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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: vort3x on 16 July 2006, 16:41

Title: A bit of an embarrasing question - removing the wheel
Post by: vort3x on 16 July 2006, 16:41

Right guys I am really strugglin with this and a bit embarrased to ask really. Neway I have spent over 2 hrs today trying to get my front passenger wheel off  :smiley: .

Yesterday I noticed that my tire was a little flat so this morning took a look at it and found a nail had stuck in the tire. Right I thought, simply get the spare out the boot and change it. That is about as far as I got. Took of each of the five nuts and tried pulling the wheel off but it wouldn't give. I then looked under the VW cap in the centre of the alloy and it looks liked it is screwed on tight. So off I went to halfrauds to buy an adapter to try and unscrew this area. When I got back found out that I don't have the correct ratchet thingie to get it far enough away from the alloy to unscrew and now all the shops are closed.

It is going in for a service 2m so I will just ask them to do it then but was wondering if this is the way all the wheels are changed and how on earth do I do it myself?

Thanx guys

Title: Re: A bit of an embarrasing question - removing the wheel
Post by: topher on 16 July 2006, 17:12

sounds like you're trying to unbolt the hub.. don't do that :grin:

only the 5 studs hold the wheel on, make sure the car is secure (axle stands if you have them) and bash each side of the wheel with a rubber mallet in a sort of rocking motion until it frees up.

Title: Re: A bit of an embarrasing question - removing the wheel
Post by: GolfGL on 16 July 2006, 19:58

Never seen one that tough. if all five bolts are out should just fall off. When its off coat the part of the wheel that touches the hub with copper grease so it doesnt corrode for next time.

Title: Re: A bit of an embarrasing question - removing the wheel
Post by: >>Mart<< on 16 July 2006, 21:56

sounds like the wheel has welded itself to the hub
with some gentle persuasion (twit it with a rubber hammer) it should come off

Title: Re: A bit of an embarrasing question - removing the wheel
Post by: charri42 on 16 July 2006, 22:29

Its a pain in the ass when that happens - I had to call the RAC for a similar thing as I didn't trust the jack to hold when whacking the wheel.

Basically it welds itself to the hub - thats why on some service schedules wheels are removed and refitted. Some copper ?? (forget the exact name) stops it happening again.

As mention above, if you do it yourself, get some really good axle stands  :smiley:

Title: Re: A bit of an embarrasing question - removing the wheel
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 16 July 2006, 22:40

copper grease its available in tubes or pots from halfrauds. use it on all faces that touch the wheel to prevent the different metals bonding together