02 Convertable; Rear Drum Wheel Studs

[Harry Morgan]

(NOTE: I originally posted this on the "Sportage" forum, but now realized that I should have posted it here... first time user)
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At 150k miles the soles of both passenger-side shoes separated from the metal part of the shoes, so I'm trying to do a complete rear brake job with aftermarket parts. Everything went smoothly with the replacement shoes, springs, clips and drum -- except that:

(1) I was initially unaware that the wheel studs were anchored to the brake drum itself (I just assumed that they were anchored to the axle flange)

(2) When I tried using one of the old studs in the new drum, it just fell right through the opening (openings are apparently much larger in the new drum)

(3) When I went back to the store to purchase a set of wheel studs, they said that their computer did not show that item, so I tried a set of 2001 wheel studs -- too small in two ways: length of vertical spline (should be about 1/2 inch; was much less than that); the outside diameter of the vertical spline was clearly less than it should have been... just dropping the stud through the hole left less than 1/8 of an inch to press it in.

At this point I am running with all new parts except that I'm using the old drums, due to this wheel stud issue. Just curious if anyone here has delt with such an issue before -- ANY suggestions greatly appreciated.

My own "Plan B" is to just start taking the new drum to various auto shops and just test what they have for studs until I find one that passes my "drop test" based on the old drum and old stud... drop the stud through the hole and it should stop about 1/16 of an inch before the vertical spline.

Then "Plan C" is to return the drums and go somewhere else that will provide BOTH the drums AND the studs (installed)... the dealer is not an option here since they want about 2.5 times what the aftermarket guys get for parts -- e.g., wheel studs $2 each (need 10) at AutoZone, etc; the dealer $5 each.

Harry