Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: Wowbagger on 05 November, 2013, 10:46:29 pm

Title: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 November, 2013, 10:46:29 pm
Discovered a flat nearside front tyre. Have car jacked up and wheelnuts are removed, but wheel doesn't want to budge. Having RTFM, it seems the wheel should budge. I'm reluctant to wobble it around too much because the car is wobbling on the jack.

Bright ideas please!
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: JonBuoy on 05 November, 2013, 10:48:51 pm
Put wheelnuts back on finger tight, lower jack, drive a bit.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: mcshroom on 05 November, 2013, 10:49:57 pm
<engineer mode>Hit it with a hammer</engineer mode>
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Basil on 05 November, 2013, 10:54:22 pm
Put wheelnuts back on finger tight, lower jack, drive a bit.

Yes
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Wobbly John on 05 November, 2013, 11:11:57 pm
Put wheelnuts back on finger tight, lower jack, drive a bit.

And when you feel it freeing off, you can take one wheel nut off each of the other wheels to replace those that have fallen off the stuck one while you have been driving.

Don't ask how I know this.  ::-)

It was actually a mate's car, and it was a proper motor engineer who forgot to tighten the wheel nuts up. The wheel nearly came off on the way home as we cornered at 50mph along a river bank.  :o
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 November, 2013, 11:21:13 pm
Thanks. The "finger tight" trick worked a treat.

I have a busy day tomorrow and not having the car would have meant using the train/bike and not going to one of my schools. The forum has just saved me £45!  :thumbsup:

Oh, and we tried hitting it with a mallet, but it just wasn't up to the job.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Jaded on 05 November, 2013, 11:36:24 pm
Put wheelnuts back on finger tight, lower jack, drive a bit.

And when you feel it freeing off, you can take one wheel nut off each of the other wheels to replace those that have fallen off the stuck one while you have been driving.

Don't ask how I know this.  ::-)

It was actually a mate's car, and it was a proper motor engineer who forgot to tighten the wheel nuts up. The wheel nearly came off on the way home as we cornered at 50mph along a river bank.  :o

BTGTTS - except the wheel did come off.

Driving a friend's car from Pollock Halls to Valleyfield Street. Some pillock was flashing me as I turned into the street,  :P but I managed to park up OK, except one wheel fell off as I did. Luckily there was a garage in Valleyfield Street in those days and they lent me a roller jack thing.  ;D

The friend had had a flat on the way to Edinburgh and put the spare on. Not well enough.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: PaulF on 06 November, 2013, 12:05:35 am

Oh, and we tried hitting it with a mallet, but it just wasn't up to the job.

Think you're forgetting the first (or is it second?) rule of engineering: "If at first you don't succeed find a bigger hammer."
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Wobbly John on 06 November, 2013, 12:11:35 am
Engineering is: Knowing where to hit things, and how hard.  :smug:
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Ningishzidda on 06 November, 2013, 07:12:27 am
The difference between an Engineer and a professional sportsman is, a professional sportsman make something very difficult look easy.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Jakob on 06 November, 2013, 07:20:25 am

Oh, and we tried hitting it with a mallet, but it just wasn't up to the job.

Think you're forgetting the first (or is it second?) rule of engineering: "If at first you don't succeed find a bigger hammer."

When I was an apprentice, the rule was "Don't force it, use a bigger hammer'.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Ningishzidda on 06 November, 2013, 07:24:40 am

Oh, and we tried hitting it with a mallet, but it just wasn't up to the job.

Think you're forgetting the first (or is it second?) rule of engineering: "If at first you don't succeed find a bigger hammer."

When I was an apprentice, the rule was "Don't force it, use a bigger hammer'.

When I was an apprentice, the rule was "Don't force it, use a Brummegem screwdriver'.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Basil on 06 November, 2013, 07:33:30 am
When I was an apprentice, the rule was "Don't force it, use a Brummegem screwdriver'.

I've always used the expression "Birmingham Screwdriver" as well. 
Is that just a local expression, or is it more widespread?
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: marcusjb on 06 November, 2013, 07:38:35 am
When I was an apprentice, the rule was "Don't force it, use a Brummegem screwdriver'.

