Stuck back wheel on a Corolla

93 Corolla LE 265,000 km.

Jack laments:

I could use some heavy-duty suggestions: My goal is to rotate my tires, in
order to diagnose a wheel bearing vs. broken (tire) belt.

I can't remove the back right wheel. The rim won't let go. The drums are
very old and rusty. I've tried penetrating oil, and driving with loosened
bolts.

I've tried jacking it up and hammering a 2x6 on the rim from inside. How
hard can I clobber this way before I damage something?

May I warm the hub lightly with propane, or will that harm neighbouring
parts? What can I try next?

Your expert advice is appreciated, Jack.

"Ralph" <nospam@thanks.com> wrote in message
news:4385449f$1_1@news.cybersurf.net...[color=blue]
> 93 Corolla LE 265,000 km.
>
> Jack laments:
>
> I could use some heavy-duty suggestions: My goal is to rotate my tires,
> in order to diagnose a wheel bearing vs. broken (tire) belt.
>
> I can't remove the back right wheel. The rim won't let go. The drums are
> very old and rusty. I've tried penetrating oil, and driving with loosened
> bolts.
>[/color]

When you drive with the loosened lug nuts, make several sharp turns in the
direction opposite from the problem wheel.
[color=blue]
> I've tried jacking it up and hammering a 2x6 on the rim from inside. How
> hard can I clobber this way before I damage something?[/color]

You can clobber pretty hard without damaging something, however, you have to
make sure the hammer doesn't bounce back and hit you.

A safer method would be to jack up the car and set it on jack stands, set a
board against the problem wheel, set another board on the opposite wheel,
place a jack sideways on one of the boards and use another board like a 4 x
4 to span from the top of the jack to the board on the opposite wheel.
Raising the jack should push the wheel off.

Do you have alloy or steel wheels? In either case, spray penetrating oil
where the wheel fits over the hub. When you finally get the wheel off, use
fine sandpaper to remove any corrosion on the inside of the wheel and where
the wheel mates with the hub and then apply anti-seize or wheel bearing
grease where the wheel contacts the drum or disc and hub. Do not use
lithium grease because the heat generated by braking could make it drip.[color=blue]
>
> May I warm the hub lightly with propane, or will that harm neighbouring
> parts? What can I try next?
>
> Your expert advice is appreciated, Jack.[/color]
I don't think that propane will get hot enough to make a difference because
the mass of the wheel will absorb the heat instead of expanding its fit on
the hub.

Good luck!
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

"Ralph" <nospam@thanks.com> wrote in
news:4385449f$1_1@news.cybersurf.net:
[color=blue]
> 93 Corolla LE 265,000 km.
>
> Jack laments:
>
> I could use some heavy-duty suggestions: My goal is to rotate my
> tires, in order to diagnose a wheel bearing vs. broken (tire) belt.
>
> I can't remove the back right wheel. The rim won't let go. The drums
> are very old and rusty. I've tried penetrating oil, and driving with
> loosened bolts.[/color]


How long did you drive with the loosened nuts? That method is /extremely/
effective and much less harmful than hammering.

Loosen the nuts so you've got about 1/32" of slack from when they contact
the wheel. Drive the car 100 ft or so, waggling the wheel as you go. Make
sure you can drive over curbs or potholes. They'll eventually pop loose.



--
TeGGeR®