broken wheel studs

[laidbback]

I noticed I had a broken wheel stud about a month ago and I just checked my wheels today and noticed another right next to it on the same wheel!!

It is on the front pass wheel and it's a dana 30 with disc brakes. Where can I get some new wheel studs. I didn't do the disc swap, so I am not sure if they are different than original dana 30 studs?? This is my only vehicle right now, is it really dangerous to drive it with only 3 on the front wheel. Also once I get some new ones(hopefully tomorrow) how long is the job to get out the old 3 and get 5 new fresh ones in?

 

[NicksTrix]

danger will robinson.
just go to any parts store. change them all. they are old and have obviously been overtorqued. a wheel set of studs is cheap in the picture

 

[laidbback]

ok are the studs different from dana 30 to dana 44 and is there a difference because i have discs brakes that obviously aren't the original drums.

 

[bad 68]

Just pound one out. Your not going to hurt the threads since it won't get reused. Take it with you to any good tire shop or parts store. Don't baby it or you'll just make a rivit out of it. Use a drift and smak it good with a 3-5# hammer. Pull the new ones into place with a bit of grease on the treads (not splines they should be dry) and a nut with a stack of greased washers under it (shouldered bolt). Air impact with deep socket will be usefull for this. I don't think anyone will list specs for the studs by application.

 

[laidbback]

ok I just had kragen autoparts on the phone and told him 68 bronco and he asked if it was disc brakes and i said yes. I am thinking these studs won't work because from what I have researched, in order to put discs on a 68 dana 30, they used hubs from a 76-79? truck, so should I be looking for studs for that model? Thanks for all the help so far I just need to make sure I get the right ones before I tear it apart tomorrow.

 

[bad 68]

Guy from Kragen has a book that can see into the future. Just knock out a stud and take it in, match it up.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Ask for a stud for a '78 Bronco. That should work.
Installing the studs the shadetree method is put them in the backside and use an upside down lugnut (maybe some large washers as well) and tighten the nut to pull the stud into the hub.

Personally I have had issues with doing that and resorted to the more labor intensive but correct way. The issues I had were the stud not seating completely and the lugnut going loose as the stud slowly seats in. The other is stretching the stud as you have to overtighten the stud to pull it in. I now only use the lugnut to start the stud into the hole and either a press or a big hammer drive the stud into the hub until it is seated.

Expect to pull the rotor/hub off the axle to change the stud. I don't think you can reach the back of the stud with the rotor/hub in place (may depend on what backing plate is used).

 

[Pedestrian]

Remove the Hub rotor assy from the vehicle. I use an air hammer to install the new studs.

 

[Apogee]

I would ask the question why are you suddenly breaking studs on this one particular wheel? It's possible that wheel (and only that wheel) was either over or under-torqued. I've seen more studs break due to being under-torqued than anything else. It's quite possible that all of your wheel studs have gotten the same treatment and you've just been lucky thus far that none of the others have broken.

Okay, so you broke a stud a month ago and did nothing to fix it and now you've broken another one...what did you expect? After breaking the first stud, did you check the torque on the remaining four lug nuts? If so, what were they torqued to in ft-lb? As soon as you lost one wheel stud, the loads experienced by the other two next to it are inherently greater, increasing the odds that they will fail next, especially if they're under/over-torqued as well. Running with three lug nuts is only going to make the chances of failing more wheel studs worse. I would suggest quitting while you're still somewhat ahead and haven't hit another vehicle with either your rig or your tire/wheel combo.

If it were me, I'd replace all of the wheel studs and lug nuts no questions asked. I've broken wheel studs before on my '77 F150 due to a bad torque wrench, so they were only torqued to about 40-45 ft-lb. One big pothole on the freeway and two wheel studs broke. By the time I felt a vibration, it was everything I could do to get the truck stopped before that wheel vibrated the remaining three lugnuts off and I lost the wheel. The wheel was trashed, as were the remaining wheel studs.

 

[bmc69]

Guy from Kragen has a book that can see into the future. Just knock out a stud and take it in, match it up.

LMAO..I've heard the screwed-up computer-readers at auto parts stores described many ways..but thats a new one.;D