Wheels frozen to hubs, suggestions? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

liquidlight · 05-09-2005, 02:42 PM

I have a '94 Corolla with 194K miles on it and when I attempted to inspect the brakes I encountered a problem. Either the wheels have been changed and are too small for the hubs that they're cinched down onto, or they are so rusted that they're completely frozen in place.

I was able to dislodge one of the front tires with a carefully placed sledgehammer, but after several shots at the rear tire I retired before I broke something, I'd love to pay someone to replace the brakes professionally, but after getting quotes that's just not going to be very feasible for a few weeks and I don't have the time.

So does anyone know of a "wheel-puller" tool or a solvent, or a trick to get these tires to come off easily so that I can get the brakes on this car replaced? And since I'm sure it will be an issue, tips on freeing the rear brake drums would be greatly appreciated as well.

laconic1 · 05-09-2005, 03:09 PM

A BFH is really about the only way to get them off when they freeze on like that. Sometimes you can stick a long pipe in the spokes of the wheel and pry it off that way. I usually use a 3 pound deadblow and try to get right on the edge of the backside of the wheel. As for the rear brake drums on your car I'm pretty sure that the drums have two holes drilled and tapped that allow you to screw in a small bolt, maybe a 7mm bolt, that presses against the hub and presses the drum off that way. I know that description didn't make a lot of sense, I'll try to find a picture of what I'm talking about when I get home tonight.
Supposedly if you put antiseize on the wheel contact surfaces on the hub it wont stick quite so much in the future although I cannot vouch for this myself

lite campfire · 05-09-2005, 03:27 PM

Drive around a little* with the lugnuts loose. Not very loose, just loose enough that the stuckness is holding the wheel on, not the nuts. (This is assuming your wheels are lug centric, not hub centric). I wouldn't recommend driving over a curb* if that doesn't do it, because then it would be my fault if you did and broke something

And obviously, don't drive around with the lugnuts loose once the wheel comes unstuck.

Disclaimer: I don't know where I heard this and I've never done it.

*Very slowly and carfully in a large open paved area with no small children or animals in the area.

waltert · 05-09-2005, 09:33 PM

spray some wd 40 in there if you can (between hub and wheel) lift the car (make sure you have a very solid lift setup, because what im about to propose is dangerous)

just lift the front or the rear, maybe with a floor jack on each side (not jack stands, they might fall over) have someone stand against one side of the car to try and keep it from moving and kick the crap out of or otherwise apply a large force to the wheel.

an even safer way would be to use jackstands to support the weight of the car and have floor jacks positioned so that its lifting on the car slightly, and if the jack stands give way, the car wont just come crashing down on you.

be careful and only get under the car if you absolutely have to...and remember, this idea didnt come from me

merkerguitars · 05-10-2005, 03:58 AM

Usually the way I do it is sit my butt down on the ground and kick with my left then my right foot just going back and forth while spinning the wheel with my foot. Mine where seized pretty bad when I blew a tire once. Took about 2 straight minutes of heavy duty beating on it.

liquidlight · 05-10-2005, 10:35 AM

This became slightly moot yesterday as I left work to find a flat tire thanks to a nail!

The wheels are hubcentric, but thanks for the idea campfire!

A BFH seems to be the only real way to accomplish this, even Big-O just had to beat the hell out of it to get it off, luckily I was able to reinflate the tire with the nail in it so I could drive it to the shop and not have to mess with trying to get it off the car and put on the doughnut!!

With the estimates that I've been given involving how much the labor/parts to do this is going to cost me I'm most likely going to get myself a nice 3lb sledge and a block of wood, a couple of jackstands, and that mother is coming off there whether it likes it or not!

As for the tap screws, I understand what you're talking about, do you know of a kit that would have the appropriate sized bolts with the right thread, or am I just going to be stuck playing guessing games until I find some that are long enough and still fit?

MSD · 05-10-2005, 07:06 PM

At work, we take turns kicking them until they fall off. After that we put antisieze compound on the hub and lugs.

maverick750 · 05-10-2005, 09:11 PM

I always spray the hub with PB Blaster, then go after it with a big hammer. Works every time

slant eyes · 05-10-2005, 09:29 PM

careful not to bang too hard. i once had a seized bearing and started bangin on it. i warped the hub itself and my tire would wobble. had to get another one from teh junkyard. careful

twilightfoix · 05-16-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick750

I always spray the hub with PB Blaster, then go after it with a big hammer. Works every time

That's usually what I do too, but be careful, I broke a CV joint like that once, ripped the boot and it came off before the tire did, made it easier to get the tire off now that it was off the car but luckly we were just doin a rip and tear, so it was FUUUUUN

Powderedmaggot · 05-16-2005, 01:34 PM

Edit, nevermind I was thinking of removing drums.

