Wheel stuck to hub

LTD · 07-02-2010, 03:42 PM

I had a recent puncture on my way to work that required me to call out the AA (rather embarrassingly) as the wheel was stuck to the hub.

The nice guy from the AA got the wheel off by careful use of a plastic mallet on the inside of the wheel.

Now, this has got me thinking as I really don't want to be in this situation again and I am also heading on a 500 mile trip next weekend.

Should I remove all the wheels, clean all the hub faces and wheel inners and apply copper grease to the mating surfaces then refit the wheels ?

Should I just get a plastic mallet ?

Howard · 07-02-2010, 03:43 PM

Wouldn't a good kick do the same job ?

renault12ts · 07-02-2010, 03:44 PM

This happened to me once on a w210. When they are stuck, they are stuck fast. No amount of kicking will remove it. The car is usually on the normal jack and there is a danger of it falling if kicked too vigorously.

Remove all wheels , clean up as necessary and apply grease.

LTD · 07-02-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard

Wouldn't a good kick do the same job ?

No, tried that.

I'm off work for a couple of days this week so I'll get some grease.

Is there any particular one I should get or any to avoid ?

wemorgan · 07-02-2010, 03:49 PM

another vote for removing the wheels and cleaning.
It will also give you the opportunity to set the wheel nut torque correctly.

C230kompressor · 07-02-2010, 03:49 PM

i had that problem once! but i had a rubber mallet to hand!
now i copper grease them all!

trapperjohn · 07-02-2010, 04:01 PM

Yup clean them, liberal with the copper grease. Problem will not raise its ugly head again. I also use copper grease on the wheel studs, but read somewhere not to do this. The hell with that it works for me.

fuzzer · 07-02-2010, 04:22 PM

yep , off and copper them.

I normally do it as soon as i get a new car allong with wheel wax on them , but ill be first to admit that ive been far too busy to do it this year and i really should before im stuck like you..

yachtman · 07-02-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTD

I had a recent puncture on my way to work that required me to call out the AA (rather embarrassingly) as the wheel was stuck to the hub.

The nice guy from the AA got the wheel off by careful use of a plastic mallet on the inside of the wheel.

Now, this has got me thinking as I really don't want to be in this situation again and I am also heading on a 500 mile trip next weekend.

Should I remove all the wheels, clean all the hub faces and wheel inners and apply copper grease to the mating surfaces then refit the wheels ?

Should I just get a plastic mallet ?

I would remove and grease, but personally wouldnt use copper grease, as then you would have copper, steel & alloy, a great combination for galvanic corrision. Would be interested if anybody else agrees.

stevesey · 07-02-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yachtman

I would remove and grease, but personally wouldnt use copper grease, as then you would have copper, steel & alloy, a great combination for galvanic corrision. Would be interested if anybody else agrees.

Note sure about the chemistry - but the alloy/steel corrosion is what makes them stick in the first place isn't it. So if copper grease makes things even worse, we should have given up on it a long time ago, but it seems to work.

BlackC55 · 07-02-2010, 09:12 PM

I don't use copper grease. It is too messy.

I use a aluminuim anti-seize spray grease on the hubs every time I take a wheel off. I always clean the hub and wheel up with a wire brush.

If the car was serviced properly it would have had the hubs cleaned up and greased.

LTD · 07-02-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackC55

If the car was serviced properly it would have had the hubs cleaned up and greased.

Last time the car was touched was by a main dealer or their designated tyre people as it was fitted with new tyres before I bought it.

That was 7 months ago.

I'll look into the aluminium stuff tomorrow - any preferred brand ?

BlackC55 · 07-02-2010, 09:45 PM

Nope.

Mine is a cheapo make. It does not have to be anything special.

wxmclk · 07-02-2010, 09:56 PM

I have had my fronts off twice in the last six months, each time it has been a plastic/rubber mallet job on the inside wheel. Last time they put back, about 6 months ago copper grease was applied on each hub- It still stuck fast when wheels off again earlier this week though sadly.

