Removing trailer tire

woody619

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
107
There's no special pin or lock right? I've googled it and it sounds like it supposed to come off like a normal tire. But I can't get it off. We've been beating it with a rubber mallet. Trying to pry it with 2x4's. Does it just need more muscle power and a soak with WD-40 overnight? Thanks
 

woody619

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Mar 13, 2010
Messages
107
Re: Removing trailer tire

Nevermind, figured it out. Had to take off lugs, some kind of cap, then a cotter pin, then some type of bolt, then it came right off. Thanks
 

BaileysBoat

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Sep 29, 2008
Messages
716
Re: Removing trailer tire

Woody, you should only have to remove the lug nuts.

The rim is seized to the hub.
 

woody619

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Mar 13, 2010
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107
Re: Removing trailer tire

Maybe I had to do all of that because of the bearing buddies on it... I think, but pretty sure. I'll test it on the other 3 and let you know. I just took off one so that I know what size stuff (bearings, etc) to get. Thanks!
 

Lion hunter

Lieutenant Commander
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Apr 9, 2005
Messages
1,529
Re: Removing trailer tire

Some pics of what you pulled off would be good. Sounds like you took the entire hub off. If that's the case make sure it goes back on correctly and the nut gets adjusted right. That is your wheel bearing adjustment if you get it to tight you'll burn up your bearings before the end of the block, too loose is bad as well.
 

woody619

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Mar 13, 2010
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Re: Removing trailer tire

Will get those pics this afternoon. But you're right. The bearings were right there after that last nut on the inside. They fell out when we took the tire off. We were taking them off to replace them anyway. I'll be sure to get the order on the other 3 tires. It all happened so fast I didn't notice. Thanks
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: Removing trailer tire

Are you trying to get the tire and rim off or the whole hub assembly?

If it's the hub assembly then yes, you pull the cap remove the cotterpin remove the retainer or castle nut and Bobs your uncle it should come right off.

I had a Ford truck with alloy wheels at one point and the rim siezed to the hub (dissimiliar metal corrosion). Tried to pound them off but couldnt get it to come loose, tried driving it with loose lugnuts and they were still welded on after 10 miles. wound up parking the truck next to a telephone pole, burried a 4x4next to the tire on the other side and had to use a porta power to get it to break loose ( I ahd to replace the rim I wound up bending it )
 

JimS123

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Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,282
Re: Removing trailer tire

Your trailer has not been properly maintained. The bearing buddies have nothing to do with it. Everything is rusted together. If the hubs (the part that contains the bearings) does not fall off the wheel (the part that holds the tire), you probably need to replace both those parts too.
 

oldjeep

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May 17, 2010
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6,455
Re: Removing trailer tire

Your trailer has not been properly maintained. The bearing buddies have nothing to do with it. Everything is rusted together. If the hubs (the part that contains the bearings) does not fall off the wheel (the part that holds the tire), you probably need to replace both those parts too.

That is not entirely correct. Jeez even on my 2009 Ram the rims needed a few good kicks to release from the hubs. I had an 03 F150 that the dealer had to use an air hammer to remove the wheels - only had 12K miles on it at the time.

If you can't separate the hub and rim, then put it all back on the spindles (new bearings and seals as you have planned). Once you have the spindle nut on then give the rim a few hard kicks, if it is really on there then put a 4x4 against the tire and give it a few kisses with a sledge hammer.

Stuff rusts - boat trailers rust a lot.
 

JimS123

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8,282
Re: Removing trailer tire

That is not entirely correct. Jeez even on my 2009 Ram the rims needed a few good kicks to release from the hubs. I had an 03 F150 that the dealer had to use an air hammer to remove the wheels - only had 12K miles on it at the time.

If you can't separate the hub and rim, then put it all back on the spindles (new bearings and seals as you have planned). Once you have the spindle nut on then give the rim a few hard kicks, if it is really on there then put a 4x4 against the tire and give it a few kisses with a sledge hammer.

Stuff rusts - boat trailers rust a lot.

Wow, I never would have guessed that. He said he couldn't pry them off with twobafours.

I live in Buffalo, NY and my car is white from salt all winter long. In the Spring all I need is a tap with the heel of my hand to pop the snow tire rims off the brake drums.

With bearing buddies I have gotten real lax with my trailer bearings, and only repack about every 3 years (fresh water). Never had one even stick a little, much less require any pounding.