I've always used the expression "Birmingham Screwdriver" as well. 
Is that just a local expression, or is it more widespread?

I've always known it as a Manchester Screwdriver. Though I was born in Manchester, my professional life started on the other side of the Pennines and the expression was reasonably commonly used.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Jaded on 06 November, 2013, 08:02:41 am
It's Birmingham, definitely.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Wobbly John on 06 November, 2013, 08:14:18 am
American screwdriver here in East Angular - there were a lot of USAF bases here in WW2.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: zigzag on 06 November, 2013, 09:54:54 am
a good kick or two to the top part of the rim worked every time :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: mark on 06 November, 2013, 12:57:46 pm
Discovered a flat nearside front tyre. Have car jacked up and wheelnuts are removed, but wheel doesn't want to budge. Having RTFM, it seems the wheel should budge. I'm reluctant to wobble it around too much because the car is wobbling on the jack.

Bright ideas please!
I deal with this every fall when I take off the 4 season tires (mounted on alloy rims) and put on snow/winter tires (mounted on steel rims). Removing the lug nuts and lowering the car until the weight of the car is on the wheel is usually enough to pop the wheel loose. I suppose if the wheel stayed on the car long enough in a damper climate than mine a little more force would be called for. And yes, sometimes a British Screwdriver is called for.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Charlotte on 06 November, 2013, 01:02:58 pm
a good kick or two to the top part of the rim worked every time :thumbsup:

And what about for removing car wheels?

:D
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: rafletcher on 06 November, 2013, 01:25:18 pm
<engineer mode>Hit it with a hammer</engineer mode>

This is spot on. The wheel obviously goes on to a spigot on this car, and there's some products of corrosion between the wheel and the spigot.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: zigzag on 06 November, 2013, 02:00:01 pm
a good kick or two to the top part of the rim worked every time :thumbsup:

And what about for removing car wheels?

:D

the wheel loosens up! (i could probably dig out a set of photos of how to change a wheel, demonstrated by my mrs..)
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: zigzag on 06 November, 2013, 02:49:37 pm
there you go - girlpower! :thumbsup: (sorry for the poor quality photos)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TWys6d87kyY/UnpTen7pQoI/AAAAAAAADDg/d06IGld7CEc/s720/tyre1.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RH_Cwp3DlrE/UnpTeiFRJ5I/AAAAAAAADDk/429wmX0WC9c/s720/tyre2.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v0LY5pmUeq4/UnpTep2-J1I/AAAAAAAADDs/Ft6Fur2XkJ4/s720/tyre3.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yp87mPB4XJ4/UnpTfIIKjaI/AAAAAAAADD0/jx4FjzPU_E0/s512/tyre4.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-izRv6h1TMNw/UnpTf1mZ0hI/AAAAAAAADD8/xgKXvW4W6E0/s720/tyre5.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LxB48m5C4gA/UnpTf1QyMcI/AAAAAAAADEE/x3zrpFqVIxE/s720/tyre6.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ywJWtCvTSmQ/UnpTgu_Wx5I/AAAAAAAADEM/qXw-RMs3zcM/s512/tyre7.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jZ2OFEjxgT8/UnpTgvEDW0I/AAAAAAAADEY/yCJ3GGvph1A/s720/tyre8.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A5vAxGIx91I/UnpThGmy0wI/AAAAAAAADEU/pv2RvXwoCYY/s512/tyre9.jpg)
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: rogerzilla on 06 November, 2013, 04:53:28 pm
Alloy wheels normally stick to hubs.  Steel ones don't.  Copper grease on the mating face helps slightly, but the alloys usually still stick a bit.  Five bolt hubs are worse IME because the clamping force is even higher.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: hbunnet on 06 November, 2013, 06:29:26 pm
I had exactly this problem today when  changing from summer alloy wheels to steel winter wheels .  My puny attempts at giving the wheels a dunt, failed yesterday.

Thanks to this thread I tried the finger tight studs method plus drive around the block and this worked after a  second puny dunt.

