Problem removing winter wheels
#1
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Location: Lancaster PA
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I was going to take off the winter wheels today and put the summer wheels back on but ran into a snag..
After removing the lug bolts, the wheel would not budge, and it is stuck on the hub?? I tried yanking it big time, but no luck.
Any suggested ways to release it from the hub, other than banging the wheel off of the hub? Wouldn't banging it potentially screw with the alignment?
thanks!
After removing the lug bolts, the wheel would not budge, and it is stuck on the hub?? I tried yanking it big time, but no luck.
Any suggested ways to release it from the hub, other than banging the wheel off of the hub? Wouldn't banging it potentially screw with the alignment?
thanks!
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Irvine CA
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My Ride: 2004 530i
Model Year: 2004
I was going to take off the winter wheels today and put the summer wheels back on but ran into a snag..
After removing the lug bolts, the wheel would not budge, and it is stuck on the hub?? I tried yanking it big time, but no luck.
Any suggested ways to release it from the hub, other than banging the wheel off of the hub? Wouldn't banging it potentially screw with the alignment?
thanks!
After removing the lug bolts, the wheel would not budge, and it is stuck on the hub?? I tried yanking it big time, but no luck.
Any suggested ways to release it from the hub, other than banging the wheel off of the hub? Wouldn't banging it potentially screw with the alignment?
thanks!
#3
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My Ride: F11 535i M-Sport,, Silver, Black Leather, LED Adaptive headlights
Model Year: 2015
Engine: N55
1. Hit with rubber mallet
2. Put wheel bolts back on and put car on ground. Loosen wheel nuts one turn, drive car forward a couple of yards, brake hard, back a yard brake hard again. Lift car and see if they come off now.
To prevent this happening again put smear of copper grease on hub.
2. Put wheel bolts back on and put car on ground. Loosen wheel nuts one turn, drive car forward a couple of yards, brake hard, back a yard brake hard again. Lift car and see if they come off now.
To prevent this happening again put smear of copper grease on hub.
#4
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My Ride: 2008 535i 6MT
You'll need to hit it fairly hard with a rubber mallet. Prior to reinstalling the wheels, sand off the surface rust on the hub surface where the wheel contacts it and apply a light coating of anti-seize grease to the clean surface. The wheels will just slip off next time. Reapply grease with each seasonal change over.
#6
You'll need to hit it fairly hard with a rubber mallet. Prior to reinstalling the wheels, sand off the surface rust on the hub surface where the wheel contacts it and apply a light coating of anti-seize grease to the clean surface. The wheels will just slip off next time. Reapply grease with each seasonal change over.
Your wheels support the car from two places. The center hub and the bolts - together they work as a system. OK the center hub is a tight fit to achieve the support. The NE winters were brutal and the salt is brutal. You get a lot of aluminum corrosion at the hub which is a tight fit anyhow.
The professionals beat the crap out of it and hope for the best. This makes me crazy. But the best way is to carefully remove the center hub (I dont know how) and put some penetrating fluid in there to soften the oxide. Then jack up the tire and with the bolts out kick the bottom and top to loosen. Yes it is difficult. A rubber mallet is really too small.
Then when you reinstall them, clean the hub very well with a scrub pad, and put anti seize grease on the hub area only.
#7
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Banging them off with the mallet won't compromise the alignment correct?
Once off, I will be cleaning off and painting the hubs and calipers. So with the anti-sieze grease after, I am hoping not to go down this trail again..
Once off, I will be cleaning off and painting the hubs and calipers. So with the anti-sieze grease after, I am hoping not to go down this trail again..
#8
I dont think painting is a good idea since the fit is very tight and the paint will reactivate/soften under braking heat. A good cleaning and anti-seize is all that is needed.
You really should use a penetrant to loosen the corrosion.
#9
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A block of wood against the inside of the wheel, hit the wood block with a small sledge hammer. That's how I got mine off, now I grease the hubs every time I swap snows to summer etc
#10
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My Ride: 535xi Sport
Model Year: 2009
I was going to take off the winter wheels today and put the summer wheels back on but ran into a snag..
After removing the lug bolts, the wheel would not budge, and it is stuck on the hub?? I tried yanking it big time, but no luck.
Any suggested ways to release it from the hub, other than banging the wheel off of the hub? Wouldn't banging it potentially screw with the alignment?
thanks!
After removing the lug bolts, the wheel would not budge, and it is stuck on the hub?? I tried yanking it big time, but no luck.
Any suggested ways to release it from the hub, other than banging the wheel off of the hub? Wouldn't banging it potentially screw with the alignment?
thanks!
John Virnig
'07 550i SMG (Still working on a sig, picture, etc)
Richfield, WI