Seized front wheels on hub/rotor?

[Y33TREKker]

That can be fairly common with any vehicle at times. Even a light surface coating of rust and/or road grime on the hub and/or wheel can cause the situation you're dealing with.

To get more leverage, rather than pounding on the wheel itself, you can also just give the top, bottom, or sides of the tire that's on the rim a few good kicks from either the outside or the inside (just make sure the VX is stable and solid on the jack stands or whatever you're using), and that might be enough to at least break the bond that's currently holding everything together. The farther out from center you get when hitting the wheel/tire combo, the more force will be applied to the center area that's binding.

Once you get everything apart, a light coating of anti-seize, oil, or grease should help prevent the same thing from happening in the future...hopefully.

[tom4bren]

I think that the OEM rims fit fairly tightly around the hub (actually more than they should). Our rims are designed to be lug centric rather than hub centric so they should actually have better clearance.

All that means though is that you should also apply your penetrating oil liberally around the hub, not just around the lugs. Sounds like you alread have that covered though (pun intended).

It may be worth a stop in to a local tire place and get their opinion on removal. I'm sure they have tricks up their sleeve that I'm unaware of.

[VXorado]

Our rims are designed to be hub centric rather than hub centric so they should actually have better clearance.

What? Little early to be drinking there Tom.

[tom4bren]

ROFL - fixeded

Here, lemme help you out

[ben-man]

Hey Tom,

So now that Christmas is all done with, I'm back under the VX today and using your mecatech writeup. I have the passenger-side inner CV pulled, disassembled and cleaned and I have the boot cut off the outer CV. How did you clean you outer CV joints while still attached to the hub? Is there an easy way to pull that joint apart as well? I've already sprayed it with 1 1/2 cans of brake cleaner and it seems ok but since this was the CV with the torn boot, I'd feel better if I could pull it completely apart and clean it like I did with the inner CV. Just want to make sure It's Completely grit free before I slide the new boots on.

[tom4bren]

Ben,

I just cleaned mine whilst the bearing was still in the race. I was fairly confident that I'd cleaned it out really well. I used an air gun after to make sure I blew out all of the brake cleaner & then smooshed grease into the joint really well prior to re-assembly.

Tom