Seized wheel syndrome

[skid542]

While inspecting my car I went to take off the wheel and I couldn't get it to pop off the center hub. All the lugs were off of course. I whacked on the rubber part of the tire pretty hard several times and it didn't want to budge. I've had this problem before on other tires and I've always just put WD-40 on it and let it set for a little then whack on it some more and pull and pry till it lets go. Kind of a hard time consuming and little harder than it should be. Do others have this problem and what do you all do about it?

[91White-T]

When I first got my wagon, all 4 wheels had it bad. A big hammer helps a lot, its the only way.

[vrg3]

PB Blaster is a lot better than WD-40 for this purpose, so you may want to go pick up a can or two and try that.

You could put the lug nuts back on finger-tight and then gingerly drive the car in a 180. That often breaks them loose.

Sometimes it takes many very swift kicks. Know any martial artists?

You can try applying heat with a torch, but don't go nuts since you don't want to cook the grease in the wheel bearings.

[Subaru_Nation555]

That happend to me. I guess it just rusts a little between the hub and the wheel when its together for a long time. I just banged it off.

[vrg3]

Erhm, sorry, I meant "figure eight," not "180."

[skid542]

Thanks, good idea about the figure eight and I'll definately pick up some PB blaster. I've gotten them off before with a sledge hammer appriately applied. I've thought about the torch before too but would just as soon not chance it, no reason if other methods work.

[LowRev Clicker]

If you don't feel comfortable driving in a figure 8 with loose lugnuts, try the PB Blaster, give it time to do it's magic and then rock the car from side to side by just pushing on the fenders.

[greg donovan]

remember that when you put the wheels back on you should really rub a little anti sieze on the surface of the wheel that mates up to the hub. then they shouldnt stick again.

all that heat and moisture makes rust happen very fast.

[evolutionmovement]

You should use zinc wheel weights to prevent electrolytic reaction with alloys - they can attach themselves pretty well to steel (especially on Ford trucks).

It's too bad they don't actually make zincs for cars.

Steve

[93forestpearl]

I usually go at the wheel from the inside with a three pound hammer, making shure to whack the edge of the rim. Hitting the tire never seems to make a sharp enough impact. Was everything hot when you tried to take it off? I bet heating the wheel when everything is cool might do the trick. THe PB Blaster sounds good too.