Thread: Wheel Studs

Bit hard to tell in view of the photo, but my guess is that the problem is the quality of the welding, and, perhaps, highlights the problems with using welding to secure the studs. I would also suspect that the threads in the stud are damaged - the primary grip on the stud is the thread, and all the staking or welding has to do is to stop it turning. If the nut is kept properly lubricated with anti-seize, there should be no tendency for the stud to unscrew, provided the thread in the hub is in good condition.

The stud is certainly not cast, but of course, the weld is.

John

Welding high strength steel studs to lower strength steel hubs is a strict no-no, the weld will never be stong as the heating crystallises the metal adjacent to the weld. Loctite would be faaaar safer.

For reasons of safety, I am always of the opinion that if the OEM studs on a S1/SII/SIIa fail then the thread in the hub is already too damaged to replace with OEM screw in studs.

Ideally you should get the hub re-bored with a dividing head on a mill to accept the push in studs.



e.g. 561886 WHEEL STUD PUSH-IN TYPE| shop | www.lrseries.com | L. R. Series Note: image not same part number!

Hmmmmmmmm!

Thnx for the, as ever, pertinent replies.

This vehicle had a winch based on an Ford Prefect diff actually welded onto the bull-bar which I've set aside as a possible future mini project. The diff casing seems to be cast and it is welded quite securely to the bull-bar suggesting welding cast to steel can be done.

ATM, with only 1 dud out of 5, I'm leaning towards, a hex-headed 9/16 BSF bolt screwed in from the back and welded in position. ATM as I tighten up, the torque stresses the "weld". With the bolt as it beds in it should resist the torque. The problem is finding a bolt!

The old prefect diff housing is probably cast steel rather than cast iron. This is true of many vehicle components- people commonly use the term 'cast', thinking they are talking about what the material is, when in fact they are only stating how the material was formed to shape. Cast steel can be welded with the same methods used for mild steel stock.
The easy way to tell the difference between cast steel and cast iron is to try and chip it with a cold chisel. Cast iron will chip, whereas cast steel will peel.
Your hubs are most likely cast steel I would think. You have probably annealed and weakened your studs by welding them to the hub.