Rims are rusted on to truck

[pvienneau]

My project truck has 2 front rims that are rusted on to the truck. Sitting 10 years in the open in NewEngland. Any suggestions to get the decaying rusted bolts off the rim?

Pat

[mknittle]

Soak them with PB blaster.

[oldcouple]

After soaking hit em a whack with a BFH, as well, if no PB, heat with a propane torch then the hammer. May need a cheater bar to loosen up the lug nuts as well.

[pvienneau]

The nuts are no longer 100% but deteriorated to smaller size and not evenly.

[mr48chev]

I'd pull wheel, hub and all off the truck at one shot. pull the dust cap and take the cotter key and nut off and the whole unit should come off. that way you can get it up on a work surface where you can work on it easier. As they said, I'd soak them good with PB blaster first and you might be able to drive a slightly smaller socket on the nut and get it off or there are some special sockets that are designed to grab rounded off nuts. Here is one example of those http://www.bt-andf.com/

[pvienneau]

I'll go with that suggestion of removing the whole thing and working it on the bench. I will buy one of those wrenches too. THX, Pat

[1project2many]

Huh! There's old trucks in Boston. I learn something new every day!

You may want to enlist the help of a trained professional. The right approach can really depend on how much rust is present. We run vehicles in our fleet to 300k miles and there are a lot of different ways to handle rusty stuff.

If there is access you could obtain nuts with a larger ID than the stud and weld them to the old ones. From there an impact wrench will probably blow them off quickly. You may also be able to use a cut off wheel to cut across the nut and the stud, splitting the nut in one or two places. With that truck sitting so long it's not likely that the hub and drum can easily be removed from the shoes but it would be easier to do it that way. You might be able to use an air hammer and gently, gently rap-tap-tap on the studs for several minutes to loosen the rust. Maybe it's as simple as warming the parts with a torch and using a metric 6 point socket with an impact.

If you have no air tools and no torches the best advice may be soak, soak, soak with an oil. Buy a set of cheapie 6 point impact sockets from a discount store, find the one that is just a bit smaller than the nut and drive it on. Then use a breaker bar and remove as usual.

[pvienneau]

More good suggestions. I will keep you posted as to how I solve the problem.

[tmoble]

if you can get a socket to fit the nuts loosen them 4 or so turns, then drive the truck in the driveway or parking lot. turn the wheel hard at 3-4 MPH, work it back and forth. They'll pop loose. Works for me every time.

[71swb4x4]

It sounds to me like your wheels aren't rusted on, but your nuts are rusted to the studs. If the nuts are that bad I would weld nuts to them and put a cheater bar on and just twist until the nut comes off or the stud breaks. Your studs should be replaced anyway if the nuts are rusted on.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'd pull wheel, hub and all off the truck at one shot. pull the dust cap and take the cotter key and nut off and the whole unit should come off. that way you can get it up on a work surface where you can work on it easier.

The best way to go for sure.
And if your brakes are frozen on too, take the backing plate off with it.

[mknittle]

You are better off with the wheel on the truck. if you take it off you will have a wrestleing match with it! 9 times out of 10 It will win.

[71swb4x4]

I agree, leave it on the truck. You will have much more leverage trying to get those lug nuts off or the studs to snap.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

It sounds to me like your wheels aren't rusted on, but your nuts are rusted to the studs. If the nuts are that bad I would weld nuts to them and put a cheater bar on and just twist until the nut comes off or the stud breaks. Your studs should be replaced anyway if the nuts are rusted on.

it much better if they do twist off. Lots less work

[solidaxel]

Try the "Blue Tip " wrench on the lug nuts and right after the last one melt a wax candle around the hub, the wax will wick ip into the frozen areas and "Holpefuly" it will come off with a bit of luck.
You will be replacing the lug Bolts anyway.

[coralhead]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Try the "Blue Tip " wrench on the lug nuts and right after the last one melt a wax candle around the hub, the wax will wick ip into the frozen areas and "Holpefuly" it will come off with a bit of luck.
You will be replacing the lug Bolts anyway.

I've had good luck with the wax method in the past. An old farmer gave me that trick and use it often.

[pvienneau]

Got them both off with a lot of effort. Plenty of Blaster and I kept going down in size on the braeker bar until I could hammer it on with a 5 lb hammer. All good now. Thanks.

BTW - what would be the fun of going to a trained professional??

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by pvienneau

BTW - what would be the fun of going to a trained professional??

They usually know how to cheat and have the proper tools to cheat with. They also have powerful air wrenches and sockets designed to take off rounded off nuts. That was my reason for suggesting that.

Good to see that you got them off.

When I suggested taking them off hubs and all I was thinking that you could take them where you had air and and impact wrench with proper sockets to take things apart. Or a torch (blue tip wrench) to heat the nuts to ease taking them off. You did it exactly the way I would have out in the middle of the field. I may have used a cheater pipe on my 3/4 drive breaker bar though.