Wheel studs?

[rmneder]

I have a 1972 k10. The wheel studs on the front are 1/2 inch and the rear are 7/16. I believe they should be 7/16 front and rear. I don't really care if my wheel studs are the factory original size but I want them all the same size. Which would be easier to change the front or the rear? Thanks in advance for any help.

[siggyfreud]

Rears would be easier to tap/hammer out. Buy a wheel stud installation tool from Amazon. It'll make the install a piece of cake. Looks like a socket, but has a bearing in it. Should be able to do all the studs in about twenty minutes

[Steeveedee]

Disc brake hubs have 1/2" lugs. Your rear axle should already have 1/2" studs if it is original. I'm in the same boat, but that is because I rebuilt the front end and added disc brakes a couple of years ago.

[kwmech]

The K trucks are 6 lug-- 7/16'' --all the way up to 1991 in the blazer and 'burb. Having 1/2'' on the front is a good thing. I convert 2 or 3 a year to 1/2''. Seems to be more stress on the studs being in the front with the steering and larger tires. Studs stretch a little and work loose, pretty soon afterwards they break.

Change the rear studs out, going back to 7/16 on the front will not work as the holes have been drilled out. Stock rear stud is a dorman 610-186 with a .472 knurl. Step up to a 610-258 which has a .530 knurl and using a 33/64 drill will give you a press fit of about 12-15 thou. They will be tight and 1/4'' longer

[rmneder]

Thanks. I think the consensus is to change the rear which is what I'll do. As a side note, I've owned the truck since 96 and I know they were all the same when I got it. What I think must have happened is a previous owner must have changed to 1/2 and a few years ago I had to replace rear axle shafts and the shop used stock replacements, which is understandable and I didn't know to tell them any different. I didn't notice for a while because I haven't been driving the truck that much recently and didn't need to take the wheels off.

[siggyfreud]

When the shop changed them they must have changed the lugs as well and kept your old ones.