Rick's Free Auto Repair Advice

Remove a Stuck Wheel: The Safest and Most Effective Technique

Here’s the best way to remove a stuck wheel on your car or truck

I’ve seen all the youtube videos where morons loosen their lug nuts and drive the car like a maniac to break the wheel free. Forget that. This technique works every time and it’s much safer. Here’s the best way to remove a stuck wheel on your car or truck.

What you need to remove a rusted stuck wheel

1) Rust penetrant (not WD-40)
2) Maul or sledge hammer
3) Scrap piece of 2×4
Liquid Wrench rust penetrantPB Blaster rust penetrantFreeze-Off rust penetrantWD-40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start by soaking the stuck wheel with rust penetrant

With the vehicle safely up on a jack, remove the wheel cover or hub cap (if equipped). Then remove all the lug nuts. Next, spray rust penetrant between the wheel stud and the wheel at each stud. Really pump in the spray. You want it to wick behind the wheel and flow down to the center hub area, because that’s where most of the rust is. Then spray around the center of the hub as well.

I prefer Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster instead of regular WD-40. I haven’t tried the new WD-40 Rust Specialist, but WD-40 tells me that product IS designed to break up rust, unlike the blue can which is just a general purpose lubricant.

remove stuck wheel

Make sure you spray all around the center hub area.

Let it soak for about 15-mins.

Then rotate the wheel 180 degrees and repeat the rust penetrant application.

Hammer the wood

Never hit the wheel directly with the maul. Instead, place a block of wood against the outer edge of the rim and smack it with a maul. Rotate the wheel 1/4 –turn after each hit. Continue hitting and turning until it breaks loose.

remove stuck wheel with maul

This technique has never failed for me. I’ve never had to loosen the lug nuts and rock the car

© 2012 Rick Muscoplat

Posted on by Rick Muscoplat

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