How do I get my rear wheels off?

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Chained_360

Chained_360

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So my rear wheel studs and lug nuts have been thoroughly corroded, to the point where the only viable way to get the nuts off is to twist the stud off (I've already done this to one of them). The issue is, I don't have any jack stands short enough to fit underneath the car while it's on the ground (I need it on the ground to get the studs off without the tire spinning). My current plan is to jack the car up, set up a stand underneath the rear axle, and then set it back down onto some 2x4s or something so that I can spin the studs off without the tire moving, then when the wheel comes off, the jack stand is right there to catch the car.

This plan is clearly not the safest, and I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions. I can't remove the wheel without breaking the studs, and I can't do that with the car in the air. I'm looking for a way to do this so that my car doesn't fall onto the ground and get damaged.
 
You don't say what car, if you have only tried one side, it's possibly LH thread. Which would be righty loosey.
 
Sorry, I forgot to say that it is a 1968 Barracuda. It might be left-hand thread, as the studs have an L punched into the end of them.
 
Bad Sport said:
You don't say what car, if you have only tried one side, it's possibly LH thread. Which would be righty loosey.
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Agreed, this could be a left hand thread, in which case should be only on the drivers side! Of course that could be changed by someone not in the know, but check spinning them both ways!! The torch idea is also good advise!!!
 
Uh.... Yeah.. In your case righty loosey on that side only
 
Loosen all the wheel nuts while its on the ground, take the tuff ones right off, THEN jack it up, support it, and undo the final threads.

cheers
 
inertia said:
Loosen all the wheel nuts while its on the ground, take the tuff ones right off, THEN jack it up, support it, and undo the final threads.

cheers
Click to expand...

This ^^ is the best way, as long as you don't push the car side to side you should be fine.
 
greetings.. this information is good on any wheel, any car... both left, right, front, rear.
to start with... you need to let the weight of the car work for you, not work against you or fighting it.. to start with,, you have to leave the ( car ) on the ground.. jacking up only makes it harder.. you need to make sure your lug-wrench, socket fits the lug.. that way you keep, cut down of an injury.. now if you stand on the right side, you need to move the wrench counter clockwise, to the rear.. and if you stand on the left, drivers side, do the counter-clockwise.. to the front.. if you have a 4-way wrench you can support half 1/2 with a jack, or wood.. then place the wrench at the 7, or the 5 o-clock position and use your foot, leg to move the wrench.. standing on it.. now if you can see the threads on the stud.. try some W-D 40.. also after you get the wheel off, coat all the lugs with anti seize.. that you can find in any auto-parts store.. get a bottle.. so then you'll have enough for all the wheels... good luck... moparfever don't worry.. if you do break a stud.. they are cheap.. and easy to put on:cheers:
Chained_360 said:
So my rear wheel studs and lug nuts have been thoroughly corroded, to the point where the only viable way to get the nuts off is to twist the stud off (I've already done this to one of them). The issue is, I don't have any jack stands short enough to fit underneath the car while it's on the ground (I need it on the ground to get the studs off without the tire spinning). My current plan is to jack the car up, set up a stand underneath the rear axle, and then set it back down onto some 2x4s or something so that I can spin the studs off without the tire moving, then when the wheel comes off, the jack stand is right there to catch the car.

This plan is clearly not the safest, and I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions. I can't remove the wheel without breaking the studs, and I can't do that with the car in the air. I'm looking for a way to do this so that my car doesn't fall onto the ground and get damaged.
Click to expand...
 
hey man you need some kroil lube products , will free up anything , and keep it loose forever . will desolve the rust way , even rusted solid engines assemblies . i highly recommend it over triflow , w40 , and a host of other lubes that claim to do the job . this one does it , with ease . got this product from my bud that goes salt flat racing for the last 40 plus years , and its on stock as a tool for him .
 
Any kind of oil or penetrating oil will help if they are rusted and as suggested, crack the nuts loose with the wheels on the ground. I think you figured out that the drivers side nuts are left hand thread and turn backwards compared to any other fastener on the planet. lol
 
Clean up threads that protrude through the nut with a wire brush on a drill or toothbrush style so your not loosening onto the crud.. My first experience with the left thread resulted in a broken stud also. An easy way for me to remember is they all loosen when spun towards the rear of the car.
 
You may want to consider changing them to all right hand thread...

Also a good impact wrench like Ingersoll Rand may be able to break them off while the wheels are off the ground...
 
LEFT HAND THREAD on the LEFT side of the car, and now for yet another old story

When I got out of the Navy in 74, I ran around awhile with a guy who was into the local cheapo dirt track. He had country property, and junked out a few cars. Calls me up one day. "You gotta impact wrench?"

"Sure, what's the trouble?"

"Gotta front drum and hub got it off the car, but can't get the wheel off."

"So bring it out here?"

"OK"

So here he comes, opens his trunk and throws this wheel tire / front hub on the ground. I looked at it and said "Chrysler?"

"How'd ya know?"

"I can tell by the wheel. Which side of the car's it off of?"

!!!MAN!!! he got the dumbest look on his face!!!!
 
SO, they were reverse thread, I don't know what I was thinking (trick question: I wasn't thinking at all). However, that was my first encounter with reverse threaded wheel studs. And now I have to buy five more. :)
 
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