing something dumb as studs should be easy to replace.


David

[Mitch]

My MR manual shows the flange as being separate. Searching for my TSM to see if there's any info there.

[djm3452004]

My MR manual shows the flange as being separate. Searching for my TSM to see if there's any info there.

The flange is an integral part of the hub/bearing assembly.  To remove the flange, it and the iron hub casting have to be pulled apart.  The flange shaft is pressed into bearings that seat inside the iron hub casting.

Attached is a photo of my home-made puller I made when I changed my bearings earlier this summer.

My point is that the flange cannot be separated or even pulled out a little bit from the iron hub casting without the entire hub/bearing assembly being removed from the car.  I cannot imagine having to go through that hassle just to change a wheel stud/lug.

David

[Mitch]

It does look like it all has to come apart. There's nothing in the TSM to help. Maybe someone more skilled has a hint or two...

[Draekon]

I was able to replace one of the front wheel studs on the replacement hub I installed. It didn't seem like it was going to be able to fit, but with just the right rotation and angle of the stud, I was able to get it off and the new one on. Maybe I just got lucky, but it was possible for me

[djm3452004]

I was able to replace one of the front wheel studs on the replacement hub I installed. It didn't seem like it was going to be able to fit, but with just the right rotation and angle of the stud, I was able to get it off and the new one on. Maybe I just got lucky, but it was possible for me

Thank you, Draekon, I'll give it another go and report back.  I didn't want to force it and damage the stud.

David