I was getting some weird noises out of the rearend when I braked so I decided to take a closer look. While trying to remove the lug nuts 2 studs snapped and one looked deformed (had been over-torqued in the past). At least it happened in my driveway instad of the middle of nowhere while changin a tire.I've been trying to get the studs out to replace them with no success. I tried tapping them out, soaking them in penetrating oil overnight, and heating them but still no luck. I've been fairly conservative with the heat and I'm afraid of damaging the hub/bearing/seals if I wack it too hard or heat it too much - but I'm at a loss as to what to do. My old Merc Cougar had a couple of broken studs I replaced and those took considerably less effort. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
-wil
'71 malibu

Hit it harder, they are not designed simply "pop" out.

I tried tapping them outthat's your problem. They just drive out. Some things require the shock that occurs when you hit them hard to break them loose. Hit it and it should come out. Stop heating things. That will cause more probs than smacking those old studs. Worse case, pull the axle and press them out but you shouldn't have to do that.

I had to yank an axle a couple of months back on the wife's Elky. Stud broke nearly clean with the surface. Nothing much to hit left sticking out. After a couple of hours playing around with it I yanked the axle out and put it in the press. Set a next size down bolt over the broken stud. A couple of pumps on the press handle and it popped loose.
Too bad you aren't closer. The press is still set up to get an axle into it.

You can safely hit that stud in the axle flange pretty hard! However, if all else fails maybe you can get a big C-clamp on the stud. Place a socket big enough for the head of the stud to fit into over the head. Viola...a portable stud-press! Depending on your setup you may have to remove the brakes.

chisel off broken stud flush with flange, then pin punch stud and then hit with 2+ lb hammer on pin punch to drive out stud. works every time with axle in car.