sss1365

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?

SAMzE63s

this happened to me. I put the car on jack stands and literally kicked it for 15 minutes straight from the inside. If you do this, make sure you keep a bolt or two in turned a turn or so. This way when it breaks loose it doesn’t full on the floor.

wawy

A soft rubber mallet/hammer sometimes does the trick..

bjornarhuse

No worries, put all the bolts in, but 1 full turn away from tight. Drive around the block (or 2-300 meters) until you hear a clicking sound from the wheels, then they have broken free. Don't go fast, of course. Don't bang too hard on the rims.

PeterUbers

Mallet

kenneyd

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.

thesaintusa

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.

jvakos

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

Baltistyle

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)

sickSVT

I usually let it soak in WD-40 for a few minutes then grab the wheel and shake it back and forth. Usually does the trick.

crazybear

I kick the tires as others have suggested, but I try to alternate where I hit it. First hit at the top, next at the bottom, etc. That usually works for me.

FastWgn

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!

jonii

usually clean the mounting hub surface to make future removal easier, wire brush.

cvx5832

I like the kicking tire trick. That said, don't kick your fender in please.

otakki

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.

Mojo20032004

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