Matt_Defender

New Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #1

Trying to remove the wheel spacers from my Defender and they're stuck.

I've tried PlusGas all round and hit it a couple of times. Wondering if the next step is a propane torch but never done that anywhere before.

Any helpful ideas?

 

Station House

Well-Known Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #2

Heat sounds like the next step

 

BearDy89

Well-Known Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #3

Are they aluminium spacers?

Do you need to re-use them?

If so id be very careful with excess heat.

You could try bolting the wheel back to the spacer, put a trolley Jack under neath, and lower the jack VERY slowly until the wheel touches and starts to take the weight this will then break the bond between spacer and hub
(I take no responsibility for this and you do it at your own risk )

 

Matt_Defender

New Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #4

I don't know if they're steel or aluminium.

I've now tried bolted the wheels back on the lowering the vehicle. I thought that sounds like it would definitely work - nope, still solid!

So time for the stupid question: they're only on using the 5 original wheels bolts right? There's nothing else holding them on there other than rust? Am I missing something.

Help appreciated.

 

lucifus

Active Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #5

No offence... but are they definitely spacers your trying to bash off? Can you post a photo?

 

Matt_Defender

New Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #6

You got me worried now...

 

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lucifus

Active Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #7

Yeah those are spacers

 

Matt_Defender

New Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #8

They were put on nearly 10 years ago (I think) would that make them steel?

Not really sure what to try now other than the heat??

 

lucifus

Active Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #9

Put a magnet against one. Of it doesn't stick then they are alu.

 

lanny man 90

Well-Known Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #10

Hammer a pry bar in the gap between hub an spacer an get a load of wd40 down it first

 

BearDy89

Well-Known Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #11

They look steel.

Brake out the WD40 and BIG hammer!

 

Shifty1962

Well-Known Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #12

They look like steel so bash the f*ck out of them. Even if they dont come off you'll feel a lot better.

Seriously though fit a slide hammer to the studs and give that a go.

 

mick the builder

Well-Known Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #13

Shifty1962 said:

They look like steel so bash the f*ck out of them. Even if they dont come off you'll feel a lot better.

Seriously though fit a slide hammer to the studs and give that a go.

Click to expand...

As above, the slide hammer is the least destructive and a bit of heat first will help.

 

Matt_Defender

New Member

• Jul 5, 2012

• #14

Thanks for all the advice, I'll pick up a slide hammer tomorrow and give that a go.

What kind of heat are we talking about then? I've read somewhere about using a propane torch but I've never done anything like that as does anyone have any recommendations on what to use and how to use it?

Many thanks.

 

D

discomania

Well-Known Member

• Jul 6, 2012

• #15

COPPER SLIP! Fit everything with the stuff!

 

B

Big green snail

New Member

• Jul 6, 2012

• #16

A butane blow torch ,Taymar/CampingGaz etc is good enough. A hot air paint stripper gun might even do it. You're not aiming to get the thing glowing bright orange, ready for drop forging!
Just apply some heat all the way around the spacer, all it has to do is get hot enough to expand a little, and break its grip on the hub. A bit of a whack and it should go, just watch where you point the fiery bit, ie not at brake hoses or axel end caps.
Give it a go, and you'll see how effective it is, very useful for seized nuts bolts etc.