GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

(removed) - 2009 Vibe Base, 17" stock AL wheels. Car is jacked up, removed five lug nuts, but wheel won't come off! Is there something else holding the tire on? I gave it a couple of kicks, but it seems pretty solid. This is the first time I've tried to take any of the wheels off but it doesn't seem like it should be this hard.

Might have to kick it some more...

Rubber mallet/2 by 4/work boots... beat the hell out of it. Don't be nice, it's on there good.... BEAT ON IT!!!

I had one of the steelies last year, decide to be a pain.... had to get down and kick it from behind while rotating the wheel. (use jack stands)

If you can access it, spray a lubricant (wd40, lithium grease) in between the hub and the back of the wheel. Let it sit for a little bit and work it's way in. That is where the two have rusted together.

Loosen all the lug nuts but don't take them off all the way. Just leave them on by a couple turns so the wheel can't fall completely off the car. Jack it up high and drop it down hard. Try this a couple times. If that doesn't work then its really on there. Put it on the ground and drive back and forth a few feet hard braking helps. I have done this more times than I can count on many cars. Remember leave the nuts on the end of the stud.

I have experienced this quite a few times with both our Vibes. Here's what I do...

Grab a rubber mallet and lay down on the ground so you can reach under the vehicle to the backside of the wheel. Use the rubber mallet to beat on the edge of the wheel where it meets the tire. Try to hit the wheel all the way around the edge or at least as much of it as you can reach. It may take a few good hits, but eventually it will pop off the hub.

This is totally normal. As someone else posted, the center of the wheel rusts to the hub and that's what is causing the wheel to not come off. I have seen people online suggest putting some anti-seize on the hub to avoid this happening.

And when you finally get it off, use some anti-seize on the back of the wheel that contacts the hub...

Probably you should go to the trouble of cleaning the mating surfaces on the hub and rim before you re-mount them. If the wheels are corroded in place, the corrosion will be thick enough that the rims may not bolt on flush and straight. It's a very unpleasant job to clean them, but if you keep them lubricated you won't have to do it again. I use brake (high temperature) grease because any ordinary grease will melt from the heat of braking, run out and get all over the rims.

I experienced this the other night while swapping the wheels and tires on our Vibes. All 4 of the 18s on my Vibe came right off no problem since they had just been rotated about 1000 miles ago, but 3 of the 18s on my mom's Vibe needed some gentle persuasion courtesy of a rubber mallet . It only took a hit or two though and they popped right off. Both Vibes are now rocking the winter steelies and wheel covers .