How To Free Up Seized Brakes Without Removing Wheels
When brakes seize it can be because the piston becomes stuck within the caliper, the pads become stuck to the disc, or on single-piston calipers the slide pins can seize. If the brakes seize when the vehicle has been unused then the symptoms are fairly obvious – as you try to pull away it feels like the brakes are stuck on! How to Remove Stuck Brake Drums. Remove the inspection cover hole plug from the backing plate, located at the back of the drum. Removing this plug gives you access to the adjuster star wheel and its lever. Insert a screwdriver into the hole to release the lever on the adjuster star wheel. While holding back the lever.
Changing a tire is frustrating (and difficult) enough, but when the wheel is stuck and you can't get it off your car, it can make this challenging process downright infuriating. If you're changing a tire by yourself, it's even more annoying when the wheel is stuck, and many people give up and call for roadside (or other) assistance.
Sometimes, even with all of the lug nuts removed, the wheel isn't ready to come off. There are a number of things that can cause this, none of them is very serious. First, make sure you have the lug nuts off, otherwise, that wheel's not going anywhere.
What Causes a Stuck Wheel?
Usually, it's just a matter of a build-up of corrosion from the wheel being in place for a long time. This corrosion between the wheel and the mounting surface of the hub can get pretty sticky; it's like a layer of glue that can really adhere the wheel to the hub.
To prevent this from happening, try to keep the insides of your wheels clean and painted, as well as the hub surface. You can also try applying a thin layer of thick grease before you remount your wheels.
A Trick If You Have Access to a Car Lift
There's a trick to freeing a stuck-on wheel that almost never fails, assuming you have access to a car lift. With the car on the lift and the lugs removed, now reinstall the lug nuts leaving about five turns before they start to get snug.
Now lower the car to the ground, get in and start it up. Drive back and forth 4 or 5 feet a few times. It's important to do this on a level surface in a safe area with zero traffic. It's also important to only drive a few feet back and forth. Never take a vehicle on the road with loose lug nuts.
Once you've carefully driven back and forth a couple of times, your wheel should be much looser. Now jack the car up and test the wheel. It should be nice and loose now, ready for you to replace with your spare so you can move on down the road.
Safety Tips
Don't try to loosen tight lug nuts when your car is jacked up with the factory tool kit jack, or even a small hydraulic auto parts store jack. A really tight lug nut can require a huge amount of force to remove, and once you get enough leverage to break the nut, you might accidentally knock the vehicle off the jack. Not only can you do some real damage to your car or truck, but you could also injure yourself.
If you don't have access to a lift or are trying to change the tire and wheel yourself, you may be out of luck if it's still stuck once you've removed the lug nuts. Don't try to force the wheel off, because as in the example above, you could do real and permanent damage. Call a professional to help you with the job.
Car Brake image by Joelyn Pullano from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
Vehicles that sit in one spot for extended periods can develop surface rust on brake components. If enough rust forms, the brakes can seize up. One of the first steps toward putting the vehicle back on the road would be to loosen the brake system. Some brake components may have to be replaced.
Attempt to move the vehicle. In many cases, simply moving the vehicle in reverse for a short distance can cause the calipers or shoes to break free from their rust bonds. If moving the vehicle does not work, proceed to the next step.
Remove the wheel and tap the calipers with a rubber mallet. The vibration may loosen up rust to free the calipers. If you have drum brakes and the brake shoes are stuck on the wear ridge within the drums, rotate the drum until the access hole lines up with the adjuster inside. Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the adjuster counterclockwise until the adjuster hits a stop. In many cases, the shoes will retract from the drum surface.
Check the parking cable to determine whether it's frozen. If the parking brake was applied, disengage it to reduce tension on the cable. Follow the cable to the rear axle and pull the cable hard to one side. If the cable is not seized, it should be loose at the drum end.
If the brake drum will not rotate, use a brake drum puller to break the drum free. Attach the brake drum remover to the drum and use the manual screw to pull the drum outward while tapping on the drum with a rubber mallet in a radial motion. The drum should break loose from the brake assembly. Inspect the assembly for rust and replace components as necessary.
Remove the caliper from the brake disc and place a block of wood in between the pistons. Gradually press the brake pedal until the pistons are pushed out of the caliper. The block of wood will keep the pistons from popping out with excess force. Use a wire brush and brake cleaner to clean off the surface rust or replace the caliper, if necessary.
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- Do not use WD-40 or other penetrative lubricant directly on the brake hardware. This can leave a slippery film that can reduce the effectiveness of the brakes.
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- Car Brake image by Joelyn Pullano from Fotolia.com