Lug bolt removal
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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Lug bolt removal
As my ongoing fight to get my truck rolling due to wheel issues continues, my next battle involves stripped lug bolts. How do I remove them? Where do I buy them? What size do I need?
Thanks everyone!
Thanks everyone!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Bill will have the size. They are splined rear entry. Beat them out backwards and reverse the action with the new ones. You can pull them in nice and snug with a pull handle or air wrench.
or at least that is the poor mans method.
John
or at least that is the poor mans method.
John
Elder User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 554
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Its super easy. I've broken several on my truck because they were rusty. Just take the nut off, cut it if you have to. Then take a 16 oz. hammer and hit it. You want to hit it so that the bolt goes in towards the brake drum. You need to take the drum off by the way ( it just pulls off). When you hit the bolt it should just knock out. The bolts are just a press fit. Take it to Napa or any other auto store and tell them you need another one.
PS- If you can't get it out with a 16 oz. hammer... get a bigger hammer.
PS- If you can't get it out with a 16 oz. hammer... get a bigger hammer.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Fits: 1948/52 F1 // 1953/66 F100 // 1966/77 Bronco // Myriad 1949/72 Passenger Cars.
Available at most autoparts stores.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Southwest KS
The correct way to put a lug stud in is to use a press. Hitting with a hammer can damage the head, causing it not to seat tightly (the hammer is harder than the stud). If you do not have a press then use a brass punch to install it. Never use an air wrench to "pull" a stud into place as it will stretch the threads and shorten the life of the new new stud or in worse case cause the wheel to come loose, or off. If you are installing new studs use new nuts too, it's worth it in the long run.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 783
From: Simi Valley, CA
The correct way to put a lug stud in is to use a press. 
Hitting with a hammer can damage the head, causing it not to seat tightly (the hammer is harder than the stud). If you do not have a press then use a brass punch to install it. Never use an air wrench to "pull" a stud into place as it will stretch the threads and shorten the life of the new new stud or in worse case cause the wheel to come loose, or off. If you are installing new studs use new nuts too, it's worth it in the long run.
Hitting with a hammer can damage the head, causing it not to seat tightly (the hammer is harder than the stud). If you do not have a press then use a brass punch to install it. Never use an air wrench to "pull" a stud into place as it will stretch the threads and shorten the life of the new new stud or in worse case cause the wheel to come loose, or off. If you are installing new studs use new nuts too, it's worth it in the long run.Studs should be pressed out, new studs should be pressed in. Since most peeps don't have a press, autoparts stores w/a machine shop can do this and usually have new lug bolts.
On the end of the lug bolts are serrations, these retain the lug bolts into the hub and drum. Beating them in with a hammer can play havoc with the serrations, won't do the hub/drum any good either.
If the bolts get catty-wampus in the hub/drum while your beatin' away on them, the bolts won't go in correctly, causing the holes to become elongated.
If the lug bolts aren't seated properly, it's possible the drum will "walk away" from the hub. The wheel will come off, tear the hell oughtta the fender...now you aren't going anywhere!
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Go right on ahead and use that method. But, when the drum walks away from the hub while you're drivin' down the road, don't blame me!
When it comes to wheels, brakes, steering and suspension, doing things on the cheap doesn't cut it.
How much value do you put on your life and the lives of others?
When it comes to wheels, brakes, steering and suspension, doing things on the cheap doesn't cut it.
How much value do you put on your life and the lives of others?
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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Lol. Touché! I really only need one bolt replaced. Are you suggesting I take the entire hub off and to a machine shop to have it pressed in? If so, how difficult a task is that going to be? The hub removal that is..
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
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There crazy, ill tell you how Ive done it in there past and never had a problem. Smack the old one out, slide the new one in and just seat it with a firm tap with a hammer so its not going to move, put the wheel on and tighten the lugs but leave the new one for last, when you get to the new one use an impact to seat it, then loosen all the lugs and torque them like normal. You dont need to take apart your brakes for 1 lug but, if your going to do more than one or 2 then you should have them pressed. Ive done as many as 4 lugs on one wheel doing it the backyard way and never had a problem, even with 400+ ftlbs of torque and sticky tires. Its not the way "ford" did it but it works.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Southwest KS
I use a 3/8" X 8" brass pin punch with a 2 1/2 lbs hammer
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 825
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From: Dallas, Texas
And you will have to remove the brake drum, but,.... you're going to have to do that as well no matter what method you use.
Then, and this is the tricky part, there is a total of ONE nut that holds the hub on the spindle, so I guess you will have to remove that ONE nut!
I can't think of any other way around it!
