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Need 1/2"x20 die

M. Blue 240

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Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
261
Location
Beaverton, OR
My wheel studs have been buggered up for awhile now, thanks to tire techs not caring about how the lugnut goes on. I figure the easiest/cheapest solution is to chase the threads and clean them up. I'd like to do the task while keeping the car together.

HF has a few sets, but I don't think I'd be able to use them and keep the studs on the car. Is there a company that makes a die that isn't round? I figure I could put a socket over the die and use a breaker bar to turn it on each stud.
 
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billymade

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Apr 2, 2008
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New Mexico
The thread restore dies by Kastar (oem for craftsman, snapon etc.); would be excellent for this type of repair.
Most wheel studs these days can be replaced on the vehicle; what type of vehicle are you working on? Studs don't seem to be terribly expensive these days.

Here is a good little diy on stud replacement:

http://autorepair.about.com/od/fixityourself/ss/wheel_stud_repl.htm
 
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Carla

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
672
Actually, you may have just had a 'cheap warning'.

Some tire shop workers are notorious for cross-threading wheel studs, and for over-torquing them.

If a wheel stud has been over-torqued, it may have been 'stretched' a bit, and have the possibility of a crack starting, as the stud is cycled thousands and thousands of times through the loadings of starting, stopping, and cornering, plus a bit of transferred heat from occasional hard braking.

In short, if your wheel studs are the least bit dodgy, fit new ones......its uncommon that a road wreck could be traced to failed wheel studs, I should think, but new ones, and the time taken to properly fit them, would be 'cheap insurance'. Even if you should easily get safely stopped at the side of the road, should you have a wheel come adrift, you'd likely have some 'road rash' damage to your brake drum or disc, and a rather inconvenient situation. The possible 'worst case', such a failure in heavy freeway traffic, could have grimly serious consequence.

cheers

Carla
 
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M. Blue 240

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Nov 8, 2011
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Beaverton, OR
Its an 89 Volvo 240 and I could replace the studs without too much effort on my part. Unfortunatly time and money play a factor. I did the math and out of 22 days I've only had 3 off and all the days off are in the past. I was hoping to repair a few studs while swapping out my snow tires one evening. The price is also an issue, I just can't spare the $100 to replace all the studs.

If I were to replace any studs I would want to do them all at once, which means being in the garage for at least one full day. If I take the die to the problem studs it shouldn't take me more than a couple hours.

Just watched the info for the Murray split die, that may be the way to go.
 

JASTECH

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Oct 21, 2009
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Location
Gering, NE
Your life and or some families are in your hands!

Replace the bad ones to start with New and mark lugs if needed to know which were done. This should only take a couple hours. If you were near me I would lend you my truck or atleast my help and get them done quickly. I would not charge you sence you are low on bucks as is I, but it may save some lifes.
 
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M. Blue 240

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Nov 8, 2011
Messages
261
Location
Beaverton, OR

Yes, but with very mixed results on customer service. I get a discount at the local dealer and can have the parts same day. I'm going to try the die, as its mostly the end of the bolt that is having issues. If I find a very bad one we'll go from there.

The main constraint isn't money, but time. I'm working two jobs and trying to make up the income we just lost when my wife got fired(for being pregnant:rant:), so I'm working 2 weeks at a time, often 20 hour days. I'm at work, sleeping, or trying to have 5 minutes with my kids.
 
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