# Can not remove wheels **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 13, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554 "2007-09-13T18:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beugol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@beugol](https://community.cartalk.com/u/beugol)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/1 "2007-09-13T18:29:47Z")
I’m trying to replace the brake pads on a 2000 Ford Focus wagon. The lugs nuts came off easily enough, the wheels however seem to be welded to the hubs. I tried pounding a wedge at the apparent joint between the wheel and hub. Nothing! Help! ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/2 "2007-09-13T18:41:23Z")
Put the lug nuts back on but leave them SLIGHTLY loose. Back the car up and hit the brakes a few times. That should break them loose. (Aluminum alloy will corrode and stick to the steel hubs, and this problem is not that rare.) ---
**Author:** ![beugol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@beugol](https://community.cartalk.com/u/beugol)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/3 "2007-09-13T20:18:08Z")
THANK YOU!! Done. May you always be able to get up after you lie down. ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/4 "2007-09-14T01:53:08Z")
what a wicked good idea. i never thought of that!! i always get a long 4x4 and wail on the tires. see something simpler is just around the cartalk corner! gheesh, and the guy complaining about muscle cars (or lack therof) doesn’t like cartalk! ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/5 "2007-09-14T01:59:03Z")
Over time aluminum will corrode and stick to steel, and not just on wheels either. Pistons/cylinder walls, water pump/engine block, etc. can all do it. A guy I used to work with made a circle in the parking lot one time with a 70s era Thunderbird and asked me if I noticed anything funny about the car. ALL of the lug nuts were off the 2 front wheels when he did this. More guts than me. ---
**Author:** ![nbpt100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nbpt100](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nbpt100)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/6 "2007-09-14T03:26:03Z")
If you put a little anti sieze on the hub before reinstalling the wheel this problem goes away. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 11:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/7 "2007-09-14T11:11:10Z")
Excellent idea. I had to call AAA/wait for a tow truck driver who though I was weak or something not being able to remove a rusty civic wheel. He took a heavy tow component of his wrecker and whacked the tire sidewall to knock it off the car. Great idea! ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-not-remove-wheels/4554/8 "2007-09-14T14:47:33Z")
A slight variation, if you can’t move the car: Loosen the lug nuts two, or three, turns (with the tires still on the ground); ROCK the car side to side. Jack the car up. Are the wheels loose? If not, loosen the lug nuts one more turn, and rock again.