You can but it wont be pretty, and I wouldn't trust them to handle any serious power. Just do yourself a favor John and press them in with an arbor press and save the headache for a draft beer hangover buddy.
See this is one thing that I dont like feel half assing is a good idea. The lugs/studs are what keep the tires on the car. I've had a few lug studs snap off on my trailer and trucks and yes you can press in new ones but I usually opt out and replace the whole hub instead. Just a personal preference I guess but I just feel if one or two snapped off already the rest are not far behind them so why chance it and cheap out replacing single studs. Just my .02 cents anyways.
I have installed some with a lug nut washers or spacers and a socket that will fit over the stud . May not be the best but it worked when I did all of mine.
Better to press them , rather than pull them by the threads. That said, I have done the washer /impact thing. Someone you know must have one of these: https://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-shop-press-33497.html Jim
I've drawn them in also with the lug nut and my impact, was actually surprised the nut didnt strip But I can see the point of it not being the accepted way of doing it, your putting alot of stress on the stud verses pushing it in. If ever I had to do it again, I'd press 'em in.
A little pricey IMO but these work well. A few shops bought them from my Napa. Myself I use washers and old lug nut. With a little grease between the washers or a small torrington bearing from Ace Hardware they go easy (less torque than installing wheels). https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-tools/wheel-stud-installer
I have too. I use double flat washers under the lug nut with white grease between them so that they act almost like a bearing. I've never had a problem. I always use an air wrench because it eliminates trying to stop the drum/rotor/axle from turning. Using a press would be the best installation method however.
For what it's worth all you guys using the lug nut and washer method I see no harm in doing that as it's pullung the stud in evenly. John originally asked if he could or should pound them in by hand with a hammer from the backside. That is the method that I'm mostly against.
I have used the impact and nut method several times with no issues. I always use Anti-seize on the back of the nut and the face of the axle or washer to cut down on the friction.
Press ONLY.. Dont use the treads... On my 93 D70 the drum was toast,, the drum and hub are married by the lugs,,, ( that makes for one heavy chunk of iron).. Anyways I used the lugs&nuts to marry the two together.... I got lucky I only wasted the most of the nuts & 2 of the lugs.... Press only.... you can use the hammer & punch method... But dont use the threads...
Ended up pressing them in with a local machine shop. I nuked a stud on the first go round with an impact, so that idea may have been trash, and ended up costing me $50 in parts and shipping for new lug nuts and lug studs.
