So today I went to rotate my tires, easy enough, done it countless times on my Expedition.
For some reason the driver side rear wheel will not come off. I banged on it with a rubber mallet, pulled on it with a tie down strap attached, nothing, it won't budge. Um, yes, I did remove the lugnuts first for you smartelecks...

I expect the rim is frozen somehow... thankfully I'm in my garage and not trying to change a flat in the middle of nowhere.

Any ideas on how to get it off?

Thanks guys...

'02 Excursion Ltd 7.3 psd
96k miles
stock all around
just purchased in December of '08.

 

Try driving it around the block a few times -- LOL

all kidding aside - good luck ..

 

Sounds weird to me. Maybe try some penetrating lube then let it sit for a bit and come back and wack it a few times. If that doesnt work... thats when I would really start to become concerned.

 

Get a biggr BFH!!

 

Try a 16 pound sledge. Sometimes the metal seats on the hub catch the wheel. Thats what happened to mine. Once i got it off i applied a little teflon grease to the area and no more problems.

 

The dissimilar metals between the hub and rims is what causes 'welding'...

The easiest way to break it free other than whailing on it with your foot or hammer is to loosen the lugs slightly and drive in a figure 8...this will put pressure on the hub/rim interface and break it free...

It is a real treat when this happens. When you reinstall the wheels...install a small amount of anti-seize lube to the hub center where it contacts the rim...

Good luck...BTW...a BFH also works from behind.

Joe.

 

I usaually kick mine on all sides. Showing it some love! That only happened to me when I tried to take the wheels off for the first time. Didn't need to but, I was curious what was in there. LOL

 

what I do leave one nut on ( put loose) an try putting a bar behind in the middle of the rim an pry away from you it should come off good luck

 

I bought a small $15 bottle jack and put the bottom of it against the inside of the rim/tire and angled it so the top caught the u-bolt under the axle. A couple pumps and the rim will pop loose.

 

When this happened to me I used a piece of firewood - a log approx. 15 lbs and threw it at the side of the rim. A couple of hits and the rim popped off.

Brian

 

Yep this is how I would remove that wheel

 

Joe nailed it. It works every time.

Just break the lug nuts loose (right around finger loose is what I've done) and drive the rig around the block, or figure eights like Joe said.

Don't forget the anti-seize or a film of white lithium grease before you reinstall the whole shebang.

Stewart

 

Another vote for Joe's method. The hydraulic jack method would work as well, but I would be scared of bending a wheel.

 

Joe DOES have the correct method of breaking them free. Let the weight of the Ex work for you.

 

Hey all, great suggestions, thanks. I also called the dealership and they said it's fairly common. Apparently the MagChloride they use here in Colorado to keep ice off the roads causes the welding of the two parts.

Of course it could also be the heat from the brakes that helped with the fusion, my rotors are warped (that way when I bot it) so I'm guessing the prev owner got them a little too hot.

I'll be trying these methods and keep you posted on the results.