Can't change tire - yes I'm stupid

[reptile]

Sorry for the dumb question but I bought my 2003 4runner LTD used and it didn't come with a manual.

Here's my problem, I had a flat tire (thank god it was at home). I have jacked my 4R up and have removed the 6 lugs but the tire won't come off or even seem to budge. Is there something I'm missing? (please don't reply brain).

My 4R does not come with the tire pressure sensors.

 

[Mark86]

If you have removed all 6 lugs and the tire is off of the ground, you should be able to remove it. There is nothing that you forgot to do. The only thing that came to my mind is you forgot to remove the center cap on the rim. It could have been awhile since the previous owner rotated tires or removed that tire, so the tire may be stuck a bit. Just give it a good pull and you should be able to remove it.

 

[rook]

My guess is the wheel is fused to the hub. Usually a few blows to the tire with a hammer will release it. Since yours is flat, try a rubber or dead blow hammer on the back side of the wheel just be careful w/ the hammer.

 

[Pirate VI]

this just happened to me the other day changing the tire on the '99. i kicked it a couple times then grabbed it and gave it a good yank and it popped off. i was afraid i was going to knock the car off the jack though.

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

lol you dont need the manual to take off a tire. try kicking the tire several time it should come off! if not then you are not kicking it hard enough!:bash:

 

[Koz]

To be safe put the vehicle on a safety stand, then sit on the ground with your feet facing the wheel. With the heels of both feet KICK the lower part of the tire. be careful about the tire when it comes off. To prevent the wheel from hitting you leave two lug nuts on loose. Sometimes you may need to spray a little WD-40 where the rim meets the axle.

Koz

 

[viper4evr2001]

To be safe put the vehicle on a safety stand, then sit on the ground with your feet facing the wheel. With the heels of both feet KICK the lower part of the tire. be careful about the tire when it comes off. Sometimes you may need to spray a little WD-40 where the rim meets the axle. If this does not work re-post and I'll tell you a way to get it off, but it is a little more scary.

Koz

post it anyway i wanna know that scary way...heh

 

[Pirate VI]

yea that sounds scary alright. after one specific incident i am always on my feet ready to move out the way. i wouldnt lie under the car to take off a wheel

 

[TechWrench]

I, for one, would not recommend getting under a vehicle on jack stands and kicking a tire. I have seen two near misses when a vehicle fell off stands, and don't want to take a chance making the front page of the papers that way.

You probably have alloy wheels, so what probably happened is the center part of the wheel is bonded to the hub with corrosion. This is not that unusual. There are two methods I use to free stuck wheels. With the wheel off the ground on a good floor jack or stand, I use a big rubber mallet to hit the tire while I turn it. It usually takes only a miniute or so to come loose. If it is really stuck, then I put the lug nuts back on, but leave them one turn loose. Drop the vehicle back down on the ground, and rock it from side to side to use the vehicle weight to break the bond free.
Once you have it loose, make sure you wire brush the inside of the wheel and the hub clean and use anti-seize on the area to keep it from happening again.

Good luck

 

[Atlanta_man]

May not be a good idea with alloy wheels but old timers used to loosen the lug nuts and drive around for a while.

 

[reptile]

Thanks for the input everybody. Put a jack stand under the vehicle and I showed that tire who's the boss. Gave it a few kicks and off she came. Thanks again. I'm still stupid but I proved the tire was dumber than me. (However, it did go to a single vote).

 

[NCSCOTT]

Once you have it loose, make sure you wire brush the inside of the wheel and the hub clean and use anti-seize on the area to keep it from happening again.

:iagree:

No Garage should be without anti-seize. The alloy wheels on my 2005 Camry stick between rotations at the center of the hub and I had to do exactly what is posted above. I use a wire brush drill bit with my cordless drill, makes the brushing much easier. Brush the inside of rim where it meets the hub also.

I use it on anything I might have to take apart again. Spark plug threads, Brake caliper studs, Wheel studs, and around the center of the hub where the fit is the tightest.

Anti-seize provides a little lubrication and helps prevents galvanic corrosion. The corrosion between 2 dissimilar metals(aluminum wheel and steel hub) making contact. Throw some water and road salt in there and it just gets worse.

 

[Fro-Runner]

May not be a good idea with alloy wheels but old timers used to loosen the lug nuts and drive around for a while.

Drive around with a flat tire would damage the weak alloy rim!! Who would be the stupid one then?

 

[Fro-Runner]

I, for one, would not recommend getting under a vehicle on jack stands and kicking a tire. I have seen two near misses when a vehicle fell off stands, and don't want to take a chance making the front page of the papers that way.

