Wheel Removal

[squireiii]

This may be the most lame question yet, but....
I removed all four wheels from my 99 this past weekend for the first time. (I'm a relatively new owner). Wheels are stock 17". I had to actually beat the wheels off with a rubber mallet from the underside of the car. Could not pull them off for anything. Is this normal? I noticed some signs of corrosion on the "tabs" that hold the wheel in the proper place in order to apply the bolts. Perhaps they were "corroded" on and just need a good cleaning? Is there a special tool that would help? My car came with a spare and jack, but no wheel removal tools. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[ronster]

Originally Posted by squireiii

This may be the most lame question yet, but....
I removed all four wheels from my 99 this past weekend for the first time. (I'm a relatively new owner). Wheels are stock 17". I had to actually beat the wheels off with a rubber mallet from the underside of the car. Could not pull them off for anything. Is this normal? I noticed some signs of corrosion on the "tabs" that hold the wheel in the proper place in order to apply the bolts. Perhaps they were "corroded" on and just need a good cleaning? Is there a special tool that would help? My car came with a spare and jack, but no wheel removal tools. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Did you look in the compartment in the back of the spare to see if there is a tool kit? The tools are in a leather bag that rolls up and should contain a socket for the lugs, a bar to put through the socket for leverage, a pilot tool for holding the rim on while you install the lugs, pliers and a reversible screw driver and possibly a center cap remover. If yours is missing you can pick them up off eBay.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by squireiii

This may be the most lame question yet, but....
I removed all four wheels from my 99 this past weekend for the first time. (I'm a relatively new owner). Wheels are stock 17". I had to actually beat the wheels off with a rubber mallet from the underside of the car. Could not pull them off for anything. Is this normal? I noticed some signs of corrosion on the "tabs" that hold the wheel in the proper place in order to apply the bolts. Perhaps they were "corroded" on and just need a good cleaning? Is there a special tool that would help? My car came with a spare and jack, but no wheel removal tools. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

When different metals ( steel & aluminum) are in direct contact with each other it causes corrosion. Wire brush clean the contact surfaces & a very light coat of anti-seize will help minimize the problem.

[Steve986]

Mine were stuck so bad I had to lie on my back and kick the rims as hard as I could before they busted loose! Glad I was in my workshop and not on the highway!

[tcora]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

When different metals ( steel & aluminum) are in direct contact with each other it causes corrosion. Wire brush clean the contact surfaces & a very light coat of anti-seize will help minimize the problem.

Agreed. I have had this same problem on multiple cars I've owned over the years. Clean up the corrosion and prevent it from returning!

[squireiii]

Thanks for your responses. For some reason, the tools are not in the front trunk, but the foam holder and jack were. I just bought a lug wrench in case of a flat. When I put the wheels back on, I'll clean it all up and coat the surfaces where they meet. If I were to have to take a wheel off on the road, I would have been screwed.

[steveng1993]

One time when my wheels have been stuck on, I have loosed the bolts a little bit then driven a short distance. First turn I felt the wheel break loose.