Best way to clean a wheel hub

Kafer · 03-26-2012, 10:33 AM

Each spring and fall I have a hard time getting the rear wheels off my car. Is there a good way to prevent this from happening? Is it just a matter of keeping it clean or should I use some sort of lubricant as well?

I have x-drive and it's interesting that the front wheels come off easily but the rears are next to impossible... makes me think that in real world driving x-drive is way more rear biased than the official 60/40 split BMW advertises.

ndog14 · 03-26-2012, 10:38 AM

xDrive is very RWD biased. It is an electric awd system that only sends power to the front wheels when it is needed, other wise the only power sent to the front is the natural power produced by the mechanical parts that are part of the drivetrain.

EDIT: Use a rubber mallet to get your wheels off when they're stuck.

EYE4SPEED · 03-26-2012, 11:37 AM

Take a wire brush to it when swapping wheels. I sometimes use a light donkey kick to the tire portion of the wheel to get it loose.

scott_uw · 03-26-2012, 11:47 AM

Anti seize.

anerbe · 03-26-2012, 12:20 PM

^on the hub is fine. Wire brush and then very light application of anti-sieze. Just don't get any on the lugs.

DDS2015 · 03-26-2012, 12:21 PM

I had such a hard doing my change-over. 3 out of my 4 wheels I had to whack from the backside with a 2X4 piece of wood. I noticed when I took off the one easy one that it had more grease on it. I'm going to ask my dealer what they recommend in terms of grease and apply that when I do my changeovers. I still can't believe how difficult it was.

ChipB · 03-26-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anerbe

^on the hub is fine. Wire brush and then very light application of anti-sieze. Just don't get any on the lugs.

Actually anti-sieze on the lugs is fine, but be sure to properly torque the lug bolts. Also be careful to not get any antisieze compound on the brake rotor.

VTECaddict · 03-26-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipB

Actually anti-sieze on the lugs is fine, but be sure to properly torque the lug bolts. Also be careful to not get any antisieze compound on the brake rotor.

Your statement is contradictory because lubing the lugs will change the friction and therefore you will be overtorquing the lugs even if your lug wrench says the torque is right.

Kolyan2k · 03-26-2012, 03:25 PM

Never had a problem. Its normal for a wheel not to come off, you need to use some force.

Its not like Saab where you can actually drive without lug nuts and wheels will never fall off

RimasRS · 03-26-2012, 05:22 PM

Copper oil spray

BKV122 · 03-26-2012, 05:55 PM

Sand paper the hub, maybe some WD40 or some type of penetrating oil to spray on the hub to help also

roadkillrob · 03-26-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipB

Actually anti-sieze on the lugs is fine, but be sure to properly torque the lug bolts. Also be careful to not get any antisieze compound on the brake rotor.

Don't do this - you should never lubricate the wheel lugs in any way as the torque readings will be incorrect and you can over torque the lugs.

The lugs are meant to be dry torqued which means just clean the threads with a wire brush, but never ever lubricate them. Anti-seize should only go on the hub and other contact points between the hub and rim.

John 070 · 03-26-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anerbe

^on the hub is fine. Wire brush and then very light application of anti-sieze. Just don't get any on the lugs.

Mine rusted badly by year 2. I've never cleaned the rust, but I do use anti-seize every fall and spring when I switch on and off my snows, works like a charm...agreed NEVER on the lugs....

CJ421 · 03-26-2012, 07:18 PM

Anti-sieze for sure. I use a power drill with a wire brush attachment thing on it to get any rust off first, then apply the anti-sieze. Best of luck.

Bobble · 03-27-2012, 11:56 AM

If you are going to wire brush them, I'd respray them with some rust proof paint let them dry and then the anti sieze.

I use anti sieze between my spacers and hubs for the same reason and I live in a dry warm climate and they can sieze just from heat.

