Dumb question: removing wheel

[4RunnerFan]

It's okay to laugh at this one. We have an upcoming trip planned, so I got the brilliant idea to practice changing a tire on my '08 4Runner since I've never done it before.

It's not the easiest thing to do. Just getting the spare down is a trick (blindly feel for square hole to put extension into before cranking). But here's the problem. I got the rear jacked up and the lug nuts off, but I CAN'T GET THE WHEEL OFF!!!

Yes, it's off the ground. But it appears to be frozen to the 3" diameter cap over the center hub.

Tugged and tugged and tugged. Nothing gives.

The owner's manual simply says, "Remove the wheel." Yeah, right.

So, what am I doing wrong?

 

[T4RBoarder]

I typically get behind the wheel and give it a few good kicks and it always comes off...

 

[4RunnerFan]

I typically get behind the wheel and give it a few good kicks and it always comes off...

I'm seriously hoping this doesn't mean I'm to climb under the vehicle, line my body up with the axle, straddle the jack and kick outwards on the sides of the tires.

Gee, just thinking of the idea I think I just saw my life flash by in front of me!:sadwave:

Is there a Door #2 to pick from?

 

[T4RBoarder]

you don't have to crawl all the way under there, :lmao: just enough so that you can give it a bump or two, it won't even shake the vehicle that much.

 

[Annoyed]

Very often, corrosion sets in. Dissimilar metals (steel & aluminum) tend to promote corrosion in any wet environment to begin with. In a corrosive environment such as the salt-encrusted northeast, and it doesn't take long for it to become a real problem.

At home, a sledgehammer does wonders; you can stand from a safe distance & whack the back of the tire, rotating it a bit between whacks to avoid warpage/breakage. I wouldn't risk crawling around underneath on the side of the road, however.

Just another good argument for rotating your tires regularly, I'd say. yanking them off from time to time makes it easier when you really do need to get one off.

 

[Kmvreter]

Just kick the sidewall.

 

[4RunnerFan]

Just kick the sidewall.

Okay, done. Thanks so much to everyone for your responses. Here's what I ended up doing:

Per instructions in manual:
1. Lowered the spare.
2. Loosened lug nuts.
3. Raised vehicle.

Per your help and a little imagination:
4. Loosened lug nuts a little more, but did not remove quite yet.
5. Took long handled sledge hammer and swung against inside of tires under the vehicle. With lug nuts still on there, wheel assemble will not fly off of vehicle.
6. Removed lug nuts.
7. Wheel came right off.
8. Cleaned spare wheel and tire.
9. Applied disc brake bearing grease around outside edge of hub cover so it won't be so hard to remove next time.
10. Put spare on as part of tire rotation project (right rear wheel).
11. Started lug nuts. Had to use lug nut wrench to pry up on bottom of tire so wheel would line up with hub cover correctly and lug nuts would seat properly.
12. Seated all lug nuts, but did not tighten, at least not yet.
13. Lowered vehicle.
14. Cross-tightened all lug nuts.
15. Raised what is now the spare up in its home under the trunk, making sure the pin sticking up on one end of the flange fit correctly into one of the stud holes. (This tire really belongs on the front right, and the current right front should be the spare, but I'll do that tomorrow).

Did I miss anything? Thanks again, and all the best. -Ken

 

[SLED]

Yes, kick the tire, not a toe kick, but lay on your side/back (no body parts under the vehicle) and hoof the sidewall hard, sometimes several times. Swearing is optional. Be ready for the wheel to fall off on you. At that point, swearing is optional again.

 

[qballjr13]

I have a 3lb rubber mallet that I use to give the tires a good smack. It always seems to do the trick without damaging anything.

 

[4boer]

Had the same experience. Used a sledge; gently. Freaked me out a bit as I've change dozens of tires and never had one stick.

Would hate to have this happen on the standard freeway shoulder rainy night tire problem. Hope TPMS alerts me b4 an issue pops up. I do carry a 3' pipe in all cars in case a lugnut needs convincing. Or somebody needs convincing. :bigok:

 

[Barefoot]

Years ago, I had a friend who had a tire that would not come off. We tried all the obvious things, beat the snot out of the tire with a sledge...

Finally we got desperate, loosened the nuts a little, and drove slowly in a circle.

We could hear the bang as the wheel popped loose.

Admittedly hard on the threads, but it worked.

 

[Hayn4R]

damn...I cant believe it takes all of that effort to get the tire off. At first, I couldnt believe what I was reading, but 'by any means necessary'.....I guess. I never tried to change my tire, but I do have them rotated often during servicing.