any tricks for removing rear wheel studs ?

[ty901]

my H&R spacer set requires replacement of the stock wheel studs. the factory manual shows Hans driving the hub out with a P297 and BF hammer. this didn't work for me. neither did substituting an air hammer for the BF type.
I'm not in the mood to pull the entire banana and press the hub out. any ideas ?
input appreciated.

[Bill Douglas]

I saw a pic' where they used a g-clamp to force it though into a suitably sized (socket set) socket.

[75 911s]

I think I used this brass punch though it's been a while. Stand with your rear toward the hub holding the punch in your left hand and take a solid swing ensuring both the end of the punch is lined up with the stud and the hammer with the punch. Use the weight of the mini sledge to drive it out. Perhaps a little oil around the old stud to pre-lube it might not be a bad idea.



72mm will fit without taking off the hub:



Pulled new ones in with a oversized nuts that slid over the new stud, and one old lug to tighten:

[T77911S]

heat??

[Locker537]

Can you use a kit like this?

https://www.amazon.com/OTC-4295-Wheel-Stud-Service/dp/B009B2M3YO/

Your local auto parts store may let you rent it or something similar for free.

[ty901]

thanks all.
@77 911S
thanks for the pix. very helpful, but now it occurs to me that I may have left out an important detail. my car is a '66 (solid rotors with shallower E-brake backing plates) I thought about pulling the E-brake adjuster and that would certainly allow enough travel to get the stock studs out. not sure there would be enough room to sneak the new 70mm stud in.
@T77911S didn't but will do so adding Kroil
@Locker537 I'll look into it. thanks for the tip.

next: remove one stud and see if a new one will install.

plan B: switch to Sparco spacers or similar.

[Locker537]

That wheel stud service kit *should* do the trick, assuming you have the clearance on the back side to fish the stud in and out.

[911pcars]

Here's the tool I used to push, not slam, the stud from a rear hub. It has a jaw range of 56mm, so it's able to squeeze/push out the factory studs. About $25 a couple years ago.



Longer 65mm stud at 6'clock:


Sherwood

PS: Google is your friend, "ball joint separator to remove wheel stud" to see other studs, photos, stories.

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

Here's the tool I used to push, not slam, the stud from a rear hub. It has a jaw range of 56mm, so it's able to squeeze/push out the factory studs. About $25 a couple years ago.

Sherwood

PS: Google is your friend, "ball joint separator to remove wheel stud" to see other studs, photos, stories.

I use a press but I like this a whole lot better than a big hammer and punch. The later has got to be bad for your wheel bearings.

[Cory M]

You can borrow that ball joint press from AutoZone too, works good. Lube the threads on the press. Also easy to remove with good pneumatic hammer with a pointy tip if you thread a sacrificial lug nut on halfway to keep it centered.

[samurai_k]

I have found the harbor freight $12 ball joint separator work great for up to 52mm studs. I had a set of 66mm I needed to remove and found a wider one for BMWs like this one worked https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben-parts/ball-joint-separator-12-56mm/008959sch01a/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7qn1BRDqARIsAKMbHDbtKDYOznP-BlBGT0sTyqajBNohjIxCRKz4ugF-ivIPF3nJRbHD3N4aAtWYEALw_wcB

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[ty901]

I too am not crazy about the old school method that involves a BF hammer.
O'Reilly loans tools free on a 48 hour basis. taking a look at the offerings I thought the tie rod end tool might do the trick, but also grabbed the ball joint tool just to be sure.
the tie rod end unit *just* cleared the stock 36mm studs.

[ty901]

because the SWB scenario is so shallow 36mm would not fall out once backed out of the hub.
I got an offline tip to pull the E-brake shoe expander assembly (more on this later)
plenty of room to withdraw stock studs and install new longer units.

[ty901]

installing new studs is straight forward using a lug nut and spacer.

[ty901]

it's Miller time

[ty901]

the rest of the story:
remember those E-brake expanders ? (I sure do )
reassembly was what can only politely be described as a character building exercise.
one side was a snap. the other side fought me every M***** F****** millimeter of the way. I'm just glad this little chore is finally in the rear view mirror.
now... if I could only get that pair of wheels I sent out to be widened 3 years ago this part of the project would be done.

thanks again to all who responded.