How do I get the wheels off?

[Jstas]

I went to throw the snow tires on the truck tonight and I could not budge the front wheels off of the studs! All 4 have been a pain in the past but I could always wiggle them off. Tonight though, I couldn't move them at all. Hurt one of my biceps too trying to move it.

Anybody have a trick of should I HIWAFH?

And yes, I did remove the lugnuts.

[tlangvardt]

take it into Discount tire - they'll probably swap them out and balance them for you for free.

[alexpirnie]

Just take a big hammer to the back side of the wheel. No don't be dumb but like a 2lb sledge and tap around it. Problably just need a couple of good taps.

Alex

[Jstas]

Originally posted by tlangvardt
take it into Discount tire - they'll probably swap them out and balance them for you for free.

There is no Discount tire anywhere near here.

[Woodyslo93]

Try jacking up the truck first. LOL J/K pad a 2ld sledge with an old tee shirt and you should have no problem. Just strike from the inside all the way around. Good luck Woody

[NeilBerry]

The aluminum wheels and steel disc rotor can freeze together. It is due to the corrosive interaction of the dissimilar metals in a wet environment.

The previous posts are correct: It will take force to separate the wheel.

:geek:

[Jstas]

I already got the wheels off. Part of the problem is that the hole in the wheel for the spindle is so tight in clearance to begin with that the wheel is a pain in the butt to get on to the truck let alone off.

I ended up jacking the truck up and hanging underneath from the engine cradle and kicking the wheels off with both feet. What really bugs me is what would I have had to do if I had a flat on the side of the road? I can assure sailors would have been blushing.

The rear wheels were no problem. One just popped right after after the lugnuts were loosened and the other came free with a good swift kick to the top of the tire.

What I want to know is, is there a service bulletin for the wheels to alleviate this issue or should I just take dremel tool to the wheel and remove some material to get more clearance for the spindle?

[NeilBerry]

Grinding away some of the material might make wheels unbalanced, so you might get them checked after any grinding.

Alternately, you might think about coating the hub with thread anti-seeze compound. It (or something like it) is made to to take heat better than grease or silicon spray; and wheels can get very hot under hard braking. I use it on my lug bolts and it seems to survive.