Can't get Wheel to come off?

J

jefferz

Member

Oct 21, 2004

110

1

19

Spokane, WA

Mar 1, 2009

#1

• Mar 1, 2009

• #1

Hey guys,

I was trying to swap my wheels off of my GT for my Snow wheels and tires from my 95 Mustang today because I have to go to Seattle and that involves driving over a mountain pass. When I went to do this, I couldn't get the passenger side front wheel to come off. I don't know exactly what to do at this point. I tried pulling hard, kicking the tire, and trying to pry it off with a bar. We did spray WD40 on it but to no avail.

Has anyone had this problem before? Any advice?

Thanks

EDIT: We did use a rubber mallet as well

 

tag4car

Member

Nov 21, 2005

0

0

16

Birmingham AL

Mar 1, 2009

#2

• Mar 1, 2009

• #2

put a jack under the tire and see if that breaks the bond

 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member

Jan 31, 2003

3,125

81

99

Canada

Mar 1, 2009

#3

• Mar 1, 2009

• #3

You might try putting the lug nuts back on handtight (so they just touch the wheel) and then back them off 1/4-1/2 turn. Slowly lower the car to put the weight back on the wheel and then row the steering wheel back and forth a few times. That may break the corrosion bond.

Next time put a thin smear of anti-seize on the hub flange to stave off the corrosion that causes the sticking.

 

S

SONIC02

Member

Feb 9, 2003

70

0

7

Mar 1, 2009

#4

• Mar 1, 2009

• #4

You have to take the lug nuts off first.


J/k - keep beating it, it will come off. Maybe but some anti seize lube on there before you put the other one on.
Try using the power steering to help out of you have to - jam something behind the wheel then give it some slow turns to try and pop it off.

 

Shiroelex

There's nothing worse than aut

Founding Member

Aug 23, 2001

728

1

27

Westland, MI

Mar 1, 2009

#5

• Mar 1, 2009

• #5

I usually take my spare tire and swing it against the stuck tire a few times real hard. Hit the edge of the stuck tire in one spot a few times, then rotate it around and hit another side a few more times. I've had some real stuck tires before, and the spare tire as a mallot trick seems to work the best for me.

 

ProCharger GT

Member

Jun 3, 2004

153

0

16

Cleveland

Mar 1, 2009

#6

• Mar 1, 2009

• #6

Have you tried hitting the tire w/ the rubber mallet from behind the tire? When I used to work in a tire shop, we had a big rubber mallet that we used and were able to remove truck tires with.

 

paintballpyro1

Active Member

Jan 6, 2004

118

1

29

Michigan

Mar 1, 2009

#7

• Mar 1, 2009

• #7

I work at discount and deal with this all the time esp the ford trucks which can be a nightmare. Alot of people already said what i would suggest but i would not use anti seize putting it back on esp if you get it on the studs, wont allow you to torque them right and your wheel could fall off. Anyways you can take your jack and use it as a ram to hit the bottom of the tire or sledge hammer to the back of the wheel/tire and keep turning it and hitting it.

 

Tazzy

New Member

Jan 6, 2009

21

0

0

PA

Mar 1, 2009

#8

• Mar 1, 2009

• #8

+1 on the mallet to the lower back side of the rim.

 

4

40oz

Member

Jan 9, 2006

499

3

18

Minneapolis

Mar 2, 2009

#9

• Mar 2, 2009

• #9

it's especially awesome when that happens on the side of the freeway on your way home from work in the winter. You're thinking "flat tire, no big deal." Then the damn thing won't come off lol.

Hammer on the inside bottom of the rim. A lead hammer is best. Steel works better than rubber, it just will leave marks in your rim. Not huge imprints, but it won't be pristine anymore. If you are careful to hit the rim square, you won't leave a mark with a clean hammer.

A rubber mallet doesn't have the mass to work very well, IMHO.

By now, however, the WD-40 has done it's work and I bet the wheel falls right off.

 

J

jefferz

Member

Oct 21, 2004

110

1

19

Spokane, WA

Mar 2, 2009

#10

• Mar 2, 2009

• #10

ProCharger GT said:

Have you tried hitting the tire w/ the rubber mallet from behind the tire? When I used to work in a tire shop, we had a big rubber mallet that we used and were able to remove truck tires with.

Click to expand...

Yes I have used the rubber mallet.

Thanks for all of your guys help. Sorry it took so long to say that. I am now at the moment dealing with my 5.0 that broke down on my Mom two hours away in the middle of nowhere!

 

ThePumpkin

New Member

Jan 26, 2009

55

0

0

Missouri

Mar 2, 2009

#11

• Mar 2, 2009

• #11

jefferz said:

Yes I have used the rubber mallet.

Thanks for all of your guys help. Sorry it took so long to say that. I am now at the moment dealing with my 5.0 that broke down on my Mom two hours away in the middle of nowhere!

Click to expand...

I just ran into the exact same thing 24hours ago.
I swapped my tires last night at about this time.. and BOTH front tires were a to get off.'
I sprayed the log nut bolts with PB blaster, got infront of the car and hit the inside of the rim with a rubber mallet . Try this and spin it every couple of hits.
Its no fun, but it works.

 

paintballpyro1

Active Member

Jan 6, 2004

118

1

29

Michigan

Mar 2, 2009

#12

• Mar 2, 2009

• #12

if you can get a wire brush or something to clean off the mating surface of the wheel and hub and esp clean out the center bore of the wheel just so you dont run into this again. At discount we gotta do that on every wheel we take off.