Is there a hack for removing wheels stuck on hub?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
C63
Is there a hack for removing wheels stuck on hub?
I’m trying to take my wheels of the car to detail them and they are stuck. Wheel is all the way seated on the hub and in pulling on the spokes it is not budging the wheel.
Doing in driveway with floor Jack, so not on a rack where can I can walk to inside of wheel and apply force.
Any solutions that work every time?
Doing in driveway with floor Jack, so not on a rack where can I can walk to inside of wheel and apply force.
Any solutions that work every time?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 456
Likes: 151
E63s
I’m trying to take my wheels of the car to detail them and they are stuck. Wheel is all the way seated on the hub and in pulling on the spokes it is not budging the wheel.
Doing in driveway with floor Jack, so not on a rack where can I can walk to inside of wheel and apply force.
Any solutions that work every time?
Doing in driveway with floor Jack, so not on a rack where can I can walk to inside of wheel and apply force.
Any solutions that work every time?
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 4
From: Aalesund, Norway
2015 E63, 1979 GD300, 1992 190E 2.6
I’m trying to take my wheels of the car to detail them and they are stuck. Wheel is all the way seated on the hub and in pulling on the spokes it is not budging the wheel.
Doing in driveway with floor Jack, so not on a rack where can I can walk to inside of wheel and apply force.
Any solutions that work every time?
Doing in driveway with floor Jack, so not on a rack where can I can walk to inside of wheel and apply force.
Any solutions that work every time?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 638
poop
Egg, I definitely wouldn't loosen the bolts and drive the car as mentioned above. That has disaster and damage written all over it..
Put all the bolts back in, but leave them all very loose, this will keep the rim from falling and scratching it or the brakes when it does release.
... Then just start kicking the crap out of the top or bottom, Or use a rubber mallet on the tire only obviously. avoid hitting the front or back since that is going to put a lot of impacts on the steering rack.
Rotate the tire between blows. It will come off.
Put all the bolts back in, but leave them all very loose, this will keep the rim from falling and scratching it or the brakes when it does release.
... Then just start kicking the crap out of the top or bottom, Or use a rubber mallet on the tire only obviously. avoid hitting the front or back since that is going to put a lot of impacts on the steering rack.
Rotate the tire between blows. It will come off.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 616
Likes: 102
From: Canada
2019 911 GTS / 2016 X3 / 2015 E63s / 1993 RX-7
I just keep the bolts in place, but loosened a half turn.
My preference #1 is a rubber mallet. Or a heavier hammer with a 2x4 to protect the wheel/rim. Do NOT crawl or be under the car unless you have jack stands under the car.
If #1 does not work then I resort to #2 Then lower the car so the wheel has weight, then jack back into the air.
Be careful whenever the car is in the air.
My preference #1 is a rubber mallet. Or a heavier hammer with a 2x4 to protect the wheel/rim. Do NOT crawl or be under the car unless you have jack stands under the car.
If #1 does not work then I resort to #2 Then lower the car so the wheel has weight, then jack back into the air.
Be careful whenever the car is in the air.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 185
From: Chicago
E63 SL55 996TT C5Z06
rubber mallet or i use a 2x12 piece of wood i have in my garage and give the inside of the tire (not rim) a few gentle whacks and it always comes loose.
rubber mallet probably safer to use.
you wont get it off by pulling on the rims as it just takes 1-2 good jolts to free it up
rubber mallet probably safer to use.
you wont get it off by pulling on the rims as it just takes 1-2 good jolts to free it up
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 1,205
From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
Silly suggestions here
Seriously, a rubber mallet on a tire? Swing really hard and hopefully dont knock your eye out when it rebounds. Anything a rubber mallet on a tire will do, a foot from the outside will do, I’m guessing he’s tried kicking, haha.
Metal on metal or metal/wood/metal. Obviously using less force than can damage or deform the surface you are hitting. Three pound sledge works well for the hard stuff hitting from the inside, starting softly and spinning the wheel while tapping so as not to hit one place too many times, while loosening the whole ring around the hub. A light tap from a heavy hammer will transmit more force than a mallet on a tire ever could. Large plastic coated metal mallet but on the wheel might work, but at least three pounds or more, imo. Counterintuitively a small hammer will concentrate the force thereby increasing the likelihood of a ding or dent.
After you’re done, make sure to clean up the mating surfaces so it does not happen again. You might even do a light coat of anti-seize on them ( not bolts obviously)
Metal on metal or metal/wood/metal. Obviously using less force than can damage or deform the surface you are hitting. Three pound sledge works well for the hard stuff hitting from the inside, starting softly and spinning the wheel while tapping so as not to hit one place too many times, while loosening the whole ring around the hub. A light tap from a heavy hammer will transmit more force than a mallet on a tire ever could. Large plastic coated metal mallet but on the wheel might work, but at least three pounds or more, imo. Counterintuitively a small hammer will concentrate the force thereby increasing the likelihood of a ding or dent.
After you’re done, make sure to clean up the mating surfaces so it does not happen again. You might even do a light coat of anti-seize on them ( not bolts obviously)
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 609
Likes: 211
From: Boston area
2016 E63 Wagon
To OP - be very careful with car on floor jack and kicking from inside (=being underneath car). Cars DO fall of floor jacks all the time, esp on ours with the little plastic adapter in the jack point. It's designed for force straight up and down, NOT sideways force.
Best trick is at described - rubber mallet on wheel, or deadblow mallet on piece of wood.
If that doesn't work - the trick of loosing bolts a little bit and driving around the block is as old as cars are. Works 99% of time and does not damage anything. Just drive carefully and only a turn or so loose - not 10!
Best trick is at described - rubber mallet on wheel, or deadblow mallet on piece of wood.
If that doesn't work - the trick of loosing bolts a little bit and driving around the block is as old as cars are. Works 99% of time and does not damage anything. Just drive carefully and only a turn or so loose - not 10!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 54
FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
I learned the following from somewhere and it's very easy and works everytime: If you have a spare wheel with tire on it, just rolled the spare against the stuck wheel. The stuck wheel will pop off in one or two gentle hit cuz it's got way more heft than kicking.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 662
Likes: 279
From: ILLINOIS
2014 E63S
i loosen all the nuts, leave 2 in there ever so slightly so the wheel doesnt fall off completly, lower the car and roll it front and back slightly and this always does the trick for me
