Can't remove front tires/rims

[cKGunslinger]

Wife's 1997 Dodge Caravan

So I've been driving the van this week and noticed the front brakes starting to squeal. Went by and bought new pads yesterday.

So this morning I jack up one side and remove the lugs nuts. But the tire won't budge. I lower the jack slowly, hoping the weight of the vehicle will break the seal or stickiness, but no-go. I shake and hit the tire some (not too much, I've had a jack spin and fall before.) I hit the rim itself a couple of times with a small mallet, but nothing - the rim won't budge. Same for the other front.

It almost looks as if the center of the rim is stuck to the axle/hub. Quite a bit of rust and no discernible gap. Could it just be rust? Could it have gotten too hot and expanded? What's the best way to tackle this?

Also, there's a cotter pin and giant hex nut in the center of the hub, but I'm assuming this is for changing the bearings or something, right? There no way that changing a tire requires removal of a pin and a 2-3" socket/wrench..


Should I take it to Just Brakes, or will they charge me an arm and a leg? Maybe a local mechanic with a lift - perhaps the rims just need a bit more coercion?

 

[MrPickins]

PB Blaster?

(Clean everything well after you get through, of course)

 

[iamwiz82]

Loosen the lug nuts a few turns and then lower the car onto the wheel and slowly roll it back and forth. I've never seen one stick after that.

 

[Jeff7181]

The car should be on jack stands, and should not budge if you push and pull with all your might.

That said... my friend and I ran into the same problem a couple weeks ago. I alternated kicking the top and bottom of the tire until the wheel broke free from the rotor.

 

[Muadib]

WD40 FTW!

 

[Hyperlite]

yeah we ran into this problem the first time we rotated the tires on my dad's 05 tundra... they were locked onto the shims. we ended up using some 2x4 peices and a sledgehammer on the back side of the tire. and WD40.

 

[sdifox]

I use the sledgehammer method. After kicking the tire for 30min and it would not budge. So I sledged the tire from the side, not even hard and after about 3 shots it came off.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Loosen the lug nuts a few turns and then lower the car onto the wheel and slowly roll it back and forth. I've never seen one stick after that.

This worked, eventually. :thumbsup:

Thanks everyone.

 

[Throckmorton]

Drive down the street until the wheel starts sliding off the lugs, and try to get home before it falls off

 

[Iron Woode]

brake fluid is a good rust buster, but be careful.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Drive down the street until the wheel starts sliding off the lugs, and try to get home before it falls off

:laugh:

 

[TheKub]

Yep, had a Sonoma a few years back and had to use 2x4 and a sledge to get it off.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Drive down the street until the wheel starts sliding off the lugs, and try to get home before it falls off

:laugh:

LOL