Trick to Remove Front Tire???

[JohnHaggerty]

Any trick removing the front tire after removing lug nuts? Seems like it needs to be pryed or jacked off. Threaded jacking locations would have been nice.

Thanks!

 

[mwilson]

Make sure the jack is secure, then go find a big hammer or splitting maul. Lay at the front of the truck and smack the tire/rim from the backside at the very outside of the rim where it is the strongest. Hit it, turn it a little, hit it again, turn it a little. It will give up.
Don't whack the tire itself unless you want a hammer print right between the eyes....

 

[surfbeetle]

If that doesn't work, put the lug nuts back on and leave it just a tiny bit loose and drive the truck slowly and hit the brakes a few times. It sounds like your rims have rusted in place. This should break it loose. Just be careful.

 

[TLane]

The aluminum wheels corrode and stick it to the hub. I hammered mine off, cleaned up with sandpaper, then applied anti-seize compound to the wheel where it contacts the hub. No problems since then, but I carry a 5 pound sledge in the toolbox just in case. I've been told you can put the lug nuts back on by hand, leaving them a little loose, then drive forward a few feet and stomp on the brakes. Then try it in reverse. It may take a couple of tries to break it free, but it sounds easier than hammer on the tire or wheel. I hammered on the tires only, managed to avoid getting a headache.

Worse case, let the air out of tire and call roadside assistance (Good Sam, AAA) - have them replace the tire with your spare. When they're done, tell them thank you, air up the tire, and put the spare back under the truck...

 

[Regcabguy]

I use a two by four and a hammer on the backside of the rim. The wood keeps me from damaging the rim.

 

[JohnHaggerty]

Got it. A gear puller and ratchet extension got it. Sure glad I wasn't along side the highway fixing a flat. Monday I'll be making a jacking tool.

 

[seafish]

Got it. A gear puller and ratchet extension got it. Sure glad I wasn't along side the highway fixing a flat. Monday I'll be making a jacking tool.

Also, do NOT forget to use anti-sieze compound before reinstalling...NOT on the lug or lug nuts, but on BOTH of the surfaces where the wheel contacts the hub.

PS-- SLIGHTLY loosening all of the lug nuts and simply rolling the vehicle forward and back a few times is the easy way to get a seized wheel to break loose from the hub.

 

[jelag]

Once you get them apart... use a flapper wheel to remove all the dirt/rust/lifted paint and than coat all the metal to metal parts with an anti-seize before installation... I use 19.5" ties and get 90K miles on the tires... when I change tires, the wheels now fall off the hub.. we do the same behind the hub to axle, and any other locations where there is heat and metal to metal connections... actually I use it all over the underside of the truck if we take it apart.. since my trucks run in a chemical bath in the winter here in WA state..

 

[Prairie Dog]

I've never had this problem but someone posted before to loosen the lug nuts and do a few slow figure eights to pop them loose.

 

[Wayne M.]

I remember when mine was new. First rotation, and I was underneath with the big hammer. Since then LOTS of neverseize! As a side note, it paid off when it came time to get my rotors off many years later- especially the rears. I guess all the lube from the neverseize kept things wet and they all came off without any fight.