Rotating Tires/ can't get rear tires off

[Orf]

Put the nuts back on but only to finger tight. Now back them of one turn. Drive the car a few yards in circles both ways and the wheels should break loose.
Now jack the car up and see if you can get the wheel off.

[koa]

OR...

Use your jack sideways (NO MERLOT! ) between the wheels with a spacer like a 2X or 4X4 and pop (Didn't want to say jack them off) them off.

[David Beale]

To prevent this in the future, use "waterproof grease" and apply an extremely thin coating to the mating surfaces, especially the ones where the aluminum touches the steel. I apply it with a finger and wipe all of it off - it's still coated, there's just not enough to flow or run anywhere. It helps keep moisture out, and that helps reduce the corrosion that makes the wheel stick to the hub.

I used my foot to break the wheels loose before I started using the grease. Face away from the car and kick backward so you don't injure yourself. Kick one side of the tire then the other.

The wheels are "hub centric", which means the wheel is held in place by the hub, which partially extends into the wheel. This is usually a tight fit and subject to corrosion.

[glenhead]

Oh - my mistake. The solution when they stick to the drum or rotor is to just kick the hell out of one side of the tire (with the car safely supported, of course). That'll usually knock them loose.

[filiberti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Orf @ Aug 30 2006, 07:17 PM) [snapback]311836[/snapback]</div>

Put the nuts back on but only to finger tight. Now back them of one turn. Drive the car a few yards in circles both ways and the wheels should break loose.
Now jack the car up and see if you can get the wheel off.
[/b]

THANKS ALL / This is what finally worked, backing off the nuts a turn or 2 and driving car up ,down driveway . Lowering the car with the bolts loose worked on the FRONT tires but the rear were harder to get off .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(filiberti @ Aug 30 2006, 05:32 PM) [snapback]311775[/snapback]</div>

Decided to rotate my tires Front to Back , etc . 10,000 miles on 2004
I CAN'T GET EITHER REAR TIRE OFF / any tricks ? I tried WD40 , Nuts OFF spray
Man those rear tires are stuck. Of course they never been removed in the
10,000 miles . Now I worried if I get a flat ? How am I gonna get the rear tire off

Help

Tom
[/b]

THANKS ALL / This is what finally worked, backing off the nuts a turn or 2 and driving car up and down driveway a couple times . Also Lowering the car with the bolts loose worked on the FRONT tires but the rear were harder to get off . I had to drive the car to get the rear tires to come loose.

THANKS AGAIN

[jberry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Orf @ Aug 30 2006, 06:17 PM) [snapback]311836[/snapback]</div>

Put the nuts back on but only to finger tight. Now back them of one turn. Drive the car a few yards in circles both ways and the wheels should break loose.
Now jack the car up and see if you can get the wheel off.
[/b]

Orf,
This is a great idea! I dont' care to admit how many times I have hammered away at a rear wheel to break that DXXX brake drum seal. Thanks again, I'll remember this one. Once again Prius Chat to the rescue!

[Marlin]

Speaking of lug nut wrenches, the one that came with the prius is a joke. The arm is barely 12 inches long, and with the angle that it is at, it's really more like a 9 or 10 inch lever arm. You might as well try to take the lug nuts off with your fingers.

I had a flat in a hotel parking lot when I was on vacation and I couldn't get any of the lug nuts off. I ended up calling AAA and the tow truck driver got them loose in seconds with a cross bar lug wrench.

Do yourself a favor, get a better lug nut wrench and keep it with your Prius.

[filiberti]

Just another simple question .
I see in manual it lists the tools 1)wheel nut wrench
2)jack handle

but what is that 3rd tool for on the left side of that plastic tub?
maybe that supposed to be a wheel puller ?
just a thought

tom

[tochatihu]

filiberti, did you lube the backside o fthe wheels when you reinstalled them?

Marlin, if you 'seat' the Prius lug nut tool fully and then stand on it with your fingers holding the top inside of the wheel well, you can apply more torque with it.