How to replace wheel studs on front of Integra/Civic?

[hsunchen]

I have a '93 Civic with Integra knuckles, etc. I want to replace all 8 front wheel studs with ones that are 5/8" longer so I can use some autocross wheels with the wrong offset with spacers.

I could not remove the studs this morning even with grinding a big notch in the knuckle to try to give it some room. I could probably get the stud out through the notch if I ground off one edge of the stud (or just cut it in half with cutoff wheel) but the new longer stud would still not fit in (and I can't risk fucking up the threads on the new one).

So what's the process with taking apart the hub? Can I do it with pullers or whatever I can borrow from Autozone or Checker? Then how do I reinstall the bearing - can I just tap it in carefully, or assume that tightening the axle nut thoroughly will take care of that?

Or do I have to pull the knuckle and press it back together again?

[Weston-work]

I need to replace a wheel bearing... when I looked into what it takes to do that, I decided to just buy another knuckle. iirc, the hub is pressed into the wheel bearing, and the bearing is pressed into the knuckle. According to the Helm's manual, you have to get a new wheel bearing when you do that, which is a little over $50 each.

[HONDA GHANDI]

You need a press to do it. If you bring the knuckle assemblies over Hsun I will press them apart and install the studs and press them back together for you for $20.

[hsunchen]

You need a press to do it. If you bring the knuckle assemblies over Hsun I will press them apart and install the studs and press them back together for you for $20.

That's more than fair. Let me get the knuckles off the cars and order the studs and then I'll PM you. Thanks very much.

[HONDA GHANDI]

No problem.

[white_n_slow]

andy was able to get mine out by hitting them with a bfh, much to my dismay.

[chrisbarnett01]

BFH method is a bad idea unless you're in a bind and have no way to safely mount a wheel.

Hitting the hubs like that damages wheelbearings, which you don't want to fail while racing or even driving down the highway.

[white_n_slow]

Thats how it came out, I just put it back and torqued the wheel down to get it back in.

It was a mishap, but no harm done. When you're as sophisticated a mechanic as myself, you end up using hammers a lot. :o

[HONDA GHANDI]

Youre lucky it came out with a hammer, it may have already been apart before and not fully reassembled. Even with a torch and 50 ton press they sometimes dont come apart. I wouldnt be suprised if the bearing begins to make noise after a while if I were you.

[hsunchen]

You need a press to do it. If you bring the knuckle assemblies over Hsun I will press them apart and install the studs and press them back together for you for $20.

ARP studs are finally ordered - should be in by Wed. What an assraping - $40 for 8 studs. Anyone who can get them significantly cheaper, don't tell me about it.

I called Lightning Motorsports in LA - they sell 'em for only $16 a pack with free shipping - but they didn't have them in stock. :mad:

http://www.lightningmotorsports.com/arp.htm