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How To Free a Stuck Wheel?

RockMonkey

RockMonkey

Suddenly Enthusiastic
My 2003 Dodge truck has aluminum wheels and I can't get one off. It's solidly stuck to the rear hub. All the lug nuts are off (so don't even ask), I've tried prying between the tire and the leaf spring with a long bar. I've hit it with a rubber mallet, then with a sledge hammer with a 2x4 to avoid damage to the wheel. I even tried loosening the nuts just a little and performing several "Nascar drops" from the top of the floor jack. No luck. It has rear disk brakes, so I can't pull the whole hub off without disconnecting the brake line (which I'm not willing to do just to get a stupid wheel off). What tricks am I missing? I've had aluminum wheels stuck before, but never as solidly as this one...
 
Rusted

Rusted

Let's Ride!
Supporting Member
Location
Sandy
Loosen lug nuts, get camcorder ready, doughnuts in the parking lot??

Use a spare tire like a big hammer? Lots more energy in a big tire hitting it than a hammer.

How about a spare tire and a rope and think "slide hammer" so all the force is pulling the wheel away from the hub?
 
rockreligious

rockreligious

NoEcoNaziAmmo
Location
Ephraim
Ive had this happen a few times on my semi..the alum corrodes to the steel, I just had to beat hit with a sledge for quite a while before it would break loose, then when re-installing I used anti-sieze on the surfaces to avoid it happening agian.
 
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
Take it to Discount Tire and have them rotate your tires. :D Worked on my 4runner when I couldn't get the AL rims off.

On second thought, I probably took it to Costco that time, since that's where the tires came from. Same difference for all it matters to your situation.
 
K

kowe69

wannabe
Location
West Valley, Utah
I see this on F-550's all the time. We usually leave the lug nuts on but loose, then go drive it around the parking lot. These have always been steel dual wheels though. I would be extra careful doing this with aluminum.
 
Kiel

Kiel

Formerly WJ ZUK
You need a young guy full of anger to kick it for you:bryson:. I have also used a big sledge on the tire from the back.
 
Shawn

Shawn

Just Hanging Out
Location
Holly Day
This happens to me every time I rotate my tires. On my truck I have 4 on the rear...

I jack it up and make sure it is stable, lay on my back and kick the tire, rotate the tire, kick, rotate, etc. I have also done the same with a BFH. when the wheel finally moves just a hair you can pull the tire at you side to side.

The problem is with mine is that the center of the rim is just as round as the center of the hub and it is a mo-fo to get it off.

This time after a few hours of beating... when I put them back on I greased the inner rim and hub.
 
NE_Utah

NE_Utah

Active Member
Location
Roosevelt
Been there done that. I used a handyman and a 2x4. Work smart not hard.
I use aniseize on the hub now. Use just a little and it makes it so much better to get off next time.

The first time I was at the side of the road with a flat in 100 deg weather in a suit:-\

Good luck
 
Cody

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
a big lever

I had a problem with a rotor once that wouldnt pop off. As soon as I admitted defeat and lay sobbing in the december rain at 11 at night in my driveway it came off. Almost magically.

I would try that next.
 
RockMonkey

RockMonkey

Suddenly Enthusiastic
I think the penetrating oil eventually worked it loose. I was able to kick it off. My next step was going to be the Discount Tire tire rotation trick. ;) When I put the AL wheel back on I'm going to put some grease on the hub.
 
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