Car Question/Wheel Hub problem... any ideas?
 

So I've been lazy & only changed over to my summer tires yesterday. My after market winter rims came with spacer rings so that they fit onto the wheel hubs correctly.

Problem is one of the rings has stuck fast onto one of the hubs.

I've tried wedging a screwdriver between the ring & the hub, tried tapping it off & tried putting the rim back on in the hope that the ring will somehow come off with the rim like it's supposed to.

Without destroying the spacer ring, is there a way of removing it?

Will a squirt of WD40 help? Will I need to just have the ring cut off & try to get a replacement from the wheel manufacturer?

Kind of annoying as I'm driving around with 3 summers on stock rims & a winter on after market rims. It's looks kinda silly & obviously the balance of my (rear wheel drive) car is not quite right.

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I would try the wd40. I am assuming this is on a drum and not a disk brake. Either way, don't get any oil on the surface of the rotor or into the drum.
Liquid wrench is good too. After you have done this, leave it for an hour or two. Then use a chisel to get between the parts, a little at a time, 180 degrees apart. ie, start a 12 oclock then 6, then 9 then 3 And all over again. Trying to put that chisel between the parts a little more each time.
I am confident that will work. However if not, then you need an oxy-acetylene torch to heat the spacer up and it will then break the rust between the parts.
Good luck

Heat it up. Same thing happens with rotors all the time, WD40 probably won't do anything. Use a propane torch and heat the ring up, careful not to burn any hoses or heat up any other parts. If it's aluminum it won't take much and it melts at 500 so be careful.

When you get it off remember to use anti seize (silver paste) next time you install them.

Ya what he said. And in the future put some coppercote or something of equal on the ring before you put the winters back on. I used to have the same problem till i used the coppercote, now my rims come off much more easily.

Oh and dont run the different size tires for to long on the driven wheels, its hard on diffs and drivetrain

Beat me to it

Thanks guys.

They're discs not drums although in this case it doesn't matter too much.

I have not proper torch to use so may to get creative with heating the thing up (I have a chef's torch/brulee torch).

I'll try again tonight...

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Not ever having used a spacer, I didn't know they were aluminum.

VFX, if your torch is not hot enough, if you ever are around Surrey, I have a good torch that will work.

Thanks, that's very kind of you.

Will definitely let you know if I need your help.

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sphelps is right, only use a propane torch and use with caution. This is one way

another way is with a pick. all thats holding it on is build up and if you buy a set of picks you can get it off in a few min. If you lived closer I would come over and help you out.

Well lorenzo you are right.
But if you have these:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/search/p...cks/_/N-gj4ytl
Any torch in the right hands will do the trick