Off Topic: X5 Wheel Won't Come Off!

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
So once again, I'm changing suspension air bags. Did it on the 2003 Mercedes, and now on the 2015 X5. I hope the X5 is a little less frustrating of a logic puzzle to get the new bag in place, but I can't tell because I can't even get the stupid wheel off. (I've come to the conclusion that if you do drive an LR3/4 or New Defender, you should carry a spare set of these things with you when you go out on the trail.)

So I've done a few things to try to help it along:
  • Left a few lugs on loose, lowered the car onto the ground, then again, and again. Shake the car.
  • Rolled the car forward and back with loose lugs.
  • Allowed it to sit for 4-5 hours with penetrating oil all over it.
  • I have kicked it more than once.
  • I have carefully attempted to pry it loose with a screwdriver, but I'm sure I'd chip the wheel if I did any more.
Once or twice I seem to remember my steel wheels on one of my Rovers would stick a bit, but nothing more than a bit of shaking and pulling didn't fix. This is something different.

Any ideas on what to do?
 

hillstrubl

Founding Member
rubber mallet hitting it (lugs off) from the inside while its lifted up on jackstands (with a backup thing holding it up just in case you are the hulk)? Or, small sledge doing the same thing with a block of wood?
 

LR Max

Well-known member
Replace your "penetrating oil" with Automatic transmission fluid. Don't forget the back side where the wheel meets the brake rotor. Let the water of HP slip do its thing for like, 2 hours. Check it during the interim and re-apply as needed. Then try breaking the wheel loose again.

Get a piece of rope and wrap it around the "spokes" of the wheel, with the rope leading outward away from the side of the car. Then tie other end to a big hammer (I prefer deadblow). Then swing hammer away from car.

Also make sure you got extra jackstands going on. Cars falling off of jacks is a bad time.
 
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acheck

Well-known member
You just need a long (3 foot plus) pry bar, on the back side of the rim. Wedge the tip of the bar against a suspension component and the shank of the bar against the wheel rim, pry. It will pop right off.
 

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
I tried the hammer to the back of the tire, and that didn't work. But I couldn't get any leverage for a pry bar either.

I did end up getting it off late last night after soaking some more, but I think mostly by figuring out the trick to getting the car to stay in neutral with the brake off, I could then turn the wheel and smack the back of the tire with the 3lbs hammer at all different angles. This finally did it.

1/2 hour job, they said....
 

chuckc4

Well-known member
rubber mallet hitting it (lugs off) from the inside while its lifted up on jackstands (with a backup thing holding it up just in case you are the hulk)? Or, small sledge doing the same thing with a block of wood?

You could also leave the lugs on just a little bit as a stop gap for the wheel when you hit a block of wood held against the tire. A two by four that spans the entire rim from tire edge to tire edge will distribute the impact evenly. I have had to do this before on a Beemer too. Not fun when you are alone and you have nice wheels...
 

SaintPanzer

Well-known member
While you're in there...

I had a similar problem with my 3 series station wagon. My understanding is that the rim is hub mounted, but the wheel is aluminum, the hub is steel, and galvanic corrosion makes the bond. So while you're in there, coat the hub with some anti-seize, or maybe just grease, to isolate the two metals. ½ hour job next time.
 
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