How to Remove a Stuck or Seized Wheel - 4 Methods

How to remove a stuck wheel on your vehicle. Stuck wheels happen due to corrosion between the #wheel and hub bore, hub face, or both. This can be even more of a problem if your vehicle is exposed to salt during the winter. Penetrating oil can be used with any of these methods around the hub face area and bore, just make sure it doesn’t come in contact with the brakes. Typically when you’ve removed the lug nuts or lug studs, hitting the wheel with the palm of your hand of the #tire works. #autorepair #diy #howto #mechanic

Tools/Supplies Needed:
-dead blow hammer
-sledgehammer
-wire brush
-penetrating oil
-wheel wrench

Procedure:
Method #1

First is jacking up the wheel, make sure it’s safely elevated. Use the assistance of a jack stand and block the wheels if needed. Only raise the wheel an inch off the ground, the higher the vehicle is elevated, the higher the chance of the vehicle falling off its support.

Loosen the lug nuts, you don’t necessarily need to remove them. If the vehicle does tip off its support, the wheel is still held in place so the vehicle can’t completely fall.

Sit on the ground and continue to kick the wheel with your feet. This method works great whether you’re working on a vehicle at home or trying to change a flat.

Instead of sitting on the ground, you can also face your body away from the wheel and do a back kick. However, this style of kick may not provide as much force.

Method #2

Again making sure the vehicle is safely elevated and stable, lug nuts or studs can be left on partially or removed completely. Perhaps you may have some issues which prevents you from getting in a powerful kick, so instead a dead blow hammer on the sidewall, either outside or inside of the tire may work. Do not hit the wheel, regardless if it’s aluminum or steel, it can be damaged. However with a dead blow hammer, if it bounces over, there’s less chance of damaging the finish. These are available in a variety of sizes, the heavier the hammer, the greater force it can apply.

Method #3

If a smaller hammer doesn’t work, next is getting under the vehicle and using a sledgehammer. Make sure the vehicle is safely supported as we’re using more force and will require being under the vehicle. The lug nuts or studs should be left partially on so the wheel doesn’t fly off or if the vehicle does slip off its support, then the wheel can still hold it up somewhat. Only hit the sidewall of the tire, otherwise, you can damage the wheel. There is a minimal risk of damaging the tire here, a tire does take a fair amount of abuse when exposed to potholes at speed on the road.

Method #4

If all other methods fail, then use the weight of the vehicle to your advantage. This involves losing the lug nuts or studs one to two turns, just enough to give the wheel movement, but so it doesn’t fall off the vehicle. Then proceed to drive the vehicle around in a safe controlled area where there’s no traffic or people. Only do this at a slow speed, try driving in a circle, turning the wheel in different directions and alternative between forward and reverse if the problem is on a drive wheel. Once the wheel has broken free, then continue to jack up the vehicle and remove the wheel.

When reinstalling a wheel, some people do apply anti-seize and it’s not something recommended by the auto industry. The anti-seize may build-up, preventing the hub facing from pulling together, creating a tight contact. If that anti-seize gets on the threads of the wheel or lug studs, this can alter how the fasteners are torques. Even applying oil on these surfaces can only cause issues. The best maintenance method, before the wheel goes back on, use a wire brush to clean up the wheel or lug studs. Continue to clean up the hub face on the vehicle with a wire brush. And do the same on the hub face for the wheels. If you’re working with an aluminum wheel, use a brass wire brush on the wheel’s hub face instead. Metal particles from a steel wire brush can imbed in the aluminum promoting more corrosion. Then install the wheel.

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© 4DIYers 2013
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No part of this video or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author.

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[petrinakeay]

Thank you kind sir, I am a 65 year old lady, living in the back of beyond, I knew in theory how to change a wheel just never done it before. All going ok loosened the nits by standing on the brace, jacked it up, got the nuts off, feeling pleased with myself, but then that wheel was not budging. Thanks to your video I used a hammer on the front an then a few hits from the inside, it came away. Spare now on, you are a life saver. 👏👏👏

[williammitchell]

I sat on my butt and alternated legs, kicking the tire about 20 times total before it popped loose. Everywhere the rim touched the hub was thoroughly rusted together. Everytime I kicked the tire, the wheel rotated a little giving me a new area to break free. I am 70 years old, so this is doable for almost anyone. Thanks for the tip.

