Trying to take off a wheel .. help? :)

[sherryberry]

Hi all,

I have an issue where whenever I brake there's like a lil sound in the front passenger seat. Fiance thinks it's the caliper so been tryin to take off the wheel.

Now we took off the hub cap and lug nuts. but is there something else in the center that needs to come off?? That's what it looks like because we can't get it off. If so, what the heck are we suppose to use? There was nothing in my tool bag but a weird funny looking thing w/ a circle at top. Thank you mucho.

[Lil Abner]

Kick the tire. I know, sounds strange. If the lug nuts are already off, a good kick is in order.

Put your butt against the fender of the car, facing away from the car. Bend your knee about 90-degrees so your foot is on the side of the wheel (on the tire). Pull your foot back, then kick. Rotate the wheel 90-degrees, kick again. If it doesn't come off after a couple HARD kicks, then you might have a problem.

Aluminum (alloys) tend to react to the steel rotors, which gets them stuck. The steelies can also rust.

Let us know if that helps.

[sherryberry]

so there's no center piece that is holding this thing in?? Because it looks as if it's like screw on there in the center. hmm.

[severous01]

hit it from the back with a rubber mallet....the heavier you can find the better. deal with this all the time with bmw's......i'd hate to have to change a bmw wheel on the side of the road, they dont wanna come off.

or do the kick trick. just watch your momentum, i've knocked a car off the jack stand doin that.

[Lil Abner]

That large center nut is on a LARGE threaded shaft, right? That nut actually holds the axle to the hub. It doesn't have anything to do with the wheel/rim.

[cali yaris]

Kick it, I had to do this just this week with a 6 year old xB that had never had the wheels off.

[JumpmanYaris]

Kick it, I had to do this just this week with a 6 year old xB that had never had the wheels off.

+1

Happened to me to and had to kick and kick until it came out

[bzinn 1]

Yep kick it,do not,I repeat do not take off hat center nut,don't even turn it,they are on to a certain spec for the bearing load.

[nemelek]

After the rim is off I usually will put a little greese around the hub or where the the rim makes contact. It makes it easier to get off next time.

[MUSKOKA800]

After the rim is off I usually will put a little greese around the hub or where the the rim makes contact. It makes it easier to get off next time.

Or use Never-Seize (anti-seize) instead of grease. It's a product designed specifically to prevent unlike metals from bonding to each other. It usually comes in a small can with a brush under the twist cap.
I've coated my alloy wheel contact surfaces ever since being stranded on the highway with a flat and not being able to remove it to put the spare on. :mad: