Problems With Dd's Car...need Some Help

[angelsmom10]

DD's car need both front and rear brakes bad... DH can do it, except for a small problem.... he can get the lug nuts off, but the tires won't budge...then seem to be frozen to the car.  Does anyone have any ideas how to get the tires off?

[birol]

Kick them real hard, must have rusted somewhat, some rust fighting stuff can also do the trick. Good luck with it ...

DD's car need both front and rear brakes bad... DH can do it, except for a small problem.... he can get the lug nuts off, but the tires won't budge...then seem to be frozen to the car.  Does anyone have any ideas how to get the tires off?

[angelsmom10]

DH and a friend of his pushed, pulled, hammered from the inside, and couldn't get them to budge.

[birol]

I will probably get shot for this but I have seen this done :

With the lugnuts off, lower the car onto the wheels. And move it a meter or so, that should release the wheels.

This is a risky manevour, it might cause the wheels get off the car and drop the car to the ground and cause damage. Stay clear of the car. I do not accept any responsibility for this, I don't recommend that your DH does this.

[mike4947]

What also can happen is it also most likely will shear off a wheel stud or two, and replacing them in a driveway is beyond most DIY mechanics, not to mention sheet metal damage.
The correct proceedure is to soak the area of contact with a suitable rut loosening product and with the lug nuts loosened apx 2-3 turns lower the vehicle down so the weight is one the tire/wheel. Shake the vehicle and then raise it again.
Any "force"; hammer or jack; needs to be applied from the rear on the rim area. This forces the mating surfaces apart; while hitting it from the front on the tire simply deforms the tire and absorbes the impact and on the rim area also just "pushes" the two "welded" areas on the wheel and hub togther and not apart.
 
You don't mention the type/year of the vehicle. That might help with advice.

[birol]

Mike's approach is much safer and sounds better then what I said, go with it I would say ....


Disclaimer : When one of the studs in the windstar was damaged by the tire place, it cost me 80 bucks to get it fixed at the dealership, those things cost a bunch ! You definitely do not want 16 or 20 of them damaged ! That is a lot of money !

[jpreiser]

Does making sure the emergency break is off matter???

[Starcraft Dad]

I have had this happen to me before on an older car. What we did was use a torch on them to heat it up. It worked for me. But you must be careful of the brake lines and such.

[Gone-Camping]

Does making sure the emergency break is off matter???

Now there is an interesting question!!! When I had to tow cars that had the axle locks broken, we had to engage the emergency brakes in order to hold the wheels onto the car!
 
However, that would only hold the brake drum on, with the lugs loose brakes shouldn't matter!

[angelsmom10]

Sorry, it is a '92 Toyota Corolla.  We can get the lug nuts off without any problems, it's just the tire/rim that won't come free from the car.  AND YES, the emergency brake is off.:Oops: (new icon,, like it..would like to see tears)

[mike4947]

AM, this may sound foolish, but a simple and cost effective solution is to take the car to a tire dealership and just ask to have the tires rotated.
It usually doesn't cost that much and THEY have to free up all the wheels to move them to different locations.
I'm not above admitting I've done this , kind of sneaky behaviour, a couple of times over the years when we've had one or more wheels that were "frozen" on to the car.
They won't freeze back up again when put back on, but you might have a bit of trouble with the lugnuts from the places airguns, but it nothing you can't break loose at home.

[angelsmom10]

AM, this may sound foolish, but a simple and cost effective solution is to take the car to a tire dealership and just ask to have the tires rotated.
It usually doesn't cost that much and THEY have to free up all the wheels to move them to different locations.
I'm not above admitting I've done this , kind of sneaky behaviour, a couple of times over the years when we've had one or more wheels that were "frozen" on to the car.
They won't freeze back up again when put back on, but you might have a bit of trouble with the lugnuts from the places airguns, but it nothing you can't break loose at home.

This has crossed our minds, and this will be our last resort. My nephew does own a body shop and DH is planning on driving it up there. Right now, DH let things go too long and the front brakes are into the rotors and the rear sounds like the drums are also shot. We were hoping to have to drive it. DD has complained for several months about noises, but since she has never had to deal with a brake problem did not realize that that was the noise. DH just thought it might be just age noises and kept saying he'd take it for a drive. The problem has been arranging schedules, but I think he's learned his lesson and will be sure to test drive immediately and DD will not drive until it is checked out. We currently have and extra car which does make it easier than in the past when we'd have to share cars.
 
We have an impact wrench and compressor so we are not too much concerned about them tightening the lug nuts too tight; well as long as they don't over tighten (which they sometimes do).

[rccs]

I used to have a Chevy Corsica that the DD drove that had the same problem you are having. When I went to take a tire off that had gone flat (luckily it was at home) I couldn't get the wheel off either. What I did was to jack it up and put a block of wood under the axle that was high enough to support the vehicle so it would not fall off the jack. Then I sat down in front of the tire/wheel that would not come off and started to kick against the tire (with the bottom of my feet) on both the left and right side alternatly and it finally let go after about 1/2 minute of this. What I found was that it had rusted tight to the center hole of the wheel where it fits tightly to the center of the brake drum. After I got the tire repaired I took a round file and slightly filed the hole in the center of the wheel just enough so it fit a little looser. I never had a problem with that one again but found the other 3 wheels to have the same problem when I tried to remove them so I done the same with each of the others so that if the DD had a flat somewhere on the highway that she could get them off.

[TJWSANTAFE]

I would recomend that he remove the retaining nut for the bearings. Remove the brake caliper from the back side, then pull off the wheel with the rotor attached.

Then He can attack the problem with the wheel off the car, or even take it to a shop and see what they recomend.

Good luck, and please be careful..

[birol]

Angelsmom, is this problem solved ? Inquiring minds are very curious today and they want to know  :cool: