1 front stud

[robobobo]

Hi all
Somewhere along the line a front stud has been damaged on my 14" I've just been to a garage to have my new mefros clad in General Grabbers. They have exasperated the previous thread damage by attacking with an air grinder attempting to taper the stud down rather than using a thread file or a die to clean it up. Its totally shaggeed now as well as 2 of my nice shiny nuts from brickwerks.
Is there any way I can get just 1 stud out and a new one in without going to all the effort of having the hub removed. I can get my finger in between the hub below the calliper and feel the stud. I was hoping a blowtorch and a lump hammer would facilitate removal. The garage of course are not interested and I don't want them to do any more work on it. I don't like to bodge but wondered if anyone had a successful bodge with these before. I can feel I may be disappointed.

It's not ideal but I'm stuck in London and desperate to get back to Edale to see family for Christmas. Unfortunately no time for hub removal. It's either bit of bodging to get a new stud in, risk 4 studs only, or leave the van behind. Preferably not the latter especially in The peaks if there's some cold weather on the way.

Anyone had a similar 1 stud problem.

Cheers
Robin

[robobobo]

Not to worry too much, I've cleaned the thread enough to get the nut on, just!
Still be interested to know if I can get the stud in though.

BTW, the general grabbers are looking good. Hope to try them out properly over Xmas.

[max and caddy]

A lump hammer will certainly shift it but not sure if it will come out of the flange....is it a standard length stud? To be honest I suspect it won't be possible but I have a spare front upright and will have a look at it and see if it looks feasible in a wee while..

[..lee..]

Rears yes fronts no. You will most likely need to change the bearing and seals aswell

[hugomonkey]

get yourself a thread file
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zBiZ0qvwVw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[syncropaddy]

Rears yes fronts no. You will most likely need to change the bearing and seals aswell

Exactly ......

[robobobo]

get yourself a thread file
Exactly what i told the wheel fitter when i walked in on him grinding my stud to oblivion, he didn't have one. His boss did and used it. That'l do until the point when I take the hub off to sort it properly.

Luckily he also spotted the wheels askew just before i drove off and called me back straight away on the telephone. The same fitter had put my new mefros on top of the two small off centre bolts that hold the rear brake hub onto the studs. This tilted the whole rim off centre which would have been catastrophic given any speed and distance. If he hadn't spotted it i could have been in a whole world of trouble. 2 total fxxkups at the garage. Nightmare day.

I know the fitter should have checked the surface but it's worth noting for anyone fitting mefro's to be aware that the bolts do not fit under the mefro recess. That's assuming i had the standard m6 bolts in the brake hub? They looked like they had been there awhile.

Black circle's premier fitting centre, i'll stick to doing it myself next time.

The tyres on first opinion are great.

On top of that the coolant system has simultaneously given up the goat. Also due to another helpful garage rearranging some lpg heater pipes to the top of the alternator pulley. Looks like i won't be driving it home this christmas. Really wanted to give those tyres a try in the Peaks

I might have another tinker after iv'e done my christmas shopping. Girlfriend is not amused by me spending all time with syncro at christmas.

[Syncrobaz]

You could try a trick I've used in the past......

Cut the offending stud off tight to the flange with a 4" cutting disc and drift out,

Grind a flat on the base of the new stud which will give you enough wiggle room to engage the new stud,

Using a suitable drift and persuader drive it home !!

Don't be tempted to draw the stud home with a wheel nut as you will strip the threads,

Worked for me and i have longer studs (alloys)

Good luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[robobobo]

Hi Baz
Sounds like the kind of careful bodge i was hoping for, how much of a flat did you put in. I'm imagining a few millimetre at the top of the spline not all the way down?
Tbh though the nut is on enough good threads to hold tight when fully cranked up so i think that i will be letting this job ride for awhile. Im sure the hub will have to come off at some point for another fix somewhere else.

[Syncrobaz]

Just grind a flat on the base of the stud not touching the splines, I forgot to say to remove the caliper and carrier. more jiggle room !!!

[robobobo]

Ah ok, got you, thanks

[tforturton]

I know the fitter should have checked the surface but it's worth noting for anyone fitting mefro's to be aware that the bolts do not fit under the mefro recess.

Intriguing.....I thought Mefros were a straight fit?

[max and caddy]

I know the fitter should have checked the surface but it's worth noting for anyone fitting mefro's to be aware that the bolts do not fit under the mefro recess.

Intriguing.....I thought Mefros were a straight fit?

They are....once that bolts removed! They are not vw wheels and were never intended to be is the bottom line...but are as good as it gets....trailer wheels is the origins of these mefros.

[robobobo]

The wheels fit perfectly with the offending bolts removed from the hub (obviously only the rears). I've never read anywhere about them getting in the way although it may be noted somewhere. Iv'e been looking into mefro's for awhile. If the bolts are needed which it looks like they only hold the hub on before the wheel is put on? They could be replaced with low profile bolts or countersunk allen screw.

It might be worth adding a note where they are stocked or mentioned on here or Wiki. The fitter obviously did not realise and i didn't know to tell him, it was just good luck that it was noticed and sorted. I would have thought i'd realise with the handling but town driving on new rims and tyres, not necessarily obvious first off until i looked in the mirror and saw the rim wobble. I tightened on the spot although they were pretty tight already and returned to the fitter luckily after only 500 yards.

Happy outcome but could have been very different if i'd jumped straight on a motorway.

[max and caddy]

The bolt does vey little and it's fine to remove them....any tyre fitter with even a 1/4 of a brain should of noticed the wheel didn't sit right as it was tightened up...anyway, alls well this time bit might be worth checking the nuts are at 170 nm as I'm sure the fitters won't of known the tourque s.