MINI2

jimmy_racoon · Apr 12th, 2006, 11:48 PM

I like my MINI clean and polished like the next guy. It may be a bit over the top to clean the inside of the wheels, but I do it. (Especially true if you got white wheels!)

Anyway, it had been a few months since I pulled the wheels and I almost couldn't get the rear wheels off! They were almost cemented to the axel at the wheel center. I saw a few posts that suggested giving it a few swift kicks. (Not the smartest thing to do when your MINI's up on a jack, but it did work, eventually.

Just thought I'd warn others to check this on their MINI. Hate to think what it would be like if I went more than a couple months. Or if I actually got a flat tire (no run-flats for this kid)

Anyway, was wondering if we need to apply a little axel grease to the inside center cap of the wheels to keep this from happening. Any input, mates? thanks

Motor on.

Sarouk · Apr 12th, 2006, 11:56 PM

I had the same problem in october when I decided to fit my set of winter wheels on. I unscrewed the bolts and... no way those alloy wheels would come off. I had to go to the garage where not less than two men finally managed to get them off. I fitted the winter set with grease on the axel, there was no problem. Changing wheels on friday i'll let you know if it helped.

jimmy_racoon · Apr 13th, 2006, 12:05 AM

Thanks, Sarouk.

Glad to hear the axel grease may have helped.

I wonder if it's a winter thing.

We may have similar driving conditions in Minnesota, USA as you do in Switzerland.

I guess I'm lucky I got them off.

Quite a surprise at first!

thanks again

Motor on.

il-mostro · Apr 13th, 2006, 12:13 AM

Whenever i do any wheel off work, i always grease the hub where the two surfaces meet when i put the wheels back on. It always works for me.

ta ta, Mark.

phil_wkl · Apr 13th, 2006, 07:31 AM

I use copper grease, same stuff you put on the back of brake pads.

petecrosby · Apr 13th, 2006, 01:52 PM

What you want to use is anti-seize, sparingly.

Richard22b · Apr 13th, 2006, 02:01 PM

I had the same prob on every wheel.
Had to pay BMW to take them off for me.
All it took was a Karate style back kick and they were off. well maybe a couple of kicks.

a-z · Apr 13th, 2006, 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by phil_wkl

I use copper grease, same stuff you put on the back of brake pads.

Yup, copper grease on the back of the wheel hub and on the wheel nuts.

Something like this (I do note that you are in the USA)

http://www.motormania.co.uk/product_...turer=&Co de=

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...p=tx3&id=79048

SteveM3 · Apr 13th, 2006, 10:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by phil_wkl

I use copper grease, same stuff you put on the back of brake pads.

Marvellous stuff

.

Sarouk · Apr 14th, 2006, 04:44 PM

Well I changed my wheels today and only 1 gave me trouble ( the grease i put on did help ). Even strong kicks in it didn't do the job so I finally put the car back on the ground with the bolts slitly holding everything... Went back and forward a few times with strong bracking ( only a few meters) It helped to get it off.

jimmy_racoon · Apr 15th, 2006, 03:16 AM

That is amazing...wonder why wheels want to stick like that.

Hope other motorers take notice and help figure this out.

thanks for the update, Sarouk

dietcokeplease · Apr 15th, 2006, 11:05 AM

My dad had a problem with his wheels on his A-Class Merc. Typically it was a puncture on a rainy night that led to the discovery that the wheel was fused to the hub. No amount of kicking or dropping the jack would remove the wheel. In the end we had to call out the AA. The solution? A wooden block and a rubber mallet. Now I've coppegreased all the hubs on all our cars and my dads Mercs now carry blocks of wood and cheap rubber mallets.

petecrosby · Apr 15th, 2006, 01:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jimmy_racoon

That is amazing...wonder why wheels want to stick like that.

Hope other motorers take notice and help figure this out.

thanks for the update, Sarouk

It's electrolysis, set up by the contact of disimilar metals. The anti-seize grease forms
a barrier, lubricates the joint, and impedes rust.

jimmy_racoon · Apr 16th, 2006, 04:07 AM

thanks, pete

Just got some anti seize and will be applying tomorrow after a wheel detailing. Good that you took the time to explain why this occurs. Appreciate the input.

Here's to no more stuck wheels!

Motor on.

endofnight · May 2nd, 2006, 06:34 AM

In many situations, the wheel staying on is a good thing!

That said, I'll be using grease the next time. Still, it won't be anything other than what is on hand . . . probably lithium based grease for bicycle wheels . . . but that should work.

It is important to note, perhaps, for readers not reading carefully, that we are talking about the wheel on the hub and not the lug nuts. I think I can say without fear of contradiction that you should never grease your lug nuts. I did once, on a VW. It had those great halfmoon hubcaps which caught the bolts and rang out a warning. Three bolts will hold a tire on for at least a little while.

Apr 12th, 2006, 11:48 PM	#1
jimmy_racoon Minnesota MINI Join Date: Oct 2004 Local Time: 04:56 AM Posts: 169 Offline	Ladies & Gentlemen: Pull you rear wheels-now I like my MINI clean and polished like the next guy. It may be a bit over the top to clean the inside of the wheels, but I do it. (Especially true if you got white wheels!) Anyway, it had been a few months since I pulled the wheels and I almost couldn't get the rear wheels off! They were almost cemented to the axel at the wheel center. I saw a few posts that suggested giving it a few swift kicks. (Not the smartest thing to do when your MINI's up on a jack, but it did work, eventually. Just thought I'd warn others to check this on their MINI. Hate to think what it would be like if I went more than a couple months. Or if I actually got a flat tire (no run-flats for this kid) Anyway, was wondering if we need to apply a little axel grease to the inside center cap of the wheels to keep this from happening. Any input, mates? thanks Motor on.

