How can I remove a stripped wheel stud?

I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs and
lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.

I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock lug
bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The lug
nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud itself just
spins and spins in the hub.

I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud. That
didn't work.

I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the stud,
while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just free spins.

I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.

I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would mean
replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I was hoping
for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud out. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Anthony

Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase
the rest out.

"HerHusband" > wrote in message ...
>I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs and
> lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
>
> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock lug
> bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The lug
> nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud itself just
> spins and spins in the hub.
>
> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud. That
> didn't work.
>
> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the stud,
> while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just free spins.
>
> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
>
> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would mean
> replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I was hoping
> for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud out. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony

Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase
the rest out.

"HerHusband" > wrote in message ...
>I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs and
> lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
>
> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock lug
> bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The lug
> nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud itself just
> spins and spins in the hub.
>
> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud. That
> didn't work.
>
> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the stud,
> while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just free spins.
>
> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
>
> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would mean
> replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I was hoping
> for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud out. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony

Erik,

> Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly
> smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase the
> rest out.

Tried your idea and it worked great! I started with a small bit, and then
slowly widened it with a few different bits till I got close to the
threads. By that point the stud kind of spun along with the drill bit out
the back side of the wheel hub.

Unfortunately, the wheel on the other side had the same problem. I was able
to drill and remove the stud, but I'm not sure if the threads are going to
be usable. Right now I can't torque the lug bolt down, but the bolts I have
now are kind of short. Proper length bolts should be here tomorrow or
Friday, and hopefully they'll be able to reach back to good threads. We'll
see.

Those studs were a real pain on all four wheels. Out of 16 studs, only four
came out without problems. Two had to be cut off and drilled out. I had to
grind some flats on the sides of the others so I could get a good grip with
vise grips. It took a full day of work, but I finally got them all out and
the holes cleaned up.

Anyway, Thank You for the tip. Exactly what I needed...

Anthony

>> I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs
>> and lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
>>
>> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock
>> lug bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The
>> lug nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud
>> itself just spins and spins in the hub.
>>
>> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud.
>> That didn't work.
>>
>> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the
>> stud, while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just
>> free spins.
>>
>> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
>>
>> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would
>> mean replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I
>> was hoping for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud
>> out. Any ideas?

Erik,

> Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly
> smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase the
> rest out.

Tried your idea and it worked great! I started with a small bit, and then
slowly widened it with a few different bits till I got close to the
threads. By that point the stud kind of spun along with the drill bit out
the back side of the wheel hub.

Unfortunately, the wheel on the other side had the same problem. I was able
to drill and remove the stud, but I'm not sure if the threads are going to
be usable. Right now I can't torque the lug bolt down, but the bolts I have
now are kind of short. Proper length bolts should be here tomorrow or
Friday, and hopefully they'll be able to reach back to good threads. We'll
see.

Those studs were a real pain on all four wheels. Out of 16 studs, only four
came out without problems. Two had to be cut off and drilled out. I had to
grind some flats on the sides of the others so I could get a good grip with
vise grips. It took a full day of work, but I finally got them all out and
the holes cleaned up.

Anyway, Thank You for the tip. Exactly what I needed...

Anthony

>> I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs
>> and lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
>>
>> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock
>> lug bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The
>> lug nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud
>> itself just spins and spins in the hub.
>>
>> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud.
>> That didn't work.
>>
>> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the
>> stud, while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just
>> free spins.
>>
>> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
>>
>> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would
>> mean replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I
>> was hoping for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud
>> out. Any ideas?

If you value your life and the life of others you would replace the
hubs on all 4 corners. If you think that a longer stud is the way to
fix something you are wrong. Maybe dead wrong.

