Rear Axles need pulled to replace wheel studs? What wheels will work with short studs

[ur2noz]

So while I am trying to mount my "factory" trans am wheels I find that the wheel studs on my passenger rear are about 1/2" shorter the the rest of my wheels wheel studs WTF ! Who does some shit like that. I took some ridiculous looking 20" wheels off the car that seemed to mount just fine on the shorter studs, but its a big no go for the factory wheels. I am reading that the studs cannot simply be knocked out the back as my T/A has factory traction control ie: large gear rings that sit directly behind the damn studs and offer zero room for the studs to exit or enter the hub. Can someone confirm this is true? If this is the case I need one of two things, either a way to find what aftermarket wheels will fit my car on the shorter studs ( obviously they are out there as I took a set off ) or who in lower michigan is capable of a quality rear gear install. If i am going to have the diff opened to pull the damn axels I might as well put some 4.10's in. Honestly I would rather just get some nice aftermarket wheels but either way.

Thanks to all who reply

Adam

[93formulalt1]

My '94 Z28 needed a couple wheel studs on the driver's side, and I didn't have to remove the axle, but I don't have TCS, so I'm pretty sure that doesn't help you at all. Hopefully someone will chime in soon with some info for you.

[kyleozzie]

i had 1 stud break on my stock axles, which are 4 channel axles(same as yours) and it was almost impossible to change, i had to do some major grinding on the stud to make it fit.. to do all 10 would be out of the question... it would be easier to buy non traction axles and change the studs lol.. sorry for the bad luck..

[DETROITMUSCLE]

unfortunately as you see there is no way around this the axles have to come out in order to get the reluctor rings off and get the studs out.

[nascarnate326]

I have an LT1 Traction Control car too. That option is about to make your life suck for a few hours. Rare option but damn it creates issues.


To change a stud all you have to do is open the diff, take one bolt out and move a little clip. The axel will then slide out.

The challenging part now is getting that ring off. We used a torch and a maul. Make sure to be careful so you dont bend the axel at all, or get it dirty. It MUST be clean when it goes back in. Once you get the ring off, its goes very easy from there.

I took the time to do the wheel bearing since I was already there.

Amazingly long process for something that should take all of 20 min.

Yours look something like this?
IMG_1027.jpg

[kyleozzie]

never knew you could take off the reluctor ring, that would make things easy!

[DETROITMUSCLE]

never knew you could take off the reluctor ring, that would make things easy!

lol newb

[ur2noz]

I have an LT1 Traction Control car too. That option is about to make your life suck for a few hours. Rare option but damn it creates issues.


To change a stud all you have to do is open the diff, take one bolt out and move a little clip. The axel will then slide out.

The challenging part now is getting that ring off. We used a torch and a maul. Make sure to be careful so you dont bend the axel at all, or get it dirty. It MUST be clean when it goes back in. Once you get the ring off, its goes very easy from there.

I took the time to do the wheel bearing since I was already there.

Amazingly long process for something that should take all of 20 min.

Yours look something like this?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]34747[/ATTACH]

Looks exactly like that. Here is one of my thoughts. I have plently of offset with the factory wheels to push them to the outside toward the wheel well a bit. Besides I think it would look better to begin with. If I simply throw a set af 1" spacers on the rears I bet the studs would be long enought to protrude through the spacers, as they are generally shallow by the lug holes. Then I start fresh with a new set of 1.5" lugs again. Is this feasable or a bad Idea? Personally I am gun shy about opening my rear diff and taking on this task. I am good with other maintenace ,but not brave enought to tackle this job. I would just assume put some nice aftermarkets on and ditch the stockers, problem is without test fitting every wheel how would I know if I would have enough stud for the new wheels? There was a set of generic 20's on there so other wheels would work.

[Fbomb]

Really doesn't seem too bad...like you could just put a lugnut on the studs while the axle is still in the housing and loosen them up with a sledge. Then remove the axles and finish removing the studs with a mini-sledge or air hammer. Don't be shy about doing the work. You have to learn somehow.

[kyleozzie]

lol newb

lol its was just easier buying new 31 spline axles