Scorps · 05-18-2005, 10:36 AM

When I worked in mechanics we put one lug on loose then hit the back of the rire(not the rim) with a really big bar

Works all the time!

splck · 05-25-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lite campfire

Drive around a little* with the lugnuts loose. Not very loose, just loose enough that the stuckness is holding the wheel on, not the nuts....

heheh, i like that idea..

Beat the shit out of it with a BFH, it'll come off...

05-09-2005, 02:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	Wheels frozen to hubs, suggestions? I have a '94 Corolla with 194K miles on it and when I attempted to inspect the brakes I encountered a problem. Either the wheels have been changed and are too small for the hubs that they're cinched down onto, or they are so rusted that they're completely frozen in place. I was able to dislodge one of the front tires with a carefully placed sledgehammer, but after several shots at the rear tire I retired before I broke something, I'd love to pay someone to replace the brakes professionally, but after getting quotes that's just not going to be very feasible for a few weeks and I don't have the time. So does anyone know of a "wheel-puller" tool or a solvent, or a trick to get these tires to come off easily so that I can get the brakes on this car replaced? And since I'm sure it will be an issue, tips on freeing the rear brake drums would be greatly appreciated as well. __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

05-10-2005, 03:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Usually the way I do it is sit my butt down on the ground and kick with my left then my right foot just going back and forth while spinning the wheel with my foot. Mine where seized pretty bad when I blew a tire once. Took about 2 straight minutes of heavy duty beating on it. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

05-10-2005, 10:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	This became slightly moot yesterday as I left work to find a flat tire thanks to a nail! The wheels are hubcentric, but thanks for the idea campfire! A BFH seems to be the only real way to accomplish this, even Big-O just had to beat the hell out of it to get it off, luckily I was able to reinflate the tire with the nail in it so I could drive it to the shop and not have to mess with trying to get it off the car and put on the doughnut!! With the estimates that I've been given involving how much the labor/parts to do this is going to cost me I'm most likely going to get myself a nice 3lb sledge and a block of wood, a couple of jackstands, and that mother is coming off there whether it likes it or not! As for the tap screws, I understand what you're talking about, do you know of a kit that would have the appropriate sized bolts with the right thread, or am I just going to be stuck playing guessing games until I find some that are long enough and still fit? __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

05-10-2005, 09:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
slant eyes Psycho Location: cali	careful not to bang too hard. i once had a seized bearing and started bangin on it. i warped the hub itself and my tire would wobble. had to get another one from teh junkyard. careful __________________ no man or woman is worth your tears - and the one who is, won't make you cry question authority, don't ask why, just do it!

05-16-2005, 01:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Powderedmaggot Banned	Edit, nevermind I was thinking of removing drums. Last edited by Powderedmaggot; 05-16-2005 at 01:37 PM..

05-09-2005, 03:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	A BFH is really about the only way to get them off when they freeze on like that. Sometimes you can stick a long pipe in the spokes of the wheel and pry it off that way. I usually use a 3 pound deadblow and try to get right on the edge of the backside of the wheel. As for the rear brake drums on your car I'm pretty sure that the drums have two holes drilled and tapped that allow you to screw in a small bolt, maybe a 7mm bolt, that presses against the hub and presses the drum off that way. I know that description didn't make a lot of sense, I'll try to find a picture of what I'm talking about when I get home tonight. Supposedly if you put antiseize on the wheel contact surfaces on the hub it wont stick quite so much in the future although I cannot vouch for this myself

05-09-2005, 03:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
lite campfire Crazy	Drive around a little* with the lugnuts loose. Not very loose, just loose enough that the stuckness is holding the wheel on, not the nuts. (This is assuming your wheels are lug centric, not hub centric). I wouldn't recommend driving over a curb* if that doesn't do it, because then it would be my fault if you did and broke something And obviously, don't drive around with the lugnuts loose once the wheel comes unstuck. Disclaimer: I don't know where I heard this and I've never done it. *Very slowly and carfully in a large open paved area with no small children or animals in the area.

05-09-2005, 09:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
waltert Insane	spray some wd 40 in there if you can (between hub and wheel) lift the car (make sure you have a very solid lift setup, because what im about to propose is dangerous) just lift the front or the rear, maybe with a floor jack on each side (not jack stands, they might fall over) have someone stand against one side of the car to try and keep it from moving and kick the crap out of or otherwise apply a large force to the wheel. an even safer way would be to use jackstands to support the weight of the car and have floor jacks positioned so that its lifting on the car slightly, and if the jack stands give way, the car wont just come crashing down on you. be careful and only get under the car if you absolutely have to...and remember, this idea didnt come from me

05-10-2005, 07:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	At work, we take turns kicking them until they fall off. After that we put antisieze compound on the hub and lugs.

05-10-2005, 09:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
maverick750 Upright Location: janesville wisconsin	I always spray the hub with PB Blaster, then go after it with a big hammer. Works every time

05-18-2005, 10:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	When I worked in mechanics we put one lug on loose then hit the back of the rire(not the rim) with a really big bar Works all the time!