In an earlier post the replacement of the front lug bolts was explained:
(http://www.focushacks.com/index.php?modid=44)
However, I managed to break 2 of the rear lug bolts last night while
removing the winter tires. In order to remove the lug bolts I would have to
gain entry to the area inside the hub.
From the manual I see that I can either:
a. Remove the hub by removing the main wheel nut and take the chance of
damaging the wheel bearing in the process or,
b. Remove the entire stub axel by removing the 4 retaining bolts holding the
stub axel & bearing/hub assembly to the suspension.
Q1. Is the second method (b) the correct way to do this and, if so, are
there any "gotcha's" to be carefull of?
Q2. New lug bolts - is this something I can pick up at a local Canadian Tire
or is it a dealer only type of thing?
Thanks for any assistance.
As a matter of interest it seems like 2 issues were the cause of the
problem.
1. Whoever put it on has not heard of a torque wrench.
2. Ford's strange decision to have open ended lug nuts that allow water to
get into the threads if the little silver cap is lost (most of mine have
managed to fall off during the last 3 years).
Henri - 11 Apr 2006 14:19 GMT
You can buy replacement chrome plated lug nuts from Wal-Mart. They cost
about $6.50 for a package 4.
The Distributor of these nuts is http://www.fastco.ca/ The size you will
need is 12 x 1.5. 19mm Acorn short.
As far as removing the drum assembly using the "removing the rear lug bolts
technique". Removing the 4 retaining bolts on the stub axle can be a problem
if they have never been removed before, Those suckers are really corroded
on.. The tools you will need is penetrating oil and an air impact wrench and
then they still might break. I have always removed the drums by removing
the centre nut. Its a good idea to replace the nut after 4 times on and off
as it has a ceramic lock and it wears out. Depending on the year of the car
and the mileage, you might want to consider that it would be easier just to
replace the drum assembly. You can buy drum assemblies with the wheel
bearing already installed. Hope this helps.
In an earlier post the replacement of the front lug bolts was explained:
(http://www.focushacks.com/index.php?modid=44)
However, I managed to break 2 of the rear lug bolts last night while
removing the winter tires. In order to remove the lug bolts I would have to
gain entry to the area inside the hub.
From the manual I see that I can either:
a. Remove the hub by removing the main wheel nut and take the chance of
damaging the wheel bearing in the process or,
b. Remove the entire stub axel by removing the 4 retaining bolts holding the
stub axel & bearing/hub assembly to the suspension.
Q1. Is the second method (b) the correct way to do this and, if so, are
there any "gotcha's" to be carefull of?
Q2. New lug bolts - is this something I can pick up at a local Canadian Tire
or is it a dealer only type of thing?
Thanks for any assistance.
As a matter of interest it seems like 2 issues were the cause of the
problem.
1. Whoever put it on has not heard of a torque wrench.
2. Ford's strange decision to have open ended lug nuts that allow water to
get into the threads if the little silver cap is lost (most of mine have
managed to fall off during the last 3 years).
Timothy - 11 Apr 2006 15:31 GMT
Thanks for the warning on possibly making matters worse by breaking those
bolts as well. I did consider the replacement of the whole hub (CT have a
special on this week in my area - 25% off so it may be a good deal) and
break shoes while I have it off.
You mention that they come with the bearing installed. Is this a normal
configuration?
Also, would it come with the lug bolts installed or is this extra?
Lastly, from what I could see the main nut seems to be about 28mm (I
couldn't get the vernier into the space around the nut) and I'll have to
purchase a socket for it. Does someone perhaps have the actual size on hand?
Sorry for all the questions but I like to have the options before shopping
around.
P.S.
I've seen the lug nuts in Walmart before and I am considering getting some
to prevent this issue in the future (and now that I'm replacing the tires
I'm also using a torque wrench).
> You can buy replacement chrome plated lug nuts from Wal-Mart. They cost
> about $6.50 for a package 4.
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> get into the threads if the little silver cap is lost (most of mine have
> managed to fall off during the last 3 years).
Timothy - 11 Apr 2006 16:40 GMT
Found a partial answer to my question on the size of the main nut on the
rear drum.
http://www.teamfocus.us/changingthebrakepads.htm
Here they mention that they use a 30mm socket but that it's a bit big.
> Thanks for the warning on possibly making matters worse by breaking those
> bolts as well. I did consider the replacement of the whole hub (CT have a
[quoted text clipped - 67 lines]
> > get into the threads if the little silver cap is lost (most of mine have
> > managed to fall off during the last 3 years).
Timothy - 17 Apr 2006 16:00 GMT
Some feedback on how I eventually fixed the broken lug bolts for anyone else
that may have the same problem in the future.
I decided to first try remove the entire hub & stub axel to save the main
bearing and if the bolts were rusted or just too tight then to remove the
hub by removing the main nut & bearing.
There are 4x 13mm bolts on the rear of the hub that need to be removed as
well as the 8mm bolt holding the ABS sensor.
-The service manual said that the sensor could be removed by pulling it out
after removing the bolt. I tried this but it would not come loose and
fearing that I may damage it, I decided to leave it in place and instead
unplugged the sensor and loosened the fasteners holding the cable.
-The 4 bolts holding the stub axel were relatively easy to loosen with the
exception of 1 that is obscured by the brake line. This had to be detached
to remove the bolt and re-attached to prevent brake fluid spillage.
-I then was able to remove the hub and pull the ABS cable through it's
access hole. The sensor seems to have "rusted" in place and even with the
hub removed I could not extract it (even though it was no longer necessary).
-I used a punch to knock the damaged studs out and replaced them with a new
ones purchased from Ford (Canadian Tire does not stock these parts yet!)
-Re-assembled the system. It required some ingenuity to get the torque
wrench into the confined space to tighten the bolts to the required 49
ft-lbs and the process of detatch brake line, tighten bolt, attach brake
line.
-Bleed brakes because the brake line was detached.
The entire process took under 2 hrs.
> In an earlier post the replacement of the front lug bolts was explained:
> (http://www.focushacks.com/index.php?modid=44)
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> get into the threads if the little silver cap is lost (most of mine have
> managed to fall off during the last 3 years).