Apr 13th, 2006, 12:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
jimmy_racoon Minnesota MINI Join Date: Oct 2004 Local Time: 04:56 AM Posts: 169 Offline	Good, then I'm not necessarily crazy! Thanks, Sarouk. Glad to hear the axel grease may have helped. I wonder if it's a winter thing. We may have similar driving conditions in Minnesota, USA as you do in Switzerland. I guess I'm lucky I got them off. Quite a surprise at first! thanks again Motor on.

Apr 13th, 2006, 12:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
il-mostro MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chester Local Time: 10:56 AM Posts: 382 Offline	Whenever i do any wheel off work, i always grease the hub where the two surfaces meet when i put the wheels back on. It always works for me. ta ta, Mark. Monster Monster

Apr 13th, 2006, 10:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
SteveM3 MINI2 Master Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Malmesbury, Wilts Local Time: 10:56 AM Posts: 1,807 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by phil_wkl I use copper grease, same stuff you put on the back of brake pads. Marvellous stuff . Some people are like a Slinky ........ not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs

Apr 15th, 2006, 03:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
jimmy_racoon Minnesota MINI Join Date: Oct 2004 Local Time: 04:56 AM Posts: 169 Offline	bizarre That is amazing...wonder why wheels want to stick like that. Hope other motorers take notice and help figure this out. thanks for the update, Sarouk Last edited by jimmy_racoon : Apr 15th, 2006 at 11:29 AM.

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Apr 12th, 2006, 11:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sarouk I'll try again Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lausanne Local Time: 11:56 AM Posts: 17 Offline	I had the same problem in october when I decided to fit my set of winter wheels on. I unscrewed the bolts and... no way those alloy wheels would come off. I had to go to the garage where not less than two men finally managed to get them off. I fitted the winter set with grease on the axel, there was no problem. Changing wheels on friday i'll let you know if it helped.

Apr 13th, 2006, 07:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
phil_wkl MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK- North Hampshire Local Time: 10:56 AM Posts: 147 Offline	I use copper grease, same stuff you put on the back of brake pads.

Apr 13th, 2006, 01:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
petecrosby Motorer extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Marietta, GA Local Time: 05:56 AM Posts: 131 Offline	What you want to use is anti-seize, sparingly.

Apr 13th, 2006, 02:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Richard22b Yellow Mini Man My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol (North) Local Time: 10:56 AM Posts: 524 Offline	I had the same prob on every wheel. Had to pay BMW to take them off for me. All it took was a Karate style back kick and they were off. well maybe a couple of kicks.

Apr 13th, 2006, 02:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
a-z MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Liverpool Local Time: 09:56 AM Posts: 52 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by phil_wkl I use copper grease, same stuff you put on the back of brake pads. Yup, copper grease on the back of the wheel hub and on the wheel nuts. Something like this (I do note that you are in the USA) http://www.motormania.co.uk/product_...turer=&Co de= http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...p=tx3&id=79048

Apr 14th, 2006, 04:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sarouk I'll try again Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lausanne Local Time: 11:56 AM Posts: 17 Offline	Well I changed my wheels today and only 1 gave me trouble ( the grease i put on did help ). Even strong kicks in it didn't do the job so I finally put the car back on the ground with the bolts slitly holding everything... Went back and forward a few times with strong bracking ( only a few meters) It helped to get it off.

Apr 15th, 2006, 11:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
dietcokeplease Official MINI2 Fluffer Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Spearmint Rhino Local Time: 09:56 AM Posts: 5,315 Offline	My dad had a problem with his wheels on his A-Class Merc. Typically it was a puncture on a rainy night that led to the discovery that the wheel was fused to the hub. No amount of kicking or dropping the jack would remove the wheel. In the end we had to call out the AA. The solution? A wooden block and a rubber mallet. Now I've coppegreased all the hubs on all our cars and my dads Mercs now carry blocks of wood and cheap rubber mallets. There is just one moon and one golden sun; And a smile mean friendship to ev'ryone; Through the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide; It's a small world after all.

Apr 15th, 2006, 01:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
petecrosby Motorer extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Marietta, GA Local Time: 05:56 AM Posts: 131 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by jimmy_racoon That is amazing...wonder why wheels want to stick like that. Hope other motorers take notice and help figure this out. thanks for the update, Sarouk It's electrolysis, set up by the contact of disimilar metals. The anti-seize grease forms a barrier, lubricates the joint, and impedes rust.

Apr 16th, 2006, 04:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
jimmy_racoon Minnesota MINI Join Date: Oct 2004 Local Time: 04:56 AM Posts: 169 Offline	you never know what you might learn... thanks, pete Just got some anti seize and will be applying tomorrow after a wheel detailing. Good that you took the time to explain why this occurs. Appreciate the input. Here's to no more stuck wheels! Motor on.

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May 2nd, 2006, 06:34 AM	#15 (permalink)
endofnight HrtofAg Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Fe Local Time: 03:56 AM Posts: 16 Offline	In many situations, the wheel staying on is a good thing! That said, I'll be using grease the next time. Still, it won't be anything other than what is on hand . . . probably lithium based grease for bicycle wheels . . . but that should work. It is important to note, perhaps, for readers not reading carefully, that we are talking about the wheel on the hub and not the lug nuts. I think I can say without fear of contradiction that you should never grease your lug nuts. I did once, on a VW. It had those great halfmoon hubcaps which caught the bolts and rang out a warning. Three bolts will hold a tire on for at least a little while.

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