he title says it all i noticed today my dtivers rear tire has 3 lugs instead of five. this being a major safety concern i ordered 5 new ones today(i ordered 5 because im thinking the 3 currently on arent in very good shape) but how does one add lugs onto the wheel? never done it before

 

getting broken ones out is a PITA, but putting the new ones in is cake. I just use the lugnut to pull them in tight.

 

Another method would be to use a bottle jack press to press them in and out.

 

A bottle jack? That's not going to fit between the axle and backing plate. Beat it out and pull it in with a lug nut. Make sure it's seated so it doesn't loosen up.

 

Grab a few washers that will fit over the studs knurled end, the part that locks into the axle, and an open ended wheel nut, or regular 1/2" UNF FINE THREADED nut,



The washers are because a tiny amount of the stud knurl sticks through the axle, and it. wont seat completely if you just use the nut, the washers make a space for that , and an open wheel nut turned backwards, or a regular nut gives a flat face to push against the washers, see random google picture above.

 

I like to use a stock steel wheel as the spacer. Won't damage my aluminum ones. Not as easy since you have to pull it off to check your progress but I don't have to search for washers.

 

a couple of my front ones broke off, so i took off the rotor, and used an air chisel and they came out no problem at all. used it to put em back in aswell. had the job done in 10 minutes. not sure if you have one, or even if you did, would it be able to fit in the back. just a thought though.

 

I knock them out with one of these, which i just found out is a crack jack crevice tool, for mining, we just call it the weapon of mass destruction, I have no idea where i got mine, but it will wreck stuff. Too cheap to start the compresser most days.

 

thanks guys when the lugs come in the mail ill be doing this first thing. besides obviously the tire what do i need to remove to add these?

 

I said bottle jack PRESS... The use of one doesn't require a BFH. Do it your way and I will do it mine which would involve actually removing the axle from the truck and using mechanical leverage vs brute force. Hey... either way works one way almost certainly can cause other damage in unexperienced hands.

I recently had to replace a spindle due to guys using hammers when all that I required was a steering wheel puller and an axle nut to pull the spindle.