I purchased my GMC recently and don't know its history so I had already
determined to replace all wheel bearings & seals. Replacing the studs
sounds like a little extra work. Removing the old, rusty bolts which
hold the brake drum and hub together has turned out to be more than a
little extra work. The bolts are recessed inside the brake drum and
require an extension making it difficult to control a cheater bar.
Further, they are too close to the hub to allow a thick walled impact
socket to fit (minor problem). The studs themselves have not been a
problem. This is a manageable, but a significant task. I will probably
clean threads up with a tap and die and remove all oil, liquid wrench,
etc. with solvent prior to reassembly.
I am working on the back wheels and I see no danger to the bearings and
seals in just replacing the studs. If I were not replacing the bearings
and seals, however, I would say that installing longer lug bolts is not
worth the significant effort. Jerry.
>
> Jerry,
> The $87 that you have invested so far is about 1/3 to 1/4 the cost it
> will cost you to install them. By the time that you replace the seals,
> repack or replace the bearing and other things that you may damage
> getting the studs pressed out of the hubs and reinstalled. More power
> to you if you really must have the new studs.
>
> J.R.Wright
>
> >
> > I will accept that short lug bolts are adequate. Nevertheless, I am
> > switching to long bolts because I will feel better. The longer bolts may
> > not give any added safety margin but safety is certainly not diminished.
> > So if I can feel better for only $87 I will go for it.
> > Oily vs Dry is not a feel good question, however, and I don't think
> > anyone's opinion will be more convincing than the excellent post by
> > Robin S. Balcom.
