I tried to get my rear dually’s off yesterday and like everything else on the underside of this poor neglected rig they were rust-frozen in place. I went on a few trucker websites and found several removal methods. Most methods involved a vigorous application with a sledge hammer and lots of strong language. However, one method seemed pretty good. It said to back off the lug bolts 1/8 to 1/4 inch and drive the machine a short distance at slow speed with some corners etc, letting the weight of the machine do the work. Has anyone tried this with any success?Steve

It has worked for me----Rust in Taxas? You should live in the North East.

Yes, but don't back the nuts off more than one or two turns. Soaking with a penetrant on the hub and between the wheels will also help. I have found that running the lugs loose over boards just under one dual at a time work the best for me.

Yes but I had to drive it a few miles several times. It was on a junker that I just use around the house.

ferndaleflyer wrote:It has worked for me----Rust in Taxas? You should live in the North East.Unfortunately, the rigs originally from upstate New York. It's funny, I'm from the Chicago area and thought I was finally through with these types of problems when I moved to Texas, HA, fate showed me didn't it!Steve

My son did this accidently one time. He took his wheels off to rotate them, but only put them back on finger tight. He forgot to torque the nuts. Two miles down the road, his left rear wheel went past him when he applied the brakes. All of the lug studs had sheared off. If you do this, be careful or you could get a major repair bill.

Rust-frozen dually's | Good Sam Community

michael8rc
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
My steel wheels can get rusted to the hubs on my Dodge. I have used a 5lb sledge hammer on the rims to break them away from the hub. A Discount Tire dealer told me that is how they get them free and I have used that method ever since. Takes a few whacks but it works for me.
Pass42
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
These are called BUDD style wheels...used to be very common on big trucks.. the inner cap nuts also serve as the wheel studs for the outer dually, which is held on with it's own lug nut....you need a special square socket to remove the inners.........
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 14, 2013
I never search with more than a single word. Sometimes search within results with a second word.
I searched only "tech issues" forum as I remember the thread as the outcome was unexpected.
I just used the word "wheel" and paged down maybe 4 pages of results.
Geocritter
Explorer
Nov 14, 2013
smkettner wrote:
ScottnSherrie wrote:
I'm a complete idiot. I have the 800 plus page shop manual for the chassis and did not research removing the tires before I started. I mean, it's taking off a tire, that's child's play.

WRONG!!!
Mistake #1. Right side lugs are reverse threaded.

Mistake #2. The lug nuts are "two element" lug nuts. Once the outside dually comes off, the inside lug nuts need removed.

I read this late last night and will report on results later.

Note to self: Next time, READ THE F@%#ING MANUAL FIRST.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27309532/

FWIW smkettner I searched this website for ideas and for some reason this thread never came up. What words did you search with?

Steve
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 14, 2013
ScottnSherrie wrote:
I'm a complete idiot. I have the 800 plus page shop manual for the chassis and did not research removing the tires before I started. I mean, it's taking off a tire, that's child's play.

WRONG!!!
Mistake #1. Right side lugs are reverse threaded.

Mistake #2. The lug nuts are "two element" lug nuts. Once the outside dually comes off, the inside lug nuts need removed.

I read this late last night and will report on results later.

Note to self: Next time, READ THE F@%#ING MANUAL FIRST.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27309532/
RedG
Explorer
Nov 14, 2013
Actually, you don't have to drive it. Just loosen the lug nuts, let it down off the jacks and shake the truck back and forth sideways with your hands. They will pop loose.
jmtandem
Explorer II
Nov 14, 2013
Why not just use a puller on the hub with a short chain? Even a jack and chain will work. My Ram has always had very tight inner duals and I found the sledge hammer approach too much work. In my case it is not rust, just very tight inner duals.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Nov 14, 2013
My son did this accidently one time. He took his wheels off to rotate them, but only put them back on finger tight. He forgot to torque the nuts. Two miles down the road, his left rear wheel went past him when he applied the brakes. All of the lug studs had sheared off.

If you do this, be careful or you could get a major repair bill.
Geocritter
Explorer
Nov 14, 2013
ferndaleflyer wrote:
It has worked for me----Rust in Taxas? You should live in the North East.

Unfortunately, the rigs originally from upstate New York. It's funny, I'm from the Chicago area and thought I was finally through with these types of problems when I moved to Texas, HA, fate showed me didn't it!

Steve
K_Charles
Explorer
Nov 14, 2013
Yes but I had to drive it a few miles several times. It was on a junker that I just use around the house.

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