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Old Apr 8, 2006 | 10:38 PM
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Cannot remove the wheel

I am trying to work on brakes but cannot remove the wheel of my 89 F250. It's stuck. I tried beating on the rim (both sides) with a 3-lbs hammer, and one of these rubber hammers also. Nothing helps. Suggestions?

Do I need a heavy duty sledge hammer?
 
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Old Apr 8, 2006 | 11:54 PM
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u need a bfh, spray some pb blaster or something similiar around the hub area, and beat the hell out of the tire...if that doesnt work put the lugs on loose and drop it on the ground and move the truck until it pops off
 
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Old Apr 8, 2006 | 11:58 PM
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the best way is to simply lower the truck a little bit until the weight of the truck pops the wheel.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 07:42 AM
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Loosen the lug nuts, then lower the truck and drive it over something?
I will try that.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 12:21 PM
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dont have them too loose or you will damage the rim and threads...u could probably just wiggle the steering wheel back and forth...that should pop it off and driving over something is not necessary...u only have to move the wheel so the weight transfer over a different portion of the hub
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 01:29 PM
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You did take off the lug nuts, right?
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 04:54 PM
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yeah and had to put them back on without accomplishing anything.

I like the idea of loosening them and turning the steering wheel back and forth to loosen the rim.

I knew I would have problems with the wheel before I started, because the last time I had tires put on, the auto shop technician had to beat on the d@mn thing with some huge sledge hammer and it came off. I am afraid to do that though because it might damage the rim. Unless I cover it with a 2x4.
 

Last edited by apropos; Apr 9, 2006 at 04:56 PM.
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 05:20 PM
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Just use a piece of plywood or 2 by 4 to protect the wheel, and hit it with a hammer from the inside -- that should break it free.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 09:05 PM
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try a sledge hammer from the inside give it a few good wacks and spay the hub also with pb blaster it must have alot of rust on it your going to have to break the rust off to get it off.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 09:11 PM
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It may pay to coat the mating surfaces with anti-seize before you put it back together.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 06:50 PM
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In the Explorer forum do a search on stuck wheels. I left a message there, as have others, about how to unfreeze stuck rims.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 07:35 PM
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I assume you are refering to the rear wheels. you may also need to back off the parking brake adjuster wheen inside the drum though the adjustment hole. you will need 2 screwdrivers, one to puss back the tab that stops the aduster unscrewing itself and the other to turn the adj wheel. A lip on the drum edge will stop them coming off.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 08:21 AM
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try prying them off with a huge crow bar between the ball joint or anything close to the rim and the inside of the rim
 
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 08:22 AM
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if you get enough leverage prying is easier, and more effective than beating the snotout of it
 
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 01:03 PM
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If they're plain steel wheels or have hubcaps over the center break out the oxyacetylene torch and run it around the center where the lugs are for a few seconds. It will pop and then come right off.
 
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