removing stuck wheels

[michael pate]

I just completed the process of refreshing the front disc pads on my '97 4Runner. After removing wheel studs, the actual removal of the first wheel had me in a straight jacket. Stuck as they were, I tried banging on the back of the tire and rim with a rubber mallet, penetrating oil, banging on the rear of the tire with a sledge hammer, prying the wheel with a very long pry bar, more penetrating oil, and donkey kicking the back of the tire (tried several times...joints vetoed any further tries). Standing around, and believing that the wheels to have thoroughly beaten me, I came up with a eureka:

I took the factory bottle jack that came with the SUV and placed it between the (raised) drivers side tire and the frame, with the base of the jack against the tire. A few cranks and the wheel popped right off. After removing the lugs on the raised passenger side, it all of 60 seconds to remove the second wheel.

had to share this....

Mike

 

[kball]

Great idea! You must live where rust is an issue.

 

[Gerdo]

I don't want to think what it'll take to get the rear drums off!

 

[blcktpgsr]

Thanks for sharin'..but when was the last time you rotated those wheels and how much do you tighten the lug nuts?

 

[TheDurk]

^^^^Good questions. I apply Anti-seize to the wheel (not the lugs) when I have them off and also to the drums on the inside when I have them off. 11 years in salt-loving NJ and never had a problem. Oh yeah, and hand torque lugs to 83 ft-lbs. Also helps avoid brake 'warp'.

Did you really remove the studs while the wheels were still on? One trick is to loosen the the lug nuts and drive in circles slowly. Usually works. But you need the studs.