HerHusband > wrote:

>Erik,
>
>> Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly
>> smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase the
>> rest out.
>
>Tried your idea and it worked great! I started with a small bit, and then
>slowly widened it with a few different bits till I got close to the
>threads. By that point the stud kind of spun along with the drill bit out
>the back side of the wheel hub.
>
>Unfortunately, the wheel on the other side had the same problem. I was able
>to drill and remove the stud, but I'm not sure if the threads are going to
>be usable. Right now I can't torque the lug bolt down, but the bolts I have
>now are kind of short. Proper length bolts should be here tomorrow or
>Friday, and hopefully they'll be able to reach back to good threads. We'll
>see.
>
>Those studs were a real pain on all four wheels. Out of 16 studs, only four
>came out without problems. Two had to be cut off and drilled out. I had to
>grind some flats on the sides of the others so I could get a good grip with
>vise grips. It took a full day of work, but I finally got them all out and
>the holes cleaned up.
>
>Anyway, Thank You for the tip. Exactly what I needed...
>
>Anthony
>
>>> I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs
>>> and lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
>>>
>>> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock
>>> lug bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The
>>> lug nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud
>>> itself just spins and spins in the hub.
>>>
>>> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud.
>>> That didn't work.
>>>
>>> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the
>>> stud, while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just
>>> free spins.
>>>
>>> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
>>>
>>> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would
>>> mean replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I
>>> was hoping for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud
>>> out. Any ideas?


Jim B.

If you value your life and the life of others you would replace the
hubs on all 4 corners. If you think that a longer stud is the way to
fix something you are wrong. Maybe dead wrong.

HerHusband > wrote:

>Erik,
>
>> Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly
>> smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase the
>> rest out.
>
>Tried your idea and it worked great! I started with a small bit, and then
>slowly widened it with a few different bits till I got close to the
>threads. By that point the stud kind of spun along with the drill bit out
>the back side of the wheel hub.
>
>Unfortunately, the wheel on the other side had the same problem. I was able
>to drill and remove the stud, but I'm not sure if the threads are going to
>be usable. Right now I can't torque the lug bolt down, but the bolts I have
>now are kind of short. Proper length bolts should be here tomorrow or
>Friday, and hopefully they'll be able to reach back to good threads. We'll
>see.
>
>Those studs were a real pain on all four wheels. Out of 16 studs, only four
>came out without problems. Two had to be cut off and drilled out. I had to
>grind some flats on the sides of the others so I could get a good grip with
>vise grips. It took a full day of work, but I finally got them all out and
>the holes cleaned up.
>
>Anyway, Thank You for the tip. Exactly what I needed...
>
>Anthony
>
>>> I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs
>>> and lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
>>>
>>> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock
>>> lug bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The
>>> lug nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud
>>> itself just spins and spins in the hub.
>>>
>>> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud.
>>> That didn't work.
>>>
>>> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the
>>> stud, while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just
>>> free spins.
>>>
>>> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
>>>
>>> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would
>>> mean replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I
>>> was hoping for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud
>>> out. Any ideas?


Jim B.

You could drill the hub out a little more and tap a larger thread.
If you then use a heli coil thread insert you should be able to recreate the
original thread.
The heli coil metal is also stonger and inserted into a larger diameter
thread will get greater purchase onto the hub than the original bolt.
hence you should get a stronger finished thread.

You can get heli coil stuff from most good engineering shops / parts places.

poor mans way would be to fill hole with weld, grind flush , redrill and tap
the correct thread.

Rip
> wrote in message
news
> If you value your life and the life of others you would replace the
> hubs on all 4 corners. If you think that a longer stud is the way to
> fix something you are wrong. Maybe dead wrong.
>
> HerHusband > wrote:
>
> >Erik,
> >
> >> Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly
> >> smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase the
> >> rest out.
> >
> >Tried your idea and it worked great! I started with a small bit, and then
> >slowly widened it with a few different bits till I got close to the
> >threads. By that point the stud kind of spun along with the drill bit out
> >the back side of the wheel hub.
> >
> >Unfortunately, the wheel on the other side had the same problem. I was
able
> >to drill and remove the stud, but I'm not sure if the threads are going
to
> >be usable. Right now I can't torque the lug bolt down, but the bolts I
have
> >now are kind of short. Proper length bolts should be here tomorrow or
> >Friday, and hopefully they'll be able to reach back to good threads.
We'll
> >see.
> >
> >Those studs were a real pain on all four wheels. Out of 16 studs, only
four
> >came out without problems. Two had to be cut off and drilled out. I had
to
> >grind some flats on the sides of the others so I could get a good grip
with
> >vise grips. It took a full day of work, but I finally got them all out
and
> >the holes cleaned up.
> >
> >Anyway, Thank You for the tip. Exactly what I needed...
> >
> >Anthony
> >
> >>> I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs
> >>> and lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
> >>>
> >>> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock
> >>> lug bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The
> >>> lug nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud
> >>> itself just spins and spins in the hub.
> >>>
> >>> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud.
> >>> That didn't work.
> >>>
> >>> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the
> >>> stud, while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just
> >>> free spins.
> >>>
> >>> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
> >>>
> >>> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would
> >>> mean replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I
> >>> was hoping for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud
> >>> out. Any ideas?
>
>
> Jim B.

