I recently broke a stud on the rear of my F-150. If it was the only stud messed up on that tire,I wouldn't worry about it--but i was already running with only 4 lugs...now that tire is down to 3..

How much of a headache is it to replace the studs...Will they come out of the axle flange with the axle in the rear housing (please say they will) or will I have to pull the axle from the rear end ( )

I know this is getting long, but one more question, I promise...

If/when I do remove the axle, I drain the fluid, remove the drums, remove the cover, remove the cross pin (correct name?), and push the axle shaft inward thereby releasing the c-clips....so, what about the spider gears? Remove them? Leave them alone?

Thanks y'all!!

 

You should be able to replace the wheel studs without removing the axles. Remove the brake drum and you can rotate it around until you find a spot that has clearance behind ( no brake linings, springs etc,) and give 'em a sharp whack or two. Pull the new stud in with an old lug nut upside down. You might need a washer or two on the stud because the threads don't go quite all the way to the axle flange.

On the spider gears, leave them in. Rotate the diff. so the retainer pin can be removed and the spider gear shaft (crosspin as you say) can slide out at a downward angle. The important thing is do this so you don't have to rotate the assembly after you slide the spider shaft out. Push the axle shafts in, slip the c-clip off and then remove the axle or axles. Replace the spider shaft to temporarily retain the spider gears and shims in place. If you didn't budge the diff assembly during all this then the spider shaft will slide right back in without doing the Rubicks cube thing with the spider gears and shims.

Randy

 

Couldn't of said it better Randy. When I used to work at a shop we would use 2 of the cragar mag washers because they were thick. Then throw the trusty IR2131 on the nut and hammer away until it would go anymore. I keep a wheel stud install kit in my tool box. 2 washers and a 1/2 X 13 lug nut. Fits everything I own. Except the 1 ton.

 

Thanks guys!! I'll try to replace them this weekend... 'preciate the help...