I have a 2003 MINI Cooper S with 17" wheels. I am wanting to rotate my tires and am finding it nearly impossible to break away the wheel from the hub. Is there a special trick for this or service tool?
I am afraid if I try to break the wheel free by pounding on the inside of the tire to free the wheel that I may damage the wheel bearings.

-Lamont

 

If you can't push the top of the wheel (keep one lug on the bottom loosely
on the thread) and break it loose, i recommend you hand tighten the
lugs back on and do a few slow figure-8's or 3 point turns. that will usually
break the wheel loose.

 

Common problem. The first time, I used a rubber mallet and pounded judiciously on the inside of the wheel until it finally let go. Just make sure the car is firmly on a jack stand.
Next, just lube the hub with a little grease (you'll see where it's rusted and frozen) and you'll be good to go next time.

 

Just sit on your butt and give the bottom of the tire a good kick inward with your heel.

 

i can almost see lamontcg crying back screaming 3 octaves higher that he crushed his ***** with his tire.

 

Our 2006 Mini came with lots of grease around the hub and the wheel. Mini obvously saw this as a problem.

 

Go to Sears and buy yourself a "breaker bar" in 1/2" socket drive. Best, most useful too for dealing with rust and high torque settings. After the lugs are removed, use a rubber mallet to separate the hub from the wheel. Generally hit the rubber tire with the rubber mallet in the same style that you would put on and torque down the lugs. Go low, go high, rotate 90 degrees, go low, go high .. repeat until the sucka pops off.

 

The answer is simple. Loosen the lugs about 1/8 turn, lower the car to the ground, & roll it about 6 inches. You're welcome.

 

Thanks for the ideas above. I may have to try the rubber mallet idea.

btw: Bodinski... I had actually tried loosen the lugs a 1/2-turn, rolled the car back and forth several feet, and turned the steering wheel back-an-forth...
no go.

 

It's a new weight saving option, they JB Weld the wheels to the hubs instead of using the bolts