Hi,
second day of ownership and second question. Washing the car I noticed one of the front wheel nuts was missing [:|]. I took a nut off another wheel to check whether the stud was cross threaded, it wasn’t but the stud is shorter than the others and the nut only goes on a few turns before tight down which could explain why it is missing. Note that the stud has definitely not broken as it is smooth with a stamp mark on the end.
First question is has anyone come across this before? I found a mangled locking nut in the boot and the disks were replaced about a year ago so perhaps the stud was replaced with one of the wrong length?
Second question, how do you replace the stud? I did a search and the only thing I could find was on a USA Miata site that said fold back the dust shield at the back of the hub and hit the stud with a big hammer until it pops out the back of the hub. Does any one know if this will work?
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Nothing to worry about, replacing a wheel stud is surprisingly easy, remove wheel, undo caliper and tie up to one side (to avoid stretching and damaging the brake hose), remove the brake disc, next hit the end of the studs in-wards sharply with a medium hammer, the stud should fall out from the back of the hub.
Next position a new stud into the hub from behind, use washers a similar as a spacer and pull the new stud fully into position with one of the wheel nuts, add washers when required to ensure the nut doesn’t “bottom out”, it should become solid when fully into position and be as long as the existing studs.
Your short stud may just need to be pulled back into position, but i would replace that and the wheel nut, i most certainly would not drive th vehicle like that, if the stud continues to fall back from the hub and the wheel is turning it could cause substantial damage to both the hub and stub axle, as well as the fact that you are running on only 3 fixing points.
Studs available here: http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/768
Hope this helps
Jamie
Many thanks for such a quick reply. Just placed an order for the bits.
Chris
Jobs done, as you say it’s not too difficult.
The only tough bit was getting the disk of the hub as it had rusted in place. For those finding this by search there are a couple of threaded holes on the back of the hub flange that you can screw a bolt into to force the disk off the hub. Not sure of the size but luckily I had one stashed away.
I found the reason for the short thread, someone had ground off the end. There were some mangled locking wheel nuts in the boot and I suspect they wrecked the end of the stud and rather than replace it just ground the end off! [8o|]
The replacement lock nuts were halfords brand…
I’ll try and post a photo.
Chris
Well done mate, glad you have sorted it.
most people might not have discovered it until there was a problem!