I'd be wary of the fourbafour and sledge. If the rims are that badly rusted, I would be afraid the pounding would break the tire seal.
 

oldjeep

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6,455
Re: Removing trailer tire

Wow, I never would have guessed that. He said he couldn't pry them off with twobafours.

I live in Buffalo, NY and my car is white from salt all winter long. In the Spring all I need is a tap with the heel of my hand to pop the snow tire rims off the brake drums.

With bearing buddies I have gotten real lax with my trailer bearings, and only repack about every 3 years (fresh water). Never had one even stick a little, much less require any pounding.

I'd be wary of the fourbafour and sledge. If the rims are that badly rusted, I would be afraid the pounding would break the tire seal.

I've had to pound the wheels off my car trailer a couple times, and it gets repacked every year. Even if he does de-bead the tire - which is pretty unlikely if they are up at 50-65lbs like they should be, it's easy enough to reseat a tire if you have a ratchet strap.
 

jack gardner

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
40
Re: Removing trailer tire

well the rims will seperate .some seam like there part of the hub .its mother nature u know how she is . rusted on .u can use heat not alot to just get it hot . or penetratiing oil but believe it or not . buy a coke yes soada let it soak and take off the whel iv been dong it 4 years nd no rim damage
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
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Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Removing trailer tire

Instead of WD 40 use PB Blaster and let it soak a few days. Loosen the nuts and spray between the hub a wheel.

When you put the hub back on make sure to repack both Bearings. Tighten the nut up tight and turn the for a minute or two to get the grease packed in then loosen and tighten only finger tight. Make sure to install a good cotter key. Again spin then check top to bottom play. Srock only rock a small amount. After a short trip feel the hub temperature.
 

woody619

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
107
Re: Removing trailer tire

You guys were right. The cap i took off was a bearing greaser. What I ended taking off was the hub drum and rim. I talked to the guy at the trailer store, he said to torch it and then bang it out. We were able to do it with a big rock and a couple big bangs. Looks like rims should be ok. Pics will follow, hopefully it will help someone else. Thanks
 

security6

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jul 21, 2008
Messages
191
Re: Removing trailer tire

It is common for wheels to stick to a hub if the wheel is aluminum and the hub is steel. This happens to my BMW all the time. The wheels are aluminum and they end up sticking to the hubs. This happens in less than 6 months, because I have a set of summer tires/wheels and a set of winter tires/wheels. The remedy is to hit the sidewall of the tire with a big sledge hammer. The impact/vibrations will break the wheel free.
 

marlboro180

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Jun 23, 2009
Messages
1,164
Re: Removing trailer tire

Woody- Glad you got it apart. If you think about torching on a rim with a tire mounted on it ( as was suggested to you by Mr. Trailer Store) and the resulting higher pressures involved inside the tire, you might think twice about ever going that route.

Living in a climate where they salt the heck out of the roads in the winter
( right , Security?) what I do is when I have any, and I mean any, wheel off a trailer or vehicle I apply a real light coating of Never- Seize on the lugs/ studs and then also on the contact face of the drum, rotor or hub. Just be sure not to get any on the braking surface:eek:

Security- I suggested this Never - Seize remedy to my friend, whose BMW is the same way as yours, rims always got seized on . He no longer has to beat on his nice wheels to remove them:)
 

can-amsledder

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
140
Re: Removing trailer tire

Woody- Glad you got it apart. If you think about torching on a rim with a tire mounted on it ( as was suggested to you by Mr. Trailer Store) and the resulting higher pressures involved inside the tire, you might think twice about ever going that route.

Living in a climate where they salt the heck out of the roads in the winter
( right , Security?) what I do is when I have any, and I mean any, wheel off a trailer or vehicle I apply a real light coating of Never- Seize on the lugs/ studs and then also on the contact face of the drum, rotor or hub. Just be sure not to get any on the braking surface:eek:

Security- I suggested this Never - Seize remedy to my friend, whose BMW is the same way as yours, rims always got seized on . He no longer has to beat on his nice wheels to remove them:)

X2

Or at the very least use some grease between the hub and rim.
 

lonemust

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
205
Re: Removing trailer tire

When you are ready to put it back together, buy a bottle of permatex anti-sieze(grey bottle). After you put the hub back on put the antisieze on the hub flange and around the center of hub. But only where the rim sits. This will make it easier to remove the tire the next time you need to take it off. It is the best way to keep aluminium wheels from siezing to the hub also.
 
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