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Hi,
On my 1969 Olds Cutlass S (V8, 350) a coulple of wheel studs got damaged.
I am not sure how to fix it. There is no room to tap them out.
Should I just get a new rotor hub assembly?
Thanks for your advise.
Remove the rotor and hub from the spindle. You need to do this on a press anyway. Also, be sure you get the correct lugs for those two-part rotors. I suspect most places will have them listed incorrectly.
Are the studs swedged? Is there a special tool or cutter to use before removing them to prevent damaging/enlarging the holes in the hub or can they just be pressed in/out?
I don't think there is enough room to drive the studs out with it being attached to the rotor.
You don't want to "drive" anything out on the car, period. Even if there were room, wailing on the stud with a two pound sledge is guaranteed to bend the hub, or worse. The backside of the rotor needs to be properly supported in a press. It IS possible to R&R the studs on the rear axle flanges. There's a special "C-clamp" tool to do it without bending anything.
Those rotors are bolted together from the back side, you have to unbolt the rotor from the hub & then press out the studs of the hub. The studs don't go through the rotor on this type.
Of course you have to remove the hub but I've taken those out and replaced them with just a hammer. They come out easier than you think. As long as you set the hub on something solid you shouldn't damage it. While you are at it I would replace all of them. The one that was broken was probably weakened by some tire guy over torquing the lug nuts so they are probably all weakened. .
