Best method to remove wheels?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Best method to remove wheels?
I've been reading this forum off and on for over 3 years, but can't remember anyone answering this problem:
What's the best way to get the dang wheels off of the truck? These hub-centric wheels tend to seat themselves onto the hub and never want to come off. Hitting the tire with sledge hammers still wouldn't loosen it (I don't swing too hard for fear of doing damage!) neither did loosening the nuts and driving in circles. So I finally used the lug wrench to "gently" pry between the innner part of the wheel and the disk brake. Very Gently! But by going back and forth, front then back, it came off relatively easy.
I can't believe this is the right way. Anyone know of a Ford method to do this?
Oldchap
1999 F-250 V-10 5sp SC 295BFGs!
What's the best way to get the dang wheels off of the truck? These hub-centric wheels tend to seat themselves onto the hub and never want to come off. Hitting the tire with sledge hammers still wouldn't loosen it (I don't swing too hard for fear of doing damage!) neither did loosening the nuts and driving in circles. So I finally used the lug wrench to "gently" pry between the innner part of the wheel and the disk brake. Very Gently! But by going back and forth, front then back, it came off relatively easy.
I can't believe this is the right way. Anyone know of a Ford method to do this?
Oldchap
1999 F-250 V-10 5sp SC 295BFGs!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 437
Likes: 3
From: Fayetteville (Atlanta) GA
Best method to remove wheels?
Good question ! The first time I attempted to remove mine I thought I would never get the right rear off. I finally loosed all the lug nuts about 2 full turns and lowered the truck back down on the ground. Then I just started rocking the truck back and forth. About the fourth or fifth rock and it came loose. I was real un-comfortable doing this, but I had been trying everything else for 2 hours.
Mark
Mark
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, Ohio
Best method to remove wheels?
Boy, I know the feeling. I can't imagine what a guy would do if it happened out on the road somewhere. I spent an hour trying to rotate my tires yesterday, had to put a block of wood on the inside of the rim and beat the bejeezes out of it. I put some never-seize on the back of the rim to see if it will help. If anyone has any other suggestions, we'd appreciate it!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 450
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, GA
Best method to remove wheels?
Wow!!!! I've had to change two flats on my truck, one on the front, and one on the rear, and both wheels came right off as soon as the lug nuts where loose.
Knock on wood, I won't start to experience this problem...
Knock on wood, I won't start to experience this problem...
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: SC, USA!
Best method to remove wheels?
I have not had a problem either (crossing fingers and hoping it will continue). I rotate my tires every 3000 miles. How long had it been since the wheel was off last, for those of you with stuck wheels?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
From: I'm lost somewhere in NJ -- can someone please find me?!?!?!?
Best method to remove wheels?
1 year, 32,000 miles, and no problems yet. Do you think it could have anything to do with the fact that the tires are rotated every other oil change?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Best method to remove wheels?
My first time I had a problem, the truck only had 5000 miles on it. It was back at the dealer for one of its many recalls, and I figured I'd let them change the oil and do a rotation while they had it. Must have had a rooky on the job, he was swinging at the tires for a hour and a half to get them all off. I could practically feel each swing in my stomach as he beat at my $25k beauty! Since then, I figure more damage will be done by banging on the tires than the good I'd get from rotating them, so I don't rotate any more. I got 85,000 miles out of those Generals even without rotations! Now that I've spent close to a grand on BFGs, nobody's gonna touch them with a hammer but me!
Oldchap
1999 SC F-250 V10 5sp 295BFGs
Oldchap
1999 SC F-250 V10 5sp 295BFGs
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod
Best method to remove wheels?
Once you do get them off use lots of anti-siez compound on all of the mating surfaces and wheel studs. Aluminum and steel dont mix it will be well worth it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere out there.
Best method to remove wheels?
I use a lead shot " dead blow" plastic BFH ( Big Fu@#! Hammer) on the side of the rim while rotating the wheel. I have not ruined one or met one that wouldn't co-operate.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, Ohio
Best method to remove wheels?
I bought mine used with 61,000 on it. It has the original Firestones on it, (not in too bad a shape, either). Did brakes on front, no problem getting them off, but the back one were nasty! Did the never-seize thing, also. Getting a new set of Dunlop 315/75R/16's in another week, so we'll see how they come off.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
4caster
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Feb 18, 2013 09:37 PM
Oldchap
Audio & Video Systems, Navigation, Satellite Radio & Mobile Electronics
2
Jan 6, 2007 10:33 PM