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Date:         Wed, 26 Jan 2000 21:52:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris Gkikas <theerion@GATOR.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Gkikas <theerion@GATOR.NET>
Organization: Jiboo, Ltd
Subject:      Lugnut Update (Whew!)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

To all who've been so generous in their advice during my lugnut fiasco, I thank you for that advice. I ended up following more than one person's suggestion. In the end (today), it all worked out.

Took it in today to Firestone and told them that I had a badly rounded off lugnut and had damaged the stud in trying to remove it. 'They' were the last folks to put those lugs on, since the tire hadn't come off since they installed my front brakes five months ago (big mi$take), so I asked them to cut off the offending stud. Out came Luis, this older fella with a lined, weathered look. I showed him the stud, and he said the only way to do it was to remove the axle nut and get the hub out, that way the whole schmutz comes out and they could get at the stud from behind.

No, no, I said. That won't do. I've got to get to class in 45 minutes. Can't you throw a disc grinder on there with that pneumatic stuff you guys have and saw it in two? You guys in the tire business deal with this sh*t all the time, don't you? What do you do? [he said 'we send it out.' i didn't buy this]

No, no, he said. It's too hard. Sure, on a Chrysler it's no problem. But this is hard, hard steel... this is GERMAN. (stern respectful tone)

[chuckle]

With my plea heard, he had me back the bus back into the bay. It felt great to be, for the first time, not spoken to like an idiot at a garage. I guess since I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, they treated me different. Anyway, I digress...

He ground and ground at that thing for ten minutes, sparks flying like an orange sprinkler. He took a 'bigger' cold chisel (than mine) and a 'much bigger' hammer (than mine) and slammed only twice, and the shredded stud end just sheared right off.

[big smile, quiet cheer]

I told him wow, that's great, I could probably get the rest myself. No, no, he said, I'll get this tire all the way off for you. He grinded some more, then started banging the rim opposite the affected area's position. Bang, bang, then the whole thing fell off. Much rejoicing.

So now I've got a sheared-off stud, and am driving on four lugs. So... any advice out there on the process of replacing a wheel stud on composite rear brake drums? Brake job comes next, with new cylinders and shoes.

Thanks for all the lug advice, I appreciate it! Chris 80 Westy driver "Guyute" 155k http://www.geocities.com/Athens/9860/bus.html


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