Wheel spacers, H&R
08-04-2009 | 02:05 PM
#2
Contributors
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 1
From: SoCal San Diego
My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
Big Flat tip screw driver, hammer, and some elbow grease. Go around a couple of inches, you'll nick the spacer and your hub but it'll
separate eventually. It's only aluminum you can still reuse it. If you're selling it, good luck.
separate eventually. It's only aluminum you can still reuse it. If you're selling it, good luck.
08-04-2009 | 05:46 PM
#5
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,769
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From: Newnan, Georgia
My Ride: 2004 545i
Production date: 02/04
Color: Black Sapphire Metallic
Trim: Anthracite
Options: Sport package with STEPTRONIC, Premium Sound, Rear Sunshade, Xenon
Originally Posted by monacobmw' post='965725' date='Aug 4 2009, 09:24 PM
I did it with a $20 blowtorch. Heat it up for about 5 minutes and they will come off pretty easily.
08-04-2009 | 07:52 PM
#6
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Miami, Florida
Please report back on how things worked.
It worked for me for both spacers, so I do not think that it is fluke. From what I found, the heat caused the spacers to expand, which broke the bond with the hub.
After about 5 minutes of heat (the blue part of the flame touching various areas on the spacer), I was able to easily get a putty knife into the gap and remove the spacer.
The heat caused no permanent damage to either the hub or the spacers itself.
Best regards,
Richard
It worked for me for both spacers, so I do not think that it is fluke. From what I found, the heat caused the spacers to expand, which broke the bond with the hub.
After about 5 minutes of heat (the blue part of the flame touching various areas on the spacer), I was able to easily get a putty knife into the gap and remove the spacer.
The heat caused no permanent damage to either the hub or the spacers itself.
Best regards,
Richard
08-04-2009 | 10:06 PM
#8
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,987
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Originally Posted by borisnewn' post='966046' date='Aug 5 2009, 02:02 AM
theres no way to take it off without damaging it aesthetically is there lol
My M5 spacers were so stuck that I destroyed them when removing them. I put a typical looking hammer on the inner hub of the spacer, and used the fork part to torque it out. It bent the shit out of them, but I got them off.
As for my current ride, the same method also worked to loosen one, without damaging it. I have used anti-seize every time, but they still manage to stick. I've tried some Tetra-grease that I use for my guns, and that works well to prevent seizing.
Make sure the wheels aren't too hot when attempting the removal, unless of course you TORCH them.
08-04-2009 | 10:19 PM
#9
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 9,986
Likes: 1
From: Zoo York
My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
No, there is not, unless you blow-torch them. You cannot fit a screwdriver in between without hacking it up.
My M5 spacers were so stuck that I destroyed them when removing them. I put a typical looking hammer on the inner hub of the spacer, and used the fork part to torque it out. It bent the shit out of them, but I got them off.
As for my current ride, the same method also worked to loosen one, without damaging it. I have used anti-seize every time, but they still manage to stick. I've tried some Tetra-grease that I use for my guns, and that works well to prevent seizing.
Make sure the wheels aren't too hot when attempting the removal, unless of course you TORCH them.
My M5 spacers were so stuck that I destroyed them when removing them. I put a typical looking hammer on the inner hub of the spacer, and used the fork part to torque it out. It bent the shit out of them, but I got them off.
As for my current ride, the same method also worked to loosen one, without damaging it. I have used anti-seize every time, but they still manage to stick. I've tried some Tetra-grease that I use for my guns, and that works well to prevent seizing.
Make sure the wheels aren't too hot when attempting the removal, unless of course you TORCH them.
08-04-2009 | 10:28 PM
#10
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,987
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Originally Posted by v_therussian' post='966054' date='Aug 5 2009, 02:19 AM
How about rubber-hammering the sh!t out of it along with some strategically-applied WD-40?