ok... so about 2 months ago, i nailed a curb pretty good on my passenger side front tire/wheel. it threw the balance off and bent just the edge of the wheel in several places. although i havent had it rebalanced yet, it seemed ok.

fast forward to last night - when taking the wheel off the stock hub/rotor it seemed to come off fairly easily, but after I installed the new rotor/hub and tried to get the wheel back on them, it just wouldnt go. it was like fitting, but very very tight, and it almost looked as if the reason was because the center hole on the wheel seemed a little tweaked. anyways, I got it on by torquing the lugnuts one by one, slowly pushing the wheel onto the hub.

well, today i wanted to check it out a little more, so i took off the lugs, jacked up the truck and tried to wobble the wheel/tire off, and it wont budge!

is it possible that the center hole on the wheel was tweaked when i hit the curb, causing the wheel to not fit on right in the first place? and how should i go about getting my wheel off now? anyone experienced anything like this?

 

Yes, but if they are steel wheels, they fit pretty tight. I've seen UNTWEAKED wheels that had to be given a real, good, swift kick to get them loose. No amount of shaking or pulling would do it.

Our wheels are "hub centric" from the factory. That means a very tight fit of the center to the hub to align the wheel center. The lugnuts only retain the wheel and are not responsible for keeping it centered.

It sounds like the new rotor/hub is just a little larger (tolerances allow a variation) and so now it's a very tight fit.

 

ok... so you dont think its anything to worry about john?

 

If you have no vibration or rumble up front to indicate an off-center wheel, I wouldn't worry about it. Every time you dismount it and remount it again it should get a little easier. Next time you have it off, put a little marine grease on the hub where the wheel slides on it to make sure it releases as easy as it can.

 

rubber hammer solves the problem

 

well i do have a slight vibration at freeway speeds, of course that wheel still isnt balanced and i might need an alignment. i'd be happy to let discount tire do the work of removing that damn wheel to balance it :o)

 

or never sease will work great. expcially if its a alum wheel on a steel hub they like to forge themselfs to it.

 

also if you hit the wheel this bad and the lip is bent please replace it.....

 

zach - i didnt try a rubber hammer, but i did try a regular mallet-style steel hammer wrapped in a towel, just a couple times from the back, and that didnt budge it. i basically tried to tug it free for 2 minutes then tried the hammer really quick, then just threw back on the lugs and decided to deal with it tomorrow. im too tired today :o)

as far as replacing wheels... im already saving for some new 18s and tires. still have a ways to go though :o(

 

Both good points, Zach, and you're especially right if he was unable to straighten the bent steel wheel. Aluminum wheels should break rather then bend as a rule.

Yeah, that whole "dissimilar metals" thing is very true. Neverseize is a good choice, and I think it resists washout with water. I said marine grease to resist water washout.

 

Brace the truck so it's not going to fall off the jack, and kick the outer edge of the tire really, really hard. That always works for me.

 

also, i dont know if this matters, but i dont have an actual wheel, i have the stock 5 or 6 spoke chrome wheel covers over the ugly factory ghettowheels... are those wheels aluminum?

 

No, they are steel.

 

If the wheel is as fubared as you say, that worry's me that your not replacing it, but hell its your truck if you die on the freeway not my falt...

I have never had a problem with neversieze washing out...had a problem with it on brake caliper slides because the heat powders it


Ditto

 

i'll get some pictures up of the damage in a couple minutes...

 

you also realize you can get a whole brand new set of rock crawlers for about $170 a set.....no reason to not get new wheels to be safe...

 

ok here are pics of the damage that was done;






could that be enough to tweak the wheel?

 

Probably not. Looks to me like you're more in danger from developing a bead leak, than anything else.

 

no that just looks like the chrome buity ring not the acual rim its self he should be fine thats the steal stockers with the chrome overlay over it

 

Yeah, it's hard to tell with the chrome ring on it -- but you could be right that the wheel isn't messed up.

 

Just hook it to a bigger truck and PULL!!.. No, do not listen to me.... Usually just kicking and hitting has worked for me.

 

Yeah, your mom told me about that -- and that was in kindergarten!

 

I actually was a terror in school.... In pre-school gave a kid 10 stiches above the eye when he stole my blue square building block (Grabbed it back and winged it at him) and then beat a kid up in K-garen when he stole my crayons... We became best friends after we left the principals office.... Now look at me.... Haven't changed a bit.. Still hitting and kicking things!

 

Yeah, but now you get PAID to do it!!!

 

NICE! No I try not to hit and kick to many things... Then it was cute and funny... Now I get sued! LOL