When putting the wheels back on I clean the hub areas. I put a thin layer of grease to the hub contact center area of the wheel. Especially with aluminum wheels, makes the next removal easy, as then there is very little to no corrosion taking place.
2005 2500 Avalanche
2004 30' Terry Quantum 290FLS
Equal-i-zer,Prodigy
Calgary Alberta
You can do both, heat and impact, at the same time. If the drive axle is jacked up with the wheels off the ground, simply loosen the lug nuts a few turns, run the wheels forward, brake and run them in reverse, brake and repeat. The brakes heat the drums and rims, and the jolt from braking knocks them loose a bit too. Take the usual safety precautions.
Thanks for all the info. A question to the lug-nut-drive-it-a-foot guys....do you jack up the rear axle to tighten the nuts after the rim's broke loose or leave it down?
2004 Damon Daybreak 2960F
05 Honda Element LX
In a democracy two wolves and a sheep can vote on what to have for dinner.
I've seen BFH fail. When using a torch to heat the rims, you are not heating them above normal temps. The trick is to heat the RIM and not the axle (The ride the brakes method someone mentioned will heat the axle end before it heats the rim I fear)
As I said, I have seen it done... In fact, I am only telling how they got the tire off MY car
Best option is wheel covers or hub caps, this prevents the rust for the most part. I have found that every time I've had problems getting a tire off, it was missing a hub cap. with hub caps it came right off....
This applies to several cars I've had, a truck or two I've been involved with and a few Police cars where the big-strong Michigan State Troopers could not get the lug nuts loose (No hub cap) and this out-of-shape dispatcher had to loosen them up first (What can I say, Strength.. yes, I've got some but they could out arm wrestle me any day of the week. KNOWLEDGE Now if we "Brain Wrestled" it would also have been no contest.. I'd have won.
Brain power got that lug nut loose
(I knew how to maximize the amount of torque I could apply with a 4-way tire wrench.. Sadly the wrench was not as strong as my leg mucles but hey..I got it loose
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
Before I got one of my cars, it had been sitting in a field for 6 years. Was a nice fixer upper though. Who knows how long the alloy wheels were stuck on it, but they were stuck. Penetrating oil was no go. Usually kicking them with the bottom of my workboot loosens them, but not these. I tried a long aluminum bar and they wouldnt budge. Then I tried a 4 ft steel pipe wedged between the knuckle and rim, and they pried right off. Probably would take something bigger for your MH though, but same principle would probably work well.
Definitely use some anti-seize when putting them back together.
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Troy
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1989 Sunline Saturn 16' T-1661, Reese WD hitch
2000 Haulmark Cub 5x8, Pontiac alloy wheels
Both w/ Carlisle Hydrastar & custom disc brakes
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1992 Pontiac Trans Sport SE, Tekonsha Envoy
1990 Pontiac 6000 SE Wagon, custom snowplow
Admiral wrote: Thanks for all the info. A question to the lug-nut-drive-it-a-foot guys....do you jack up the rear axle to tighten the nuts after the rim's broke loose or leave it down?
You need to take the wheels all the way off and clean them and the drum/rotor. They are probably hanging on the center hub, make sure all the rust there is gone. If you don't and there is rust in there the wheels won't roll true and you will get a vibration, eventually they will loosen.
With this talk of using anti-seize, I would like to interject. Never put anti-seize, grease, or any type of lubricant on the lugs themselves. You will over torque the nuts, stretch the lug bolts, and create a hazardous situation. A small amount on the hub is okay.
Tim
"Okay, I admit it, the only thing I'm really good at is being me."
Admiral wrote: Thanks for all the info. A question to the lug-nut-drive-it-a-foot guys....do you jack up the rear axle to tighten the nuts after the rim's broke loose or leave it down?
The "lug-nut-drive-it-a-foot" method may be helpful, but only if the tire is inflated. When the tire is flat and will not air up, if a few slege hammer whacks do not loosen the rim, don't waste any more time that could be spent rv'ing. Heat the rim near the hub with a torch and whack away.
From the peak of good living
Eager to be RVing
2000 Damon Intruder 351
Triton V10 F-53
2003 Jeep Liberty Renegade Toad
1999 Chevy LT Z71
1993 Stratos 285 Pro XL
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