I purchased a 1999 Ranger on Ebay. It spent its life in Massachusetts and I live in South Carolina. The truck has rust on it and thats ok because I got a great deal! One of the problems, however, is that a wheel is rusted to the brake drum. When I take the lug nuts off, the wheel will not budge. I have tried beating the tire and wheel with a hammer, but it still won't move. Does anyone have any recommendations, suchas rust remover like Bullfrog or Permatex? Thanks

 

When i need to remove rusty items, i soak it for a day or two with wd-40 seems to work for me

 

You have rust at the hub (the center circle). I f**king karate kicked the hell out of a Taurus rim to get it loose once. The clearance between the hub and the center hole in the rim are so close when they corrode and rust they literally fuse together. Make sure to use a 40 grit sandpaper on both the rim and hub when you finally get them apart and that won't happen again. I use PB blaster - it literally melts rust - but if you don't have any penetrant handy get mad and carefully kick the sh** out of it. It sounds funny but if you're in a rush it works. (Or unless you have a blowtorch handy that you can use to heat the rim around the hub).

 

This can cause additional damage, but if you back the lugs off 2 or 3 turns and take it for aeasy drive in can help work the rim loose...........It canalso cause the rim to pop looseand walk on thestuds so back out the lugs just to a point of loose.

 

Additional damage is when you loosened the lugs a little too far - took it for a drive - the wheel knocks sideways and you roll down an embankment. Use common sense. Don't go for a drive with your lugnuts loose. If you're thinking of going that route at least try a rubber mallet or something else first. And besides - I've never seen anyone who could kick a rim and cause damage - and I never will (even after I die). If it can absorb road imperfections - it can take a decent shot or two (or it's better off in a scrap pile than on your car). For example - let me tell you about a friend I knew whose rim was junk metal and snapped right off and damn near killed him. Better to find out now than later anyhow - huh?

 

Thanks everybody! I will probably try the idea of soaking with WD40. That seems like the easiest and the least painful method. If I kick the wheel, I will probably break my foot or something like that. I don't want to be like Tim Taylor and have to go the hospital for trying to fix my truck! Thanks again and I will post progress. Katman2

 

Definitely if you're older - don't break your foot. WD40 is good - PB blaster is better.

 

WD40 stinks less though.