Thanks all.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Efrogwr on 06 November, 2013, 09:14:50 pm
I've failed using the zigzag Girlpower Method; I weigh 100kg! I got Mrs E to hold the wheelbrace while I hit it with a seven pound hammer. Then the wheel (fortunately a proper one, made of steel) needed a nudge with the same hammer. I'm used to monkey meta alloy wheels sticking, but a stuck steel wheel was a new one to me.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Ham on 06 November, 2013, 09:25:12 pm
The best option is to carry a spider
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-CARAVAN-WHEEL-NUT-BRACE-SPIDER-4-WAY-17mm-19mm-21mm-23mm-/130931701342?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e7c23365e

The push-me-pull-you force is far more effective, and if needed you can support the end and stand on the arm. The improved rotational torque will remove just about anything without fuss, the comparison to a standard wheel brace is something to be experienced.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Wobbly John on 06 November, 2013, 10:56:57 pm
You can certainly give a wheel nut spider a good bit of wellie, but having bent and snapped the weld on one (with my bare hands!), I now keep a telescopic square drive lever in the car (with appropriate sockets).  :demon:
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Gattopardo on 06 November, 2013, 11:10:24 pm
The alloy is corroded on to the hubs, good luck.

Now take all the wheels off and smear the mating surface with copper grease.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Gattopardo on 06 November, 2013, 11:36:33 pm
there you go - girlpower! :thumbsup: (sorry for the poor quality photos)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TWys6d87kyY/UnpTen7pQoI/AAAAAAAADDg/d06IGld7CEc/s720/tyre1.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RH_Cwp3DlrE/UnpTeiFRJ5I/AAAAAAAADDk/429wmX0WC9c/s720/tyre2.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v0LY5pmUeq4/UnpTep2-J1I/AAAAAAAADDs/Ft6Fur2XkJ4/s720/tyre3.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yp87mPB4XJ4/UnpTfIIKjaI/AAAAAAAADD0/jx4FjzPU_E0/s512/tyre4.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-izRv6h1TMNw/UnpTf1mZ0hI/AAAAAAAADD8/xgKXvW4W6E0/s720/tyre5.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LxB48m5C4gA/UnpTf1QyMcI/AAAAAAAADEE/x3zrpFqVIxE/s720/tyre6.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ywJWtCvTSmQ/UnpTgu_Wx5I/AAAAAAAADEM/qXw-RMs3zcM/s512/tyre7.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jZ2OFEjxgT8/UnpTgvEDW0I/AAAAAAAADEY/yCJ3GGvph1A/s720/tyre8.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A5vAxGIx91I/UnpThGmy0wI/AAAAAAAADEU/pv2RvXwoCYY/s512/tyre9.jpg)

Shall we critique this?  Did you do the correct health and safety assessment? :facepalm:

First photo it that it is good that the car is on the ground but careful with both feet off the ground with canvas shoes...I can show you a scar....on my foot. :(  No need to stamp on the wheel bolts as they don't have to be that tight to attach to the car.  Also careful of slipping off, in those canvas shoes.

Please take this as the way I intend it that damaged feet take ages to heal. O:-)

Also no hi viz or gloves  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: alexb on 07 November, 2013, 01:45:28 pm
Another vote for a telescopic wheel brace. I got mine in Lidl for not very much and have used it in anger twice. It's so much better than the crap wheel brace supplied with the car.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: hbunnet on 07 November, 2013, 03:12:22 pm
After changing wheels, I checked the torque on the studs with a torque wrench.  (120Nm for mine). I had tightened them by hand using the car supplied wrench to ensure I could unscrew them by hand if required.

Only two studs  needed a smidgeon more, the others were slightly over torqued.  There is a reason the supplied wrench is short.
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Mr Arch on 07 November, 2013, 03:33:40 pm
  There is a reason the supplied wrench is short.
Yes, short wrench for tightening up so as to not over tighten.
4' long caffold pole to loosen them after garage has friction welded them on with the air impact gun. :facepalm:
Title: Re: Removing a car wheel
Post by: Ham on 07 November, 2013, 08:25:14 pm
A while ago, I was in a Kwikfit garage (no not my own money) and I was treated to an excellent demonstration of how to use a torque wrench.

The trained monkey using a 3' torque wrench tightened the nut up to the set torque, but then gave it an extra special strong heft, because after all stronger is better, isn't it?