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MG MGF Technical - road wheel removal

hi ,im having trouble removing my front wheels, ive taken off the 4 nuts but the wheels are stuck solid. am i missing something ? or is this a common thing and what do i do to get them off . thanx
s hardy

usually there is a deposit of fusion because the alloy reacts with the metal and makes removal difficult.they will come off with a bit of effortbut make sure you cleanup round the hub and inside of alloy.

Andy
A SWAN

Once the wheels are off and cleaned up, apply some copper grease to avoid same prob in future.
Steve P

Don,t take this as a "correct" way of unseizeing but my local garage lightly tapped stuck wheels on my van with a hammer and they easly came off even though i could not shift them by other methods. Perhaps you could try this by lightly tapping from the inside of the wheel so not to damage the alloy......just a thought.........mel.
m e johnson

Jack the car up, remove the nuts.
Sit on the floor facing the wheel and put one foot on either side - pressed firmly against the tyre. Push hard and rock side to side, gently kicking even. There should be no need for a hammer, and your (much softer) shoes are unlikely to damage the rim.

Dave
Dave

I can just imagine the Scenario. Car falls off the jack, the wheel comes off, there is just a pile of bent wing, bent sill and hopefully, you had your feet out of the way before they were crushed.
Jack the side of the car up and drop it back onto an axle stand. Back off the nuts 2 or 3 turns ONLY. Give the tyre the alternate foot treatment.
Never rely on the jack when axle stands are so cheap. They are the most common used tool in my garage.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

S. As Geoff notes, if there is a problem, you should install jack stands. If the wheels do not come off freely, you have a problem.

Thus, do not trust the jack. Install jack stands and use a rubber mallet against the tires, or rims, to break free the bond between the hub and wheel.

The normal wheels are made out of steel and should not weld themselves to the hub unless there is a very significant amount of rust. Far more than is normal. The wheel should begin to loosen itself from the hub as the lug nuts are loosened. If not, there is a problem, such as rusting together. Various forms of anti-seize lubricants will not prevent such things. Regular maintenace will.

Use jack stands. Remove the wheels. Clean up the rusted sections. Use anti-seize on the thread of the lug nuts when re-installing the wheels. Torque to 55 lbft.

Les
Les Bengtson

Les wrote "The normal wheels are made out of steel and should not weld themselves to the hub unless there is a very significant amount of rust."

Unfortunately, this board is for the post '95 F/TF range that had alloys as OEM. The only steel available was the space saver spare on some models.

My 2004 TF came from the factory with no copperslip (or equiavalent) on the faces and it was not lubed at the first year service. I had to insist that it was lubed when the tyres were replaced.
John Ponting

John,

Mea Cupla Maxima. I am one of those unfortunate people who will never see a "modern MG" unless we travel abroad.

My new "IR Mouse" will, sometimes, deliver me to places I have no reason to go. I had clicked on "MGB General" and posted here by mistake. Thus, I have no expertise in this area.

I do, however, have some general expertise which cuts across the lines of models. Thus, my basic point, "Put it up on jack stands of you are going to beat on it" does apply.

Again, my most since appolgies for invading a board on which I have no direct experience. I can only wist that I had had the opportunity to buy a modern MG. I purchased a new 79 MGB while stationed in Germany and courted my wife in that car. My wife currently owns a 2003 Mini Cooper and thinks it is great. (My daughgters and I insisted that she attend a driving school after purchase and they tell me that the money was very well spent.)

All I can say to MGF owners is please forgive my intrustion and that I wish I had had the opportunity to own and drive such a vehicle.

Les (Stuck in the land of MGBs)
Les Bengtson

Had the same problem with my front left tyre. Jacked up the car, took a loong scantling, laid it under the car so i could't stand at the (german) passanger side and give my wheel a kick from there. So it came of.

3 wheelhubs had some grease on it, the front left didn't. I guess the guy who should be doing it was on the toilet when my TF passed on the production line :)

Cheers,
Sven
Sven Angelmahr

If none of the above works. Loosen all four wheel nuts, re-tighten nuts so they almost in contact with the wheels. Drive forward and backwards a couple of car lengths and give the brakes a good stab. That should free the wheel. Providing the nuts only allow a tiny wheel movement no damage will result. No hammers, no pain.
Ken Waring

Thats just what I was going to say Ken!!
Blue Pocket Rocket

Les

Your advice about jack stands was 100% on the ball.

I have read your comments before and always find them interesting and informative.

Who cares which boad you post on - they're all about MGs .
John Ponting

This thread was discussed between 16/01/2006 and 17/01/2006

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