Sirl

Ok guys, I've done plenty of searching and reading here, but i have a few specific questions.

First off, the car is an 03 Maxima, auto. 116k miles.

I was doing the from brakes and snapped 2 studs on the front right wheel. Never snapped a stud in 30 years driving.. go figure...

I figured I would just replace the entire hub, like I did on the rear. 20 min. job on the rear.

Questions...
1. Does the front hub come off as easily as the rear??
ie: simply remove wheel/ brakes, hub nut, swap and done??

OR, is there something different on the front wheels on a FWD car?

2. Does the hub from, say, Rock Auto, or Pep Boys come complete? or am I missing a bearing (hub is like 45 bucks from Rock Auto).

Wheel bearings are fine, again, only doing this in order to get all my wheel studs back.

Looking at this pic, it appears that it should be a simple swap, no??

Thanks for the help guys,

VQP0WER

Why don't you take a sledge hammer and knock the studs out and install new? Took me a few minutes to remove and replace all my studs.

To install the new, I install the stud, put a nut on the wheel side and tightened it down with my air gun till the stud was drawn back in. Really easy.

Sirl

Negative on the air tools.

But again, does the front hub come off Exactly the same as the rear, or, is it different on a fwd car?

VQP0WER

You have to remove the front hubs from the spindle. You won't be able to this while it's on the vehicle.

Sirl

Yes, I know it needs to come off the spindle.
Does it just come off by removing the wheel,
Caliper, rotor, hub nut?

Is there anything else to it?

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

this. And you don't need air tools to do this, they just make it faster.

The front is nowhere near as easy as the rear. The rear essentially pops off. The chances on the front? Hahaha... No.

I believe you will find out it's not as easy as you think even. You'll probably end up having to pull the spindle to get the hub off. If you don't have air tools, one might guess you don't have a press. Without a press? :/ I'm inclined to think, "If it's not broken, don't fix it." But to each their own. I'm curious to know if you think it was worth the time. Let us know which route you take.

Sirl

Did you read my whole post??
I'm running on 3 wheel studs. I have no choice.

Can some please tell me how to get the front wheel hub off if it's different from the rear?
What is different?

Thanks

knight_yyz

iTrader: (40)

you need to press the hub out of the knuckle with a press. You can knock it out with a good hammer and the proper tool to not damage the bearing. If you change the hub, you will need a new bearing, or you can try to remove the bearing. I doubt you could keep it in one piece though.

Photo from the Nissan FSM...pound it out from the backside



But they also use a press to get the new one back in at 5 tons pressure

Sirl

Thanks man.
That's what I needed to know.

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

I did read your post.
I guess I still don't follow. Is there a reason you can't quickly just replace the two broken studs? Replacing the hub seems like overkill. BTW: Read my response. I did answer your question.

EDIT: This may help you with future repairs. FSM Link.

Sirl

Sorry if I was abrupt.

You said "if it aint broke, dont fix it.." It is broke.

Well, to me, its much easier to simply swap a 42 dollar part, than start hammering out the studs, and installing new ones.

Some time ago, I tried replacing studs on my track car and had nothing but problems.

The studs did not want to grab, and go all the way in, and they just spun in the hub. We ended up messing up a new hub. I guess thats why I'm a little hesitant to go that route, rather than just pop on a new hub.

True, I dont have a good vice, or air tools.

Its clear now that either way, the hub needs to come off to do the job.

Man.. the rear hub on the Max was a 15 minute job...

Thanks for all the info! Preciate it!

PS. Anyone ever put a drop of anti seize on your wheel studs so this doesn't happen?

PPS. Thanks for the FSM link.

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

No problem. I'm sensitive on the weekends.
I meant the entire hub.

Hub does not have to be removed to replace the studs.

A couple of drops of motor oil will do the trick. Also, use of an impact will increase the chances of the nuts seizing because of the high temperature caused by friction.

You're welcome. A lot of members have the link in their sig. I downloaded it in case I lose internet connection in the middle of a job.

VQP0WER

What a waste of time and money. Replace the hub and bearing just to get new studs? Like I said in my first post, it takes MINUTES to knock them out.

Sirl

Update***

Ok, so, like you all said, the whole job took 30 min. start to finish. I bought 5 new lugs and studs, luckily I did because a third one snapped while taking the wheel off.

Anyway, 3lb sledge took them right out, and borrowed my buddy's 18 volt Dewalt impact gun. put the new stud in, put a few washers on the outside, and the impact gun did the rest.

Thanks for the help.

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

Glad you were able to save the money and headache of replacing a hub unnecessarily. Kudos!