Frozen wheel studs

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
Post Reply
gearhead63

Frozen wheel studs

Post by gearhead63 »

Previous owner had installed wheels studs to work with the aftermarket wheels he was using. Went back to a stock wheel and have extracted all but 2 of the studs. Several attempts to remove, have used WD40, PB blaster, torch, nothing. Rotated them out a little and then they just bound up. Anybody had the happen? Am I looking at replacing the axle?
Image[/URL]
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by narfire »

Looking at the picture, I'd try heat and then(try) screw them in a number of turns. If successful then unscrew. Flatten two sides like I think you have done to get a wrench or vice grips on.
I have a stripped hole so they can strip if too much effort is used to remove. I have to swap on another hub assembly on this winter.
Chris
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
gearhead63

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by gearhead63 »

Gave it a few more tries with heat but just can't get anything to turn them in or out. Ordered another axle shaft.
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by RRoller123 »

I haven't done this my self, but have been advise to only heat the surrounding area, not the stud itself, and try to cool the stud, to maximize the CTE changes between the two parts. Edd China did the cooling part with a spray from a can of WD-40, which I thought was insane and a fire hazard; made massive clouds of smoke, but it worked. Surely some cold water in a spray bottle with reasonably good volume would do just as well. Just a thought.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
djape1977
Posts: 985
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by djape1977 »

studs are probably longer then necesary, with thread protruding on the back of plate they're screwed in. probably thread on the protruding end got damaged.

try to screw them in a couple turns and then use angle grinder to cut off what's behind the plate.
next step, screw on two nuts on the stud from the front and tighten them against eachother.
unscrew by turning the nut closer to plate.
if this doesn't work, weld the nuts to stud.

if all fails, you will break off the stud flush with the plate, then you've exhausted all options and you have to replace the shaft
DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by DieselSpider »

I am leaning towards welding a lug nut on so one could use an impact wrench to drive them in a few turns and the end of the stud behind the wheel hub can be ground off along with all the potentially bad threads. Then reverse the wrench and the stud should fly out with less damage to the hub.
gearhead63

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by gearhead63 »

Hmmm. Welding nuts onto the studs seem like it would work. Will give it a try. Will try to screw them in a little before trying to back them out. Thanks guys.
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by toplessexpat »

To cool a small area - try "wart off" ... The coolant in there does a great job.
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
User avatar
toplessexpat
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:29 am
Your car is a: 1976 Spider 1800
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Frozen wheel studs

Post by toplessexpat »

+ I had a car once where a PO had messed with the studs. Two were straight studs that turned out. One (there were three studs per wheel... French!), had had the rear of the fascia drilled and a stud with a splined head pressed in... That wasn't coming out through the front!!!!!
---
Many classic Fiats - it's a disease!
www.mirafiori.com
Post Reply