Went to the mechanic today to have my winter tires put on. Turns out that the wheel locks I had put on were the wrong thread. So 4 studs are ruined, one on each brake.

He changed the two rear ones in 5 minutes. He tried to fix the front ones as best he could but he couldn't. I love this mech and he does a great job, and I've been going to him for a long time (as has my dad). So if he couldn't fix the front ones, I doubt anyone could've.

He estimated me "easily $500" and 3 hours to change the front ones. He said he'd need to take apart the brake. Is this a good estimate? I'm currently rolling on 3 bolts on each front rim, how long can I keep this up for?

 

That's a lot of $$, but it is a big job to do "the right way".

I am not a 01-05 Civic expert by any means, but you might want to take a look in there (behind the brake disc and hub) and see if there is room to knock the studs out without taking the suspension apart. Then you can pull new ones through with a wheel nut and washer....

 

Sadly, to replace the front studs you have to pull the hubs off the car. This requires pulling the axles, knuckles, and brakes. You may end up replacing the ball joints and needing an alignment.

 

Yeah after Googling, I found that the mech was right in saying that he needed to take a ton of stuff apart. But is $500 high? Why would he quote me for new parts (he said $100 each) if it's only the 99 cent stud that's broken?

 

He's probably charging a flat rate for the hours that are typically needed to perform that work. I would check around for other shops.

 

a local shop only charged me $60 to replace three broken studs 2 on driver side, 1 on passenger side.... idk why it would be 500?!?

 

thats too high. you can DIY but search for another place to do it.
it consists of what matt said. and most likely and alignment will need to be done.

 

the easiest way too do it is too remove the caliper and the caliper cradle remove the 32mm axel nut and install a slide hammer too the remaining good studs and remove the hub from the bearing, it will take a bit too seperate the bearing but with a bit of work u'll pull the hub and rotor off together..... hammer out ur old wheel studs and press in ur new one's and the tricky part is too installing the hub back into the bearing but by using the axel as a guide slide the hub back onto the spline of the axel and use the slide hammer too get it tapped back in too the point where u can put the axel nut on.. once u reach that point u can tighten the axel nut and re-install the caliper and cradle and ur tire and just too make sure u didnt damage the bearing check it for play..... i've done this many times installing new studs and extended studs on honda's and have alway's had great luck and havent damaged any bearing's good luck!!!!

 

I would love to do it myself, but I don't have a garage (or access to one) nor do I have a press. I don't really have the proper tools, and now that it's so cold, and Winter's coming, I don't have a choice to get it done by a mechanic.

 

I dont remember how much it was, but due to a shop cross threading a few lugs, I had to break 2 or 3 off on one side. I know for sure it wasnt 500 to replace them. I dont remember exactly whats in the way, but if I remember correctly, the only thing keeping you from hammering them out is the dust guard behind the caliper. I think there might even be a notch in it to allow a stud to be passed without taking it off. Give it a go, worst case scenario, youre back at the 500 you were gonna have to pay in the first place

I know on camrys, its literally hammer it out the back and pull a new one through with a nut and washer. Yea theyr different cars, but disc brakes are disc brakes