MGA 1960 MGA wheel problems

[DON123]

I have the 60 spoke wire wheels on my 1960 MGA and my son and I are starting to restore the car. We have ordered new tires for the wheels and have a shop willing to mount them on the wire wheels. The rear wheels wiggled off with no problem. NEITHER ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS WILL COME OFF!!! The e-brake is on, but I see no reason why that would keep the wheels from coming off. Please post any ideas or solutions to getting these wheels off! Thanks!

 

[PAUL161]

Assuming they are knock off wheels.The hub splines are probably rusted fast to the wheel. I would try to get some PB blaster, Liquid wrench, or some suitable rust dissolving liquid in them. You might be able to pull the hub with the wheel on them, don't know what kind of brakes are on an "A", lay them down so the liquid can soak down better. After a couple of days of this, with a block of hard wood and hammer, you might be able to break them loose by tapping on the outer hub end. I would be very carefull with heat on them, as you could weaken the spokes if they got to hot. Someone else might have a better idea. PJ

 

[SilentUnicorn]

proceed at your own risk, if the car is drivable, loosen the knock-offs about half a turn. slowly drive the car in a figure eight, this should loosen them.

mark

 

[tony barnhill]

You need to hope you don't have to do what I did to a wheel not long ago - cut every spoke right at the inner hub...then slit the wheel in half to separate it from the hub....turned out it had spun on the hub & was rusted fast.

After you get it as clean as possible pour some melted wax down between the hub & wheel.

 

[R6MGS]

[ QUOTE ]
Assuming they are knock off wheels.The hub splines are probably rusted fast to the wheel. I would try to get some PB blaster, Liquid wrench, or some suitable rust dissolving liquid in them. You might be able to pull the hub with the wheel on them, don't know what kind of brakes are on an "A", lay them down so the liquid can soak down better. After a couple of days of this, with a block of hard wood and hammer, you might be able to break them loose by tapping on the outer hub end. I would be very carefull with heat on them, as you could weaken the spokes if they got to hot. Someone else might have a better idea. PJ

[/ QUOTE ]

That would be drums all around for the 1500's and in this case(1600) it would have discs up front.

Rough way to start a resto...I'd do a combination of everything suggested......Except for Tony's extremeist cutting of the spokes...Keep that as a last resort /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

 

[DON123]

Glad to hear you say that, because that's what I've been trying. I've used PB Blaster and WD-40 but I havent tried to remove the whole hub yet... that seems like a good idea as well.

Thank you everyone for your time and for the suggestions. Please keep them coming.

 

[PAUL161]

[ QUOTE ]
proceed at your own risk, if the car is drivable, loosen the knock-offs about half a turn. slowly drive the car in a figure eight, this should loosen them.

mark

[/ QUOTE ]
The 70 "B" I just bought hasn't been touched since 1992! I'll bet there is not a drop lube on the splines! If the problem exists where the wheel is frozen on the spline, I'll try your figure 8 method. Never thought of that before. If that doesn't work, I'll use Tonys method, A hot wrench! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif PJ

 

[billspohn]

Your splines sound like they may be toast.

Be sure to buy new hubs before fitting the new wheels you'll need to buy and take a really close look at the rears. Running with substandard splines just isn't worth the risk.

 

[19MGA60]

I have used a rubber mallet and hit all around the outside of the edge of the tire. Keep soaking with PB etc and keep hitting the tire. May take a day or two but just keep hitting all around the tire. Worked for me

 

[Daimlerdb18]

Instead of WD40 try Aerokroil. It works wonders on loosening parts. I would never have gotten all of the bolts and nuts undone from the "A" without it. Good stuff and they send it by USPS.

 

[DON123]

I have tried everything here but the aerokroil, but with no luck. Please send any ideas. I have used a rubber mallet on the back side and on the outside of the tire with no avail. I have pulled the MG around and turned the wheel constantly. I have even tried using a 3 arm pulley puller. Please help.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

wow , sounds like new wheels and hubs are in your future....it might be time for the long handled, 12# RBFH. sometimes, it takes brute force over finesse. How about your 3 arm puller and the afore mentioned 12# BFH. keep tension on the puller and start swinging the hammer. Most likely at this point the parts in question are toast. so the hammer should not hurt much.....


mark

 

[Steve_S]

Use a real penetrating oil rather than WD-40. Also try heating and cooling the hub.

 

[billspohn]

OK, last ditch that would work only on a 1500 - remove hub nut from spindle (drive socket over split pin as you probably can't get in there to remove it) and pull off wheel with splined hub and drum attached and find someone with a big press to punch the hub/drum assembly out of the wheel.

As you have a 1960 which should be a 1600 with discs, that won't help you!

If they are honestly that stuck together I think a new wheel/hub combination may be in your future anyway so the bolt cutter to wire solution may make sense.