Has this happened to you?

Got 1999 stock Lightning with 14,000 miles. Tires been rotated once before by Dealer. I decided to rotate them again myself.

Anyway, I found the right rear and left front wheels very hard to separate from the axle. Obviously, the lugs where removed. The wheels seemed to be almost glued to the axles. After much pushing and shoving, the wheels finally came off. The other two wheels were no problem.

In looking at the inside of the left front wheel and axle, I noticed a fair amount of rust. I am thinking the rust is causing an adhesive effect. The cure: probably a little silicon sprayed on the inside of the wheel.

Any comments?

 

Try some anti-seize compound. The combo of aluminum-steel is causing corrosion. Just spread a little on the backside of the wheel.

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1997 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2L V6, 5spd, Superchipped, '99 Lightning Grill, '99 XLT White Bumper w/Fog Light Kit, K&N Air Filter, Dash Mat, Clear Corner Lenses, Clear Tailights, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Painted Tailgate Handle, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.
"If you're in control, you're going too slow."--Mario Andretti

 

I agree with Frank S...anti-seize is what you should use.

 

I had this happen to me on three of my wheels after the first one was off. I used axle grease on the hub on the remaining three and didn't bother with the first one that came off ok. Well, after one winter, with the 17" Supercrew winter wheels on, the one that didn't get the grease just WOULD NOT COME OFF NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED; and I tried everything short of a torch to heat the hub. finally, I just backed each lugnut about 3/16" off of the wheel and went for a ride around the block making sharp, swervey motions when finally I heard a Bang!....she was loose. Went back to the house and the wheel was just jammed with gunk; but, it did come off. What a pain.

 

That's just Ford's way of compensating for the lugnut recall (remember the 1997's that had flat washers and relied on the clamping load of the flat nuts instead of tapered self-centering ones that have been the norm since inflated tires) -- so now you don't even need lugnuts to hold your wheels on .

 

Thanks for the response.

Now where would I find anti-seize compound?
This is the first that I have heard of the stuff.

Also, I think my post on this topic is the first. Makes me wonder why no one else has mentioned it before?

 

Almost any auto parts store will have it and alot of hard ware stores carry it.

 

Dont put the antisieze on the lugs !! Just on the back of the rim

Doug