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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,203 Posts1,057,412 Members48,471 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 | Hey guys... I have had a bit of a problem getting the old widow makers off the back axle... I fear the studs holding the inner wheel on are going to get totalled in the process as they are seized in tight! .. where do I get new ones from and what sizes are they?... based in England so I can't hop to a local yard you see 😉 any info would be greatly appreciated! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 | Be sure you're turning them the right direction- - - -the studs on the driver's side of a left hand drive vehicle have left hand threads. Of course, it you've gotten the outer wheels off already, you have probably discovered that. Budd-style wheels are usually installed with a 1" square drive impact wrench that's capable of over 1,000 ft/lbs. of torque, so you'll need a LONG lever if you're trying to remove them by hand! I use a 4 foot long piece of water pipe as a cheater bar.
Sometimes the really tight ones need some attention from an acetyline torch and penetrating oil before they break loose. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 | Ah yeah I got the left hand thread test already 😅 ... I have a big millwaukee m18 fuel impact gun and it's not too bad with the outers but I couldn't find anything to fit the square drive inners... , worrying you mention acetylene as I have no access to any 😣 I'll keep ya posted! 😉 | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,886 | There is a combination socket that I use for Budd style wheels- - - -one end fits the 1 1/2" outer nuts, and it flips over for the square inner nuts. It's 3/4" drive. I got mine at a NAPA parts store. I'll see if I can find a part number in their online catalog. I believe the square shank on the inner nut is either 3/4" or 7/8", don't remember which without measuring one. Wrong! It's a 13/16" square shank, and here's the combination socket: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NPT616826Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 | Cheers fella I appreciate it! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,996 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,996 | Like Jerry said, may need some heat, even a propane or map gas torch might be enough to expand the shank and break the rust bond. I had to heat three or four of them but I have oxy-acetylene so I hope you have good luck with them. And yes, left hand threads on the left side of the truck.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,236 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,236 | I have a 5' cheater pipe (3-1/2" diameter) I slide over a big truck 4-way lug wrench. I put the socket on the lug nut with a jack stand under the opposite end to hold it level, stuff a few rags into the pipe to help deaden the ring when the nut moves and put all of my 200 pounds into it. Never had one not come loose... Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 14 | Haha cheers guys,... going to order up a socket to start off and then get to the hard work when it arrives 😉 we have an 8ft scaffolding bar handy so that may help 😄 | | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 131 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 131 | Just a thought Andy. You could also find, scrounge, buy one of those torque multiplying wrenches. Two versions that I found.
One is 1/58 and the heaver is about 1/76 ratio reduction. Cheep version from 52 / 75 bucks the better made and greater reduction you can find on line in the 95 / 130 buck range. most come with 3 sockets and the 13/16 square drive socket for the inner stud. The better kits actually have a few more big sockets. I have just ordered one so can not report yet.
I was not aware of this device until I looked for advise on how a old retired guy like me could change a wheel on our big motor coach. It will also solve the problem of a "too tight for me" pinion nut on my 55 one ton Chevy.
Every one with a big bolt should have one of these handy tools. Far less expensive than a 1in impact gun. And it can be used on the road where you may not have air.
Like me you will take a hit on the Pound / US dollar conversion. Canadian money not worth much down here. (Palm Springs Ca.) I just wish I knew about this device 50 years ago.
Good luck .Howie.
1 1955 Chev one ton. 261 engine
3 1962 Chev c-10 261 engine 4 1966 Plymouth VIP 5.7 GenIII Hemi 5 1966 Imperial Crown Coupe 440 engine | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,964 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,964 | The inner and outer nuts are cheap. I heat them until they are red hot and then pour water on them. You might want to do this several times. I even go so far as to cut them, but you have to use care not to cut into the stud. I have 1" impacts and one of these for really stubborn bolts. http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Precision-Torque-Tools/Torque-Multipliers/600fcaaf-5cc5-4579-8d41-9d9a9d242446_Proto%C2%AE-Torque-Multipliers-3200-Ft-Lbs/# But without heat you would probably break a stud. I still have one of these around somewhere. https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Tool-Power-Wrenches-3-Pc-Model/dp/B00132AMF2But on a really tough one, 3 to 1 leverage is really not enough without heat. | | |
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