Seized Wheel

[scimmiamagia!]

Does anyone have any foolproof way to get an alloy rim off the hub?

Rear is seized solid.

I have seen that you can rock the vehicle but it's not easy rocking a Beach!

 

[sidepod]

If it’s jacked up, place a lump of wood on the ground touching the rim at the bottom, smack it with a lump hammer.

If it’s not jacked up, loosen the wheel nuts and drive fwds a foot or so, jam the brakes on. Repeat till it’s loose.

 

[SusiBus]

Slacken the wheel studs and drive up and down a curb or over a nearby pot hole, with care!

 

[cangyroo]

And before you put the wheel back on, smear a thin film of Ceramic Paste on the facings ..... being careful not to get any on the wheel lug threads or lug insert points.

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[Charlotterobin]

I used a rubber mallet on the inside of the wheel but carefully on the jack. I placed the spare under the van with wood in between wheel and van so it didn’t have far to fall if I disturbed the jack

 

[ChrisKona]

I struggled with mine too. A combination of hammer and wood and lowering with the bolts in loosely got me there in the end. Hope you get it sorted!

 

[Danish_David_T5]

All of the above. If it is not badly seized they will usually release with a solid tap from a lump hammer or rubber mallet. If badly seized the most reliable way is to loosen the nuts very slightly. Then drive at 10mph approx and slam on the brakes. If it doesn’t work first time repeat at slightly higher speed (with obvious checking for safe area etc). I always smear the mating faces of alloys with Copperslip to ensure the wheels will come off when required. Same with all vehicles not just the VW. NOTE - DO NOT be tempted to put copperslip anywhere near the wheel nuts

 

[Tall Andrew]

Copper grease anti sieze on the nuts lowers the thread resistance and increases the torque setting from what you set on your torque wrench. Because the bus wheels have a high torque setting anyway 180nm increasing it risks stretching and breaking the wheel nuts.

It’s worth running a wire brush over the matting surface before greasing to remove any rust.

 

[Resfeber]

If it’s jacked up, place a lump of wood on the ground touching the rim at the bottom, smack it with a lump hammer.

If it’s not jacked up, loosen the wheel nuts and drive fwds a foot or so, jam the brakes on. Repeat till it’s loose.

This was @sidepod lived experience
Thread 'Wheel removal!' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/wheel-removal.55313/

 

[Steve North]

All of the above ideas make perfect sense, but it’s worth taking the time to remove each of the wheels, clean up the rust and copper grease the mating surfaces and you’ll never have this issue again

 

[Ruddster]

I had a puncture/blow out in my last van and had the same issue. Could not remove the wheel at all, ended up loosely putting the bolts back in and driving five yards forwards and backwards and it released easily after that.