Help removing 1 wheel
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Help removing 1 wheel
Most of you know about the 81 project I just bought. The car had been sitting for approx 12 years. I was removing all four aluminum wheels to polish them. All were stuck to the hub from minor rust buildup but was able to knock all but one loose and take them off. Buuuut...the left rear wheel absolutely, will not come off. I have tried PB Blaster, hitting on the wheel/tire from the inside with a 4x4 and used an air hammer on the hub to hopefully knock the rust loose. It will not come off. Any other suggestions?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
The same crap happened to me and the same wheel too, at first I was in a quick mood to fix the parking brakes but the wheel being stubborn made me sit and wait untill the bust rust , pb blaster, any snake oil that I had laying around, finally soaked in and undid the chemical reaction between the aluminum wheel and the iron rotor/hub/spindle dealie, not having a normal torch I was forced to use two bernz-o-matics and the heaviest sledge hammer I had,,,,truly bubba at work but it finally came off after a week of soaking, heating , pounding, and beer drinking, along with a fair amount of language that would make a longshoreman blush, at one point my Dad, whose garage the car was parked in , remarked that he'd never seen such a display of b/s and frustration, that to be careful, the car was in his garage, dont set the house afire & dont blow up the tire, Mom wouldnt appreciate the booom,,, Good Luck 
Peace,,, Moosie
Peace,,, Moosie
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
You heat the wheel, heating the spindle will only make it tighter
Rust off ice is a product from Wurth, amazon has it so you should be able to get it locally
http://www.amazon.com/Wurth-Rost-Off...8&s=automotive
That stuff is worth its weight in gold
Rust off ice is a product from Wurth, amazon has it so you should be able to get it locally
http://www.amazon.com/Wurth-Rost-Off...8&s=automotive
That stuff is worth its weight in gold
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Keep soaking it w/PB Blaster. If you havn't done this yet remove the center cap & spray the PB inside and around the back, also spray the lugs. I would use a rubber hammer and tap around the backside of the wheel not hard turn the wheel as you tap. (Make sure the car is on good jack stands please you don't want it falling on you). Repeat this a few time and pull on either side of the front of the wheel rock from side to side it should free up. Worked for me. G/L
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
If it drives, then you can do this. You just want to move it around very slowly while turning, this should get it loose. This also works on hub-piloted wheels on big trucks. Be very careful.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 239
Likes: 5
From: Rochester NY
Get your vette back on the ground, inflate the tire to 35 psi. back off the lugnuts about a 1/4" away from the rim, have a friend and yourself stand on each side of the car at the rear and rock the vett sideways hard the wheel will come loose, the weight of the car will help losen the wheel from axle. I have done it many times with sucess on other cars....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Get your vette back on the ground, inflate the tire to 35 psi. back off the lugnuts about a 1/4" away from the rim, have a friend and yourself stand on each side of the car at the rear and rock the vett sideways hard the wheel will come loose, the weight of the car will help losen the wheel from axle. I have done it many times with sucess on other cars....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Normally if lug nuts are not tight, the wheel can come off before you can get out of a tire store parking lot- expect fender damage if it does.
A friend w/ a 65 Chevy had this problem. He sprayed it w/ Liquid Wrench & used a large hammer w/ no luck.
I suggested put it in gear blip the gas & hit the brakes, then rev. same (w/ loose nuts). It came off soon.
A friend w/ a 65 Chevy had this problem. He sprayed it w/ Liquid Wrench & used a large hammer w/ no luck.
I suggested put it in gear blip the gas & hit the brakes, then rev. same (w/ loose nuts). It came off soon.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Finally got it off...after some serious hits around the outter wheel edge with a 4x4 and sledge I see why the previous owner only replaced the front calipers. He gave me the new rears when I bought the car. My guess is, he couldn't get the wheel off to replace the caliper...
I see why the previous owner only replaced the front calipers. He gave me the new rears when I bought the car. My guess is, he couldn't get the wheel off to replace the caliper...