Mounted wrong size wheels - they’re now permanently stuck to the car. Disaster [resolved]

[MountainPass]

Five Days Later, the Jammed Wheel Nut Has Finally Been Removed From Bottas' F1 Car

F1's most dramatic saga of 2021 has come to a close.

www.roadandtrack.com

"When the team attempted to remove the wheel, the gun stripped the nut's teeth, effectively rounding out the piece and making it impossible to remove in pit lane. The nut was so jammed, the Mercedes pit crew failed to get it off in the garage, electing to transport the car back to its U.K. factory and use heavy-duty machinery to break it loose instead."

It happens in F1 too! Don't feel bad @martyb126

Yep, they will try for a few seconds then just roll the car back into the garage!

 

[tm1v2]

this offset change has nothing to do with P and non P lip. we may never know why they have a 6mm difference, but even the thickness of the rotor hats on a P aren’t 6mm thinner than non P.

What is the actual rotor hat thickness difference?

Why did Tesla steer non-PUP owners to the ET40 wheels and PUP owners to ET34 then? So far Tesla has always paired 8.5" wide ET40 wheels with non-PUP cars, and either 8.5" ET35 or 9" ET34 with PUP, right? If the lower offset for PUP cars is not to make up for the thinner rotor hat, what's it for?

 

[MountainPass]

What is the actual rotor hat thickness difference?

Why did Tesla steer non-PUP owners to the ET40 wheels and PUP owners to ET34 then? So far Tesla has always paired 8.5" wide ET40 wheels with non-PUP cars, and either 8.5" ET35 or 9" ET34 with PUP, right? If the lower offset for PUP cars is not to make up for the thinner rotor hat, what's it for?

OEM M3P rotor hat thickness: 2.5mm
OEM LR rotor hat thickness: 7.5mm

I can't answer your other question though!

 

[DavidJH]

This thread is becoming a bible for stuck wheel removal.

 

[Lavender]

Have you tried a slide hammer with reversible jaws? You can flip the jaws around and hook them inside of the wheel center bore (where the center cap goes) it may just break the wheel but worth a try. Also, have a second person put a pry bar in between the void of the wheel and the brake rotor hat and pry outwards while you go ape Sh!t on the slide hammer

 

[martyb126]

Still no luck at this point. Trying to find a shop who is willing to spend some time and maybe get creative. The manufacturer was of no use, whatsoever.

Bad timing with the holiday coming up as I won’t be able to keep working on it next week. Hopefully I can make some progress this week

 

[Operator64]

Still no luck at this point. Trying to find a shop who is willing to spend some time and maybe get creative. The manufacturer was of no use, whatsoever.

Bad timing with the holiday coming up as I won’t be able to keep working on it next week. Hopefully I can make some progress this week

pack the hole behind the center cap with dry ice wait 20 minutes direct hit with sledgehammer maybe it will explode the aluminum.

 

[brkaus]

pack the hole behind the center cap with dry ice wait 20 minutes direct hit with sledgehammer maybe it will explode the aluminum.

Not sure if I "like", "funny" or "helpful". But I would like to see what happens

 

[Operator64]

Not sure if I "like", "funny" or "helpful". But I would like to see what happens

Maybe I should have put a disclaimer on that lol

 

[brkaus]

Multi-tool to cut the rim near the center or drill out near the center hub?

 

[dsgerbc]

pack the hole behind the center cap with dry ice wait 20 minutes direct hit with sledgehammer maybe it will explode the aluminum.

Pour some liquid mercury in there for good measure

 

[P3dStealth]

Go to AutoZone and tell them you want the loaner 7 ton puller. AutoZone loans tools for free. This is a pretty hd puller if you can grab the wheel with it.

"OEMTOOLS 7 Ton Reversible Puller" https://www.autozone.com/loan-a-too...p/oemtools-7-ton-reversible-puller/409615_0_0

Stick one of these between the wheel and the rotor maybe. Don't buy this one it's just an example. It doesn't have enough travel.

NEWTRY 20T Low Profile Hydraulic Jack Porta Power Kit + CP-180 Manual Hydraulic Hand Pump , Industrial Mini Hydraulic Cylinder, Stroke 0.47” Amazon.com

 

[BigNick]

You just need a bigger hammer.
Bonus: it can also charge your battery.

 

[CKwik240]

This thread is becoming a bible for stuck wheel removal.

If we don't help him get the wheels off, it's just going to be a manual for what doesn't work.

 

[Huskyfan]

Go to your local chemistry supply store and get some liquid nitrogen. Pour on the wheel. Hit with hammer. it will shatter the wheel. I’d deflate the tire first though.

 

[brkaus]

Park on high crime neighborhood. Put up on blocks to provide head start.

 

[Operator64]

Park on high crime neighborhood. Put up on blocks to provide head start.

Done in under a minute.

 

[derotam]

Park on high crime neighborhood. Put up on blocks to provide head start.

...make sure teslacam is on and recording so you can post the hilarity that will happen! Or sell the car to a police department as a bait car for wheel theft!

 

[brkaus]

...make sure teslacam is on and recording so you can post the hilarity that will happen! Or sell the car to a police department as a bait car for wheel theft!

They might give up and go for the catalytic converter instead!

 

[Operator64]

They might give up and go for the catalytic converter instead!

With the brilliance of criminals you may be onto something. The ultimate candid camera episode.