Disco 2 Wheel bolts / studs - how do I get them out?

I need to change the wheel bolts on the rear hubs of the disco after some muppet cross theaded them. Can I get them out, and get some new ones in without stripping the hub off the car?

If I do have to strip the hub off, what else am I likely to need?

Thanks.

Balbas said:

I need to change the wheel bolts on the rear hubs of the disco after some muppet cross theaded them. Can I get them out, and get some new ones in without stripping the hub off the car?

If I do have to strip the hub off, what else am I likely to need?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

you need a new hub

Oh good. As the studs are available separately I assumed I would be able to just fit the studs.

Where's best to buy a hub from then? And are there any makes to avoid. IIRC cheapy ones cause issues?

Balbas said:

Oh good. As the studs are available separately I assumed I would be able to just fit the studs.

Where's best to buy a hub from then? And are there any makes to avoid. IIRC cheapy ones cause issues?

Click to expand...

This makes a good read.
http://www.discovery2.co.uk/fronthub.html

Last I heard the ones from AAPOldham on the bay of fleas were considered to be OK, but as I have not had one from him I cannot guarantee that.

Cheers

Balbas said:

Oh good. As the studs are available separately I assumed I would be able to just fit the studs.

Where's best to buy a hub from then? And are there any makes to avoid. IIRC cheapy ones cause issues?

Click to expand...

obviously genuine is best but ive fitted quite a few britpart ones they seemed to have lasted ok

Cool thanks both. Hopefully it's just one side and not the other as well. As I don't have my manual to hand, presumably it's not a huge job? Is there anything else I need? I already have a puller. I'm assuming it's a case of stripping the brakes off, undoing the nut and then pulling the hub assembly off as a one'er? With refitting the reverse of disassembly (as the book of lies would say)?

I don't see why you need a new hub as the splined part of the hub where the studs fit should be ok. Just new studs I would say.

The splined part of the stud/hub provides a lot of the locking force required and is effectively an interference fit, almost as good as welding. If you knock a stud out and refit another it will never be as strong as the original simply due to it not having moved much metal, and maybe even just won't hols when tightening nuts! They are not standard splines, but made to cut into metal!

I wouldn't risk it ..... I lost a wheel once (my mistake, not tightening the nuts up on front left corner) and would hate to do it again.

Going through what the other guys have written on the subject, I would add that in order to apply enough force and/or heat to the old wheel studs to get them out and then press the new ones in, the hub is going to have to be off the vehicle to do the job efficiently and safely.
If that's the case, then in all honesty, since you'll have to remove the hub, it makes sense to replace it first as last.

Balbas said:

I need to change the wheel bolts on the rear hubs of the disco after some muppet cross theaded them. Can I get them out, and get some new ones in without stripping the hub off the car?

If I do have to strip the hub off, what else am I likely to need?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

before going purchasing a new hub I would be checking to make sure the stainless steel cover on the wheel nuts are not slipping so the correct socket will be needed for a tight fit ..you may need to bash on the socket ...or try and remove the stainless steel cover on the lug nuts but a different size socket will be needed ... who has fitted them may of used a pneumatic air gun wrong socket ect and now the covers on the lug nuts are just turning

It's definitely the studs. The one that has been cross threaded has been snapped. I wish it was as simple as needing to prise the cap off the bolt - I've got some spares!

Anyway, the engineering bloke at work reckons it's possible to change just the stud without taking the hub off, so I'll report back tomorrow.