BlackC55 · 07-02-2010, 10:15 PM

Clean the wheel up then. That should sort it.

07-02-2010, 03:42 PM	#1
LTD Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow G72 Car: W220 S500LWB 112k miles Posts: 1,231	Wheel stuck to hub I had a recent puncture on my way to work that required me to call out the AA (rather embarrassingly) as the wheel was stuck to the hub. The nice guy from the AA got the wheel off by careful use of a plastic mallet on the inside of the wheel. Now, this has got me thinking as I really don't want to be in this situation again and I am also heading on a 500 mile trip next weekend. Should I remove all the wheels, clean all the hub faces and wheel inners and apply copper grease to the mating surfaces then refit the wheels ? Should I just get a plastic mallet ?

07-02-2010, 09:12 PM	#11
BlackC55 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Southsea Car: C43 AMG with mods, ML270, Mk1 Golf cab. Mk1 Caddy fully restored 7.5T truck Rotax Max race Kart ETC Posts: 8,503	I don't use copper grease. It is too messy. I use a aluminuim anti-seize spray grease on the hubs every time I take a wheel off. I always clean the hub and wheel up with a wire brush. If the car was serviced properly it would have had the hubs cleaned up and greased. __________________ Prestige car Service: I am listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available.

07-02-2010, 09:45 PM	#13
BlackC55 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Southsea Car: C43 AMG with mods, ML270, Mk1 Golf cab. Mk1 Caddy fully restored 7.5T truck Rotax Max race Kart ETC Posts: 8,503	Nope. Mine is a cheapo make. It does not have to be anything special. __________________ Prestige car Service: I am listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available.

07-02-2010, 10:15 PM	#15
BlackC55 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Horndean, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Southsea Car: C43 AMG with mods, ML270, Mk1 Golf cab. Mk1 Caddy fully restored 7.5T truck Rotax Max race Kart ETC Posts: 8,503	Clean the wheel up then. That should sort it. __________________ Prestige car Service: I am listed here on MBClub please click to see services and discounts available.

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07-02-2010, 03:43 PM	#2
Howard Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toad Hall Car: 2 x CLK 430 / 1 x A190 Posts: 13,697	Wouldn't a good kick do the same job ?

07-02-2010, 03:44 PM	#3
renault12ts Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Car: s210 E320CDI avantgarde Posts: 3,266	This happened to me once on a w210. When they are stuck, they are stuck fast. No amount of kicking will remove it. The car is usually on the normal jack and there is a danger of it falling if kicked too vigorously. Remove all wheels , clean up as necessary and apply grease.

07-02-2010, 03:49 PM	#5
wemorgan Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Warwickshire Car: Audi A2, Lotus Elise Posts: 3,992	another vote for removing the wheels and cleaning. It will also give you the opportunity to set the wheel nut torque correctly.

07-02-2010, 03:49 PM	#6
C230kompressor Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2009 Car: 1997 C230 Kompressor SPORT ---1993 C180 ESPRIT---FZR1000EXUP Posts: 368	i had that problem once! but i had a rubber mallet to hand! now i copper grease them all!

07-02-2010, 04:01 PM	#7
trapperjohn Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lancashire Car: 124 300TD 211k miles and going strong. 300D 1991 Posts: 1,227	Yup clean them, liberal with the copper grease. Problem will not raise its ugly head again. I also use copper grease on the wheel studs, but read somewhere not to do this. The hell with that it works for me.

07-02-2010, 04:22 PM	#8
fuzzer Executive Staff Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glasgow Car: C220 CDI Sport Posts: 8,131	yep , off and copper them. I normally do it as soon as i get a new car allong with wheel wax on them , but ill be first to admit that ive been far too busy to do it this year and i really should before im stuck like you..

07-02-2010, 09:56 PM	#14
wxmclk Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Wales Border Car: CLK280 Posts: 223	I have had my fronts off twice in the last six months, each time it has been a plastic/rubber mallet job on the inside wheel. Last time they put back, about 6 months ago copper grease was applied on each hub- It still stuck fast when wheels off again earlier this week though sadly.

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