lug studs in hubs?

[mudbag85]

When you install new  brake rotors do you have new lug studs pressed into the rotor? going to be taking on front disc rotor and pad replacements on 85 f250 4x4. TIA

[Gary Lewis]

The lugs hold the rotor to the hub, so if you are just replacing the rotor you'd press the lugs out, swap the rotor, and press the lugs back in.

Here are pics of the rotors on the left and then the rotors and hubs together with the studs:

[mudbag85]

awesome happy monday! what it looked like to me just wanted to ask for extra clarity. i am replacing rotors, are the studs easy enough to punch out and in right there on site? i had ordered new ones to take to the local machine shop to have them punched in the new rotor before i start this swap out thanks again

[Gary Lewis]

I wouldn't use the term "punch out".  I used my hydraulic press against a nut on the end of the stud and it pushed them out.  Then I tapped them into place with a hammer, trying to get them back into the same grooves as before in the hub, and then used a nut to torque them to specs to ensure they were in all the way.

[mudbag85]

That sounds like it would work great but what a guy doesn't have a press, hammer and block it is?

[mat in tn]

I think you just want to use that new hammer!

[mudbag85]

Well it was a gift, no I need to watch the "smart-mouthness" he's right after further thinking through even though I don't have the machine. I can take it to a shop and have it done right with the press, and apologizes to Gary for getting cute.

[Gary Lewis]

No problem, I'm sure a hammer and block would get it done.  

[Nothing Special]

mudbag85 wrote

awesome happy monday! what it looked like to me just wanted to ask for extra clarity. i am replacing rotors, are the studs easy enough to punch out and in right there on site? i had ordered new ones to take to the local machine shop to have them punched in the new rotor before i start this swap out thanks again

There's a detail in here that I think was missed.  I'm pretty sure you wouldn't press the new studs into the new rotor before you start the swap.  You need to get the old rotor off the hub.  Then you put the new rotor and hub together using the studs.

And for what it's worth, I don't think you necessarily have to replace the studs with new.  If you are hammering the studs out you might damage them, but if you're careful (especially if you can use a press) they should be fine to reuse.

[Gary Lewis]

Amen, brother!  I reused the studs on Big Blue, but I used nuts on the ends of the studs to push against, not just the end of the stud.

[mudbag85]

Lucked out and found someone willing to let me use their press, first time doing this job so just trying to cover bases and plan ahead should all go well hopefully, expecting high wind gust this weekend so should make things interesting.

[Gary Lewis]

A press should make it easy.  Good luck!