Continuing saga of the rear axle replacement on the Panda.
The rear hubs are fixed by four 10mm studs. There is quite a long exposed thread, but recessed inside the axle bracket, so getting a wire brush to them is difficult, especially near the vulnerable ABS sensor cable.
On each side, three of the studs were brought out by the nuts seizing on the threads. But one each side stayed in. I bought eight new studs and nuts.
I also bought a set of stud extractors,(Machine Mart PRO75) lovely sockets with roller cams inside, guaranteed not to damage the studs. No, not really, sadly. There's a label inside the lid of the box saying max torque 44Nm. If they would come out with such a low torque, two nuts on the thread would work. Just mashed the old threads, not an issue really, but failed to move the stud.
Choices:
Dismantle the whole hub, brake shoes off, bearing off, backplate off, then drill the stud from the 'inside'. Rather difficult to loosen the hub nut unless affixed to the vehicle.
Or, Cut the stud off, then drill it out. But the hub carrier tends to move, as can't be clamped easily with the drum attached.
Then my lovely set of titanium coated drills, also Machine Mart, seem to be made of cheese.
That's it until Friday then. Off to the tool shop to buy some decent drills, and some little tiny grinding stones for the dremel to remove the last bits without destroying the threads.
Off to bed now, to cry myself to sleep.
