re
Can I press out the old studs/install the new ones myself? Is there a shop
somewhere between Portland & Seattle I can trust to do it? Who do you all
recommend?

Yes, you can press out the rear studs yourself fairly easily.
The underside of the flange is oddly shaped, so getting that to sit level
during the pressing operation, on each stud, is tricky.
I found a piece of square tubing, about 1   and 1/4 inch on each side, and
ground the upper edge to make a properly shaped support that will allow it
to sit level, while you press each stud out.
  Any large enough piece of pipe would do also.

going in ...make sure they are well seated and exactly straight.  Test fit
the flange with new studs on it into the wheel right away, before putting
the flange  back on the van.
$ 400 is excessive all right.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "C B" <cunegonde.van.westfalia@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 12:12 AM
Subject: Subject: Portland - Seattle wheel mount recommendations?

> The two Portland OR shops we took Cunegonde to each wanted almost $400 to
> swap 10 rear wheel studs, and clearly weren't familiar with my '83 WBX
> Westy. I have all the rear studs/lugs and front bolts and spacers for the
> exchange.
>
> Can I press out the old studs/install the new ones myself? Is there a shop
> somewhere between Portland & Seattle I can trust to do it? Who do you all
> recommend?
>
>
> --
> Bretts
>
> 1983 1.9l WBX Ivory Westfalia "Cunegonde"