S60 Wheels/Tyres: Alloy Wheel Removal!

[rozza]

I recently I left my 02 S60SE (44,000m) outside while we were away for three weeks. On my return I tried to move the car but found the nearside rear wheel was locked solid. My local garage was called out who diagnosed that the hand brake was locked on. It took them quite a while to release this, the job being made somewhat difficult as they were unable to remove the wheel with the equipment they had with them. The wheel was solid on the hub.
They had come across this problem several times before and said that they always put a smear of copper grease between the alloy and the steel hub at the first service on any car they handle which has alloys.
The car has just returned from the garage where all wheels were removed and the brakes checked over - all fine except very dusty. But they had one helluva job to remove the affected wheel (the others were OK). They were surprised when I told them the wheel had been off twice in the last 6 months for tyre problems (related to my problem?).
So perhaps anyone thinking of doing their own work on brakes eg "Brake Problems" should be aware of this possibilty!

[caveman]

i had this problem on my wifes metro turbo 15 years ago (time flies!) i ended up getting under the car and had to kick them off whilst trying not to let the car fall off the axle stands! it took some doing to get the wheels off, since then ive always put a smear of grease on the hubs when i take alloys off a car,
regards
cavey

[RiPsTa33]

A lump of wood and a sledgehammer work quite well!

[DSK]

The safest way as mentioned above is to use a block of wood and a hammer on the inner section of the wheel/tyre.

Upon removal, its best to clean all dust/corrosion that exists. Then go round the area with some copper grease.

Lastly, some garages overtighten the wheel nuts with their air guns, this can cause long term problems as well so its worth bearing in mind.

[Alpha206]

Lastly, some garages overtighten the wheel nuts with their air guns

I always insist the garage takes the nuts off & puts them on again by hand - if nothing else it means your alloys get fewer scratches on them. In any case, if you have locking wheel nuts then it is very important that an air gun is NOT used (even the instructions say so) - in case the nut shears off.

[s60.i@n]

Both rear wheels needed quite some, err, persuasion, to remove when I did my rear brakes. They cant have been on for more than 16K miles, as the rear tyres had been changed then..

Didnt look like it had ever seen a smear of copper grease.. needless to say I added a smear between wheel and disc (and disc and hub which was equally as stuck)

[wowbanger2000]

My 1997 S40 did the same, it's apparantly a chemical reaction between the steel hub and alloy wheel = welds itself in place!

Volvo toolkit upgraded to include a big-ass rubber mallet, problem solved!

Chris