[Pesmog]

There is method number 5 that we use with 40 tonne heavy trucks with flat tires at the roadside, and it works for cars as well if you don't have a heavy hammer available. If your vehicle has a spare wheel, then use that as a gentle battering ram. Just roll it at low speed into the wheel edge/tire of the stuck wheel. This works because the angle of impact is pretty much exactly 90 degrees and because a rolling wheel has a surprising amount of energy behind it due to its weight. I used this technique today when fitting the winter wheels on my 6 month old car where the alloys were about as stuck as any car I have ever seen with corrosion. You just have to be careful not to impact the surrounding bodywork and take care not to lose control of the spare on slopes. I must have done this a couple of hundred times over the years with stuck roadside flats and it always works and I have never damaged the bodywork yet. I have also done it with tractor tires with equal success.

[noahlangseth]

#4 worked when nothing else would. Had to drive around my neighborhood for a bit until it finally release. Thank you.

[DrunkenUFOPilot]

The kicking methods worked for me. If after all the methods in this video don't work, my next step would have been to discover oil where I live, become a millionaire, and just buy a new car.

[austinolson]

I've found the best way for me is remove all but 2 lug nuts that are across from eachother. Loosen those but dont remove them. Jack the car up and put a old brake rotor underneath about halfway towards the inside of the car. Then lower the vehicle on the rotor slowly. I've gotten even the most stubborn wheels off that way. Nice video bud.

[Antonio-pqfb]

Just wanted to say thank you. Method 4 worked in the end for me.

[johnhaerle]

None of those worked on my Xcursion. I had to loosen the rear tire lug nuts then put a 4x4 piece lumber with a jack at one end and force the tires apart. This worked easily and quickly. Beating on the tires, driving around with loose lug nuts, heating them, kicking them, lowering the jack quickly to drop it on the ground - none of that worked. On the front wheels, I was able to put a short piece of lumber between the tire and leaf springs and turn into it. That made the fronts pop off quickly. I hadnt taken off the wheels in about five years. I had redone the whole braking system and put new rims and tires on, then moved to a remote area where I barely log any miles on the truck compared to most people. Im glad I did this when I did cause if I had ever got a flat, I would have been screwed.

[matthewdelsignore]

Tire was seized and wouldn't budge. Watched this and drove the car not even 10 feet and heard it come loose. Thanks for the advice!

[robward]

Just saved my ass stranded with a stuck tyre at Christmas time. Thanks!

[luisinhoens]

This video was so much help. Not only because my driver's side rear wheel is seized, also because I've got the same truck

[xray]

I tried the first and second method did absolutely nothing I don't really recommend the first method because you're kicking it towards the axle which really isn't going to do anything you wanted to go out words so the tire comes off but the third flask method worked perfect tire came right off after I had to whack it a little bit but it did get it unstuck it was on there very very bad it was on a police crown Victoria 2011 thank you so much for posting this video I would have never got it off.

[markoni]

Method no.4 did a perfect job. Thanks for help!

[DamienMyers]

Thanks for the video. Method #4 worked like a charm. Only video that solved our dilemma. Appreciate it!

[OmarsGarage]

Thanks for the video. Had to change a tire yesterday and it was a doozy. Kicked the crap out of that wheel but trying to see if there are any other options.

[seachaser]

I appreciate your suggestions but to remove the right rear wheel on my 2011 F150 I used the vehicle jack between the leaf spring and the tire to pop it off. And Pop it did! Got er did.

[tripleaa]

Tried it all. Still can't get it off

[XPD]

I am very grateful for this ancient kicking technique. Due to its effectiveness I'll try it in my next fight!

[vex]

I just hammer the Fudge out of my gf's front wheels and I used rust penetrate oil and magic tricks...I finally got it out but I never thought of that number 4 tricks actually a good one