You probably have alloy wheels, so what probably happened is the center part of the wheel is bonded to the hub with corrosion. This is not that unusual. There are two methods I use to free stuck wheels. With the wheel off the ground on a good floor jack or stand, I use a big rubber mallet to hit the tire while I turn it. It usually takes only a miniute or so to come loose. If it is really stuck, then I put the lug nuts back on, but leave them one turn loose. Drop the vehicle back down on the ground, and rock it from side to side to use the vehicle weight to break the bond free.
Once you have it loose, make sure you wire brush the inside of the wheel and the hub clean and use anti-seize on the area to keep it from happening again.

Good luck

How in tha h*ll do you knock a 4500+ lb vehicle off the jack stand with a human kick to a stuck tire rim/hub combo. Man, have I heard it all now!

 

[TechWrench]

How in tha h*ll do you know a 4500+ lb vehicle off the jack stand with a human kick to a stuck tire rim/hub combo. Man, have I heard it all now!

The weight of the vehicle isn't the issue, it is how stable the jack stands are. There are many devices being sold that are called 'jack' stands. Some of them aren't worth the 'steel' they are stamped out of. When a possible 'newbie' gets advice to put her up on stands, crawl underneath, and kit the s#@t out of the wheel from the back side, I get nervous. You (we in the general sense), have no idea how much experience an individual may or may not have when advice is given. I have seen some pretty scary things done in driveways and backyards, let alone so called shops. If the stands aren't set properly and rated for the job, it can take suprisingly little lateral force to make the vehicle unstable.

I have been in the automotive and industrial maintenance field for almost 30 years, and I still haven't heard it all yet. And I have not had anything worse that barked knuckles happen to me. I have had to go to two funerals and many more hospitals to visit injured 'mechanics' in my career and it ain't fun. So, I tend to err on the side of safety every time.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Ok, I can follow you from a newbie standpoint. I also understand that some people buy low price tools/equipment that are not rated for the vehicle they are working. Just two months ago I saw a neighbor here in the complex jack up his Isuzu (IsWho) Rodeo with a 2 ton floor jack. The jack was rated at 4k and the vehicle weighs 4k.......I told him about it but got a mean mug look. I understand that the floor stands have different ratings also. Sooooooooooo, I stand corrected on icing you with my previous comment.

 

[Bobby]

I usually just use a rubber mallet on the tire. Very rare, even with a flat, that you'll have to hit the rim to get a seized wheel off the hub.

 

[TechWrench]

Ok, I can follow you from a newbie standpoint. I also understand that some people buy low price tools/equipment that are not rated for the vehicle they are working. Just two months ago I saw a neighbor here in the complex jack up his Isuzu (IsWho) Rodeo with a 2 ton floor jack. The jack was rated at 4k and the vehicle weighs 4k.......I told him about it but got a mean mug look. I understand that the floor stands have different ratings also. Sooooooooooo, I stand corrected on icing you with my previous comment.

We're good.

Though I do have a fair amount of mechanical knowledge, I also know I don't know it all. And I have to keep reminding myself that when I share advice with others I can't be sure they will be able to understand and perform tasks that I take for granted. This is why I love forums like this. I learn new stuff all the time, and occasionally get to help someone else while I'm at it.

 

[TechWrench]

I really did not want to post this procedure, EXTREME safety is needed to do this. It is VERY rare that this will happen and I have only seen this happen to few old vehicle types.
Koz

KOZ, from volume and content of your posts, I recognize one who has valuable knowledge to share with others. My concern, as I stated above, is that those with less experience could use information which they don't really understand and wind up in a bad situation. I have done many things that weren't strictly 'by the book', and gotten away with them because I felt I understood the risks and took the proper precautions. I am sure you also understand the risks of that proceedure and would take the proper precautions to prevent an accident. I am conderned with those who are not at the same level of understanding. Not that that is a bad thing, I also was a 'newbie', and fourtnately, had good people show me the way.

I didn't mean to 'throw stones', and am not trying to lecture, just hate to see someone get hurt needlessly.

 

[Koz]

KOZ, from volume and content of your posts, I recognize one who has valuable knowledge to share with others. My concern, as I stated above, is that those with less experience could use information which they don't really understand and wind up in a bad situation. I have done many things that weren't strictly 'by the book', and gotten away with them because I felt I understood the risks and took the proper precautions. I am sure you also understand the risks of that proceedure and would take the proper precautions to prevent an accident. I am conderned with those who are not at the same level of understanding. Not that that is a bad thing, I also was a 'newbie', and fourtnately, had good people show me the way.

I didn't mean to 'throw stones', and am not trying to lecture, just hate to see someone get hurt needlessly.

I agree with you 100% and feel I make a mistake posting it. Thanks for your candor.

Koz