You could drill the hub out a little more and tap a larger thread.
If you then use a heli coil thread insert you should be able to recreate the
original thread.
The heli coil metal is also stonger and inserted into a larger diameter
thread will get greater purchase onto the hub than the original bolt.
hence you should get a stronger finished thread.

You can get heli coil stuff from most good engineering shops / parts places.

poor mans way would be to fill hole with weld, grind flush , redrill and tap
the correct thread.

Rip
> wrote in message
news
> If you value your life and the life of others you would replace the
> hubs on all 4 corners. If you think that a longer stud is the way to
> fix something you are wrong. Maybe dead wrong.
>
> HerHusband > wrote:
>
> >Erik,
> >
> >> Cut it off flush and drill the remainder out. Use a bit just slightly
> >> smaller than the diameter of the stud, then use a tap to chase the
> >> rest out.
> >
> >Tried your idea and it worked great! I started with a small bit, and then
> >slowly widened it with a few different bits till I got close to the
> >threads. By that point the stud kind of spun along with the drill bit out
> >the back side of the wheel hub.
> >
> >Unfortunately, the wheel on the other side had the same problem. I was
able
> >to drill and remove the stud, but I'm not sure if the threads are going
to
> >be usable. Right now I can't torque the lug bolt down, but the bolts I
have
> >now are kind of short. Proper length bolts should be here tomorrow or
> >Friday, and hopefully they'll be able to reach back to good threads.
We'll
> >see.
> >
> >Those studs were a real pain on all four wheels. Out of 16 studs, only
four
> >came out without problems. Two had to be cut off and drilled out. I had
to
> >grind some flats on the sides of the others so I could get a good grip
with
> >vise grips. It took a full day of work, but I finally got them all out
and
> >the holes cleaned up.
> >
> >Anyway, Thank You for the tip. Exactly what I needed...
> >
> >Anthony
> >
> >>> I have an old set of aftermarket wheels on my Rabbit that used studs
> >>> and lug nuts instead of the stock type lug bolts.
> >>>
> >>> I was getting ready to install a new set of wheels that use the stock
> >>> lug bolts, when I discovered one of the old studs won't come out. The
> >>> lug nuts came off fine, and the wheel is off the car, but the stud
> >>> itself just spins and spins in the hub.
> >>>
> >>> I tried using a pair of vise grips to "pull" as I unscrewed the stud.
> >>> That didn't work.
> >>>
> >>> I tried wedging a small screwdriver into the exposed threads of the
> >>> stud, while turning the stud with an allen wrench, but that too just
> >>> free spins.
> >>>
> >>> I'm hoping someone here might have a tip on removing the bolt.
> >>>
> >>> I'm assuming the threads in the hub are probably wasted, which would
> >>> mean replacing the hub AND the wheel bearing. A bigger expense than I
> >>> was hoping for. So, I'd like to at least attempt getting the stud
> >>> out. Any ideas?
>
>
> Jim B.

Jim,

> If you value your life and the life of others you would replace the
> hubs on all 4 corners. If you think that a longer stud is the way to
> fix something you are wrong. Maybe dead wrong.

I hear you, and I'm guessing I'll end up replacing the one front hub. The
rears hubs are in fine condition, the studs were just rusted (and loc-
tited) in place and difficult to remove.

As for the bolts, the ones I have now are too short. They only engage a
couple of threads on the front hubs. Obviously, I'm not going to be driving
it around that way! I ordered full length bolts and they should be here
today or tomorrow. If I feel there's even the slightest difficulty
torqueing them down properly, I'll replace the hub.

Anthony