Rep Power: 0

I have to replace a front left wheel stud on my 2002 Honda Civic. I already removed the knuckle to replace the ball joint, lower control arm, and the sway bar link.

As you all know, there's not enough room to hammer out the old stud and install the new one.

My questions: If I press out the hub assembly, can I damage the wheel bearing? I figure I have to press it enough to provide space to facilitate the stud replacement.

I already rented a Ball Joint Press from Autozone. Is that strong enough to press the hub assembly? Obviously, I don't want to just hammer it out.

My other option is to shave the new stud down and grind a portion of the hub down to give me space to install it (and even cut a slot in the backing plate as Eric the Car Guy on YouTube suggests).

Thanks in advance.

 
Rep Power: 366

press and right spacers, you might get luck?

but unless the bearing is new, why not?

 
Rep Power: 517

What spacers?


When you press the hub out, one bearing race will come out attached to the hub.
That alone is a risk.
It CAN be reinstalled the same way it came out, but there's some risk that the bearing will get contaminated while apart or make noise shortly after reassembly.

In the shop we usually want to replace the bearing in order to eliminate that risk of failure too soon after touching the assembly.
When possible, this saves a lot of time/money/energy....

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks, ezone.

I've decided to go with the grinding method (and then just repaint the groove with caliper paint).