[Cleck]

A couple guys installed a stud the other day at the shop w/out changing the wheel bearing. You can install them by shaving the side of the head of the stud off.

Kinda like this:

(sorry for the big pic)

I get your washer trick, I used to do that. I got tired of wasting washers though, and spent $20 on one of these:

Not trying to **** on your HT thread here, just trying to help create less work.

 

[Cleck]

Yeah, no problem and thanks for putting up the HT in the first place. It's actually a good overview for how to do the wheel bearing. I'd add a note to keep the axle nut on the end of the axle while you're driving it out. I know you said to use an extension to drive it out, but I've seen them slip and burr up the threads a bit.

The shaving trick is something I learned when I owned a Grand Am. GM wheel studs used to be extremely soft and they'd break a lot. I used to keep spares at home. Grinding the side off makes it easier to fit in from behind and gives less chance to damage the threads when you pull it through. Sometimes they still get nicked up though.

The nice thing about the stud installer is that it is like a mini wheel bearing. The center is concave like that to fit a lugnut. When you tighten it down, as soon as the nut hits the center of installer, it spins instead of grinding, which makes pulling the rest of the stud through a breeze.

 

[Cleck]

*snip*



EDIT: In light of new information, it is possible to shave part of the head as demonstrated below, and install into the front wheel hub in that configuration. Thus, skipping all the messy/frustrating/expensive parts of needing to deal with the wheel bearing.

The money saved on the wheel bearing can be spent on the stud installer, possibly a 12x1.5" thread cleaner and beer

 

[Cleck]

Smarter, not harder son!