Removing Wheel Spacers Loctite - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Chilow · 06-08-2020, 10:10 PM

Purchased new wheels and will need to remove my current Spidertrax wheel spacers. I installed them about two years ago and used the included red loctite. How hard will it be to remove? I’m worried that I might damage the factory wheel studs. Any tips or tricks?

Has anyone here removed them successfully without damaging any of the studs?

Jtw13 · 06-08-2020, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilow

Purchased new wheels and will need to remove my current Spidertrax wheel spacers. I installed them about two years ago and used the included red loctite. How hard will it be to remove? I’m worried that I might damage the factory wheel studs. Any tips or tricks?

Has anyone here removed them successfully without damaging any of the studs?

Heat, get a map torch and warm it up. Impact after that.

DEF4Runner · 06-08-2020, 10:26 PM

+1 on the heat...or a long cheater bar.

Either way, depending on how much used, be ready to wire brush/wheel the residue off the lug studs.

Bossman · 06-09-2020, 07:47 AM

"It can be difficult removing LOCTITE® red threadlocker, and it's a common vehicle maintenance question. While the strength of the red threadlocker is formidable, and meant to be a permanent assembly method, don't believe the myths: red threadlocker can be disassembled with the right technique."

"When disassembling red threadlocker, the process is a little different than for other threadlockers. The key is to apply localized heat greater than 550° F. Then, once the threaded assembly is hot, the bolt can be unthreaded. Without applying heat to the assembly, it’s likely that over time, a bolt would break before coming loose."

How to Remove Red Threadlocker - Henkel Adhesives

Chilow · 06-09-2020, 09:05 AM

Thanks all for the replies. I’m just worried that if I use a breaker bar, I might end up snapping the original studs.

DaddySteve · 06-09-2020, 10:49 AM

do like the others have said use a torch and heat the stud. The bolts will break loose with ease.

DEF4Runner · 06-09-2020, 10:54 AM

In a pinch, I used a breaker bar when I needed the nut off, but didn't have access to a torch. It worked without snapping anything, but it DID leave a adhesive-like residue behind on both the stud and inside the nut. If I remember correctly, even using heat to loosen the grip will also leave some residue behind once it cools off. That said, be sure to clean the threads on both ends (or just the studs if you get new nuts with the wheels) to make sure you don't get a false torque once the nut tries to run through the residual loctite.

Jetboy · 06-09-2020, 11:08 AM

Hopefully they come off easy. I don't understand the logic behind loctite on spacers. Do your wheels commonly fall off? If not, why would properly tightened spacers come loose?

Arnezie · 06-09-2020, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetboy

Hopefully they come off easy. I don't understand the logic behind loctite on spacers. Do your wheels commonly fall off? If not, why would properly tightened spacers come loose?

I was always told it has something to do with them being made of aluminum and the heat cooling cycles , expansion contraction and what not.

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Ogre75 · 06-09-2020, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnezie

I was always told it has something to do with them being made of aluminum and the heat cooling cycles , expansion contraction and what not.

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Most wheels are aluminum. If that were the case it would be the same situation. My guess is that spacer manufacturers want to cover their ass and direct to use loctite to lower liability of sub par install.

IanB · 06-09-2020, 01:53 PM

I need to do a brake job shorty and have red locktite holding my wheel spacers on. Good info on the heat, I'd have hit it with the impact without heat for sure.