help! Can't get my wheels off!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
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Yeah, just take all the lug nuts off and then drive it, maybe take a couple of sharp turns fast, that should work hee hee. Seriously, I've never had that problem with steel wheels, but have had with the alloy ones. Had to keep beating each side of the tire with a sledge hammer untill they broke lose.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Take a 5lb+ hammer, unbolt the wheel, and hit the sidewall of the tire on the outside fairly hard. This used to work for me working in a tire shop. Just make sure to hit the tire and not the rim, you will damage the wheel if you hit it.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 249
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From: ellerbe
I know what you mean about alloy wheels. My wifes dodge neon has alloy wheels. She hit a curb one day and cut the tire. She called me and I went over there and tried to get it off. I pulled so hard that I pulled the wheel off the ground. Then someone told me that the lugnuts will seize up on alloy wheels. Eventually it just broke the stud off.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,175
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From: charlotte nc
Dont put the wheels back on with an air wrench next time, Use a pull bar and tighten to the correct Ft/lbs.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,118
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From: Williamson, NY
I had this happen to me and what worked for me was to loosen the lug nuts until there is a 1/16" gap and then drive the truck around making hard turns in both directions. Only drive it a short distance to do this though. When this happened to me, I only drove it around a small section of empty parking lot where I was getting my tiresd rotated and it worked like a charm.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Hi,
Common problem with the newer hub-centric wheels. Especially Explorers. Spray PB Blaster around the hub while rotating tire.
Whatever you do, please do not hit the rubber sidewall of a tire with a hammer. Besides bouncing back, on a P metric tire you can bust plys.
Loosen lugnuts, put on jackstand (not a jack), hold the frame opposite the tire with two hands, kick the back of the tire with both feet near the shoulder.
If that does not work, take a 2x4, place against STEEL rim from the back, hit 2x4 with sledge from opposite side of vehicle.
Sometimes if you loosen the lug nuts a bit, put the vehicle down, and then lift the opposite side as high as you can, it breaks it free.
When putting the wheel back on make sure you use anti-seize around the hub.
Common problem with the newer hub-centric wheels. Especially Explorers. Spray PB Blaster around the hub while rotating tire.
Whatever you do, please do not hit the rubber sidewall of a tire with a hammer. Besides bouncing back, on a P metric tire you can bust plys.
Loosen lugnuts, put on jackstand (not a jack), hold the frame opposite the tire with two hands, kick the back of the tire with both feet near the shoulder.
If that does not work, take a 2x4, place against STEEL rim from the back, hit 2x4 with sledge from opposite side of vehicle.
Sometimes if you loosen the lug nuts a bit, put the vehicle down, and then lift the opposite side as high as you can, it breaks it free.
When putting the wheel back on make sure you use anti-seize around the hub.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
hi....i use to work for a Tire Store for two years and came upon this problem all the time. one option, if you dont want to hurt your wheels, is to kick the tire HARD. The farther out from the hub the better for torque reasons. And dont just kick it in the same spot, you have to work the wheel out... kick the bottom top left right in any random order. The best way to kick it is to sit your butt on the ground and kick. And second option might hurt your wheel but take a long handled sledge and hit the inside lip of the wheel, handle should be long like an ax handle, spinning the wheel after each hit to work it out. If it's steal dont be afraid to hit it HARD. But aluminum, start a bit softer and work hard but you be the judge to know when it's too hard since i cant be there.
when you put the wheels back on...spray some anti-corrosion spray(it really works) around the hub area and wheel and let sit for a bit. And steal brush it to.
when you put the wheels back on...spray some anti-corrosion spray(it really works) around the hub area and wheel and let sit for a bit. And steal brush it to.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
help...can't get my wheels off...
I really need to change my tires & 3 of the four wheels are seriously stuck...tried beating on them to no avail....any tips for loosening them up?
PS...posted this thread before but it disappeared?
PS...posted this thread before but it disappeared?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 239
Likes: 1
I've done this trick a couple of times. Loosen the nuts but leave them on, take the vehicle out on the street, make a sharp turn, the rim should pop loose. Only advice I can give with this one is DON'T go to far away fron the driveway and don't loosen the nuts to far.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
yep, 2x4 & sledge hammer for about 15 minutes....the wheels had only budged about a quarter inch. I had the same idea beaner suggested but wasn't sure if it was safe or not... I guess I'll try it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
Likes: 1
From: Joppa, Maryland
hmm, they must really be on there. what type of vehicle is it?
I guess that idea could work.. just make sure you're in a safe enough area to do it incase something bad happens. Doesn't seem likely that something would, but better safe than sorry.
I guess that idea could work.. just make sure you're in a safe enough area to do it incase something bad happens. Doesn't seem likely that something would, but better safe than sorry.