You would not believe the number of people who spray junk on their lugs. My son is a Hyundai tech and he just got a car yesterday where the freeway tow surface changed a tire for a lady and sprayed something on the lugs and she lost 3 of them. Of course it was the manufacturer's fault not the idiot tow service who lubed her lugs and then torqued them.

UncleWede · 03-27-2012, 03:34 PM

When I do my wheels-off cleaning, I leave a layer of PB Wheel wax on the inside of the hub. Still neds some mule power, but not quite as much to remove.

06E90Rostik · 03-27-2012, 04:38 PM

I will post some pics tonight of how I did mine.

06E90Rostik · 03-29-2012, 05:25 PM

1st pic: Car had only 5,000 miles on it
2nd: Tools. Dremel with fine wire brushes, brake parts cleaner, masking tape and copper spray
3rd: After all rust is removed, spray cleaned, and masked for final step
4th: Copper spray applied. That stuff never dries, so don't bother waiting, just put your wheels back on.

So I did that about a year ago as part of Spring 2011 clean up. Recently had to take off wheel for cleaning. Hub stayed the same. Very impressed and happy with results

03-26-2012, 10:33 AM	#1
Kafer Enlisted Member 11 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Best way to clean a wheel hub Each spring and fall I have a hard time getting the rear wheels off my car. Is there a good way to prevent this from happening? Is it just a matter of keeping it clean or should I use some sort of lubricant as well? I have x-drive and it's interesting that the front wheels come off easily but the rears are next to impossible... makes me think that in real world driving x-drive is way more rear biased than the official 60/40 split BMW advertises.
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03-26-2012, 10:38 AM	#2
ndog14 Banned 52 Rep 1,746 Posts Drives: E90 328xi 6MT Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	xDrive is very RWD biased. It is an electric awd system that only sends power to the front wheels when it is needed, other wise the only power sent to the front is the natural power produced by the mechanical parts that are part of the drivetrain. EDIT: Use a rubber mallet to get your wheels off when they're stuck.
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03-26-2012, 11:37 AM	#3
EYE4SPEED Ex-Diesel Driver 63 Rep 2,000 Posts Drives: Audi SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Coast... of Michigan iTrader: (22)	Take a wire brush to it when swapping wheels. I sometimes use a light donkey kick to the tire portion of the wheel to get it loose. __________________ FS: HRE Center Caps http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...post13972317l]
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03-26-2012, 11:47 AM	#4
scott_uw Teatime 3 Rep 171 Posts Drives: Toronto Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: FBO Civic 3L TT edition iTrader: (3)	Anti seize.
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03-26-2012, 12:20 PM	#5
anerbe Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,568 Posts Drives: Red E90M 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: BH, MI iTrader: (2)	^on the hub is fine. Wire brush and then very light application of anti-sieze. Just don't get any on the lugs.
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03-26-2012, 12:21 PM	#6
DDS2015 Major 393 Rep 1,444 Posts Drives: 2018 M3CS Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Winnipeg iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 [0.00] 2023 BMW M4 [0.00]	I had such a hard doing my change-over. 3 out of my 4 wheels I had to whack from the backside with a 2X4 piece of wood. I noticed when I took off the one easy one that it had more grease on it. I'm going to ask my dealer what they recommend in terms of grease and apply that when I do my changeovers. I still can't believe how difficult it was.
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03-26-2012, 03:25 PM	#9
Kolyan2k Major General 928 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	Never had a problem. Its normal for a wheel not to come off, you need to use some force. Its not like Saab where you can actually drive without lug nuts and wheels will never fall off
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03-26-2012, 05:22 PM	#10
RimasRS Colonel 85 Rep 2,438 Posts Drives: BMW X3 SD Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Copper oil spray
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03-26-2012, 05:55 PM	#11
BKV122 Major 47 Rep 1,160 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330xi [9.50]	Sand paper the hub, maybe some WD40 or some type of penetrating oil to spray on the hub to help also __________________ Monaco Blue 330xi - Terra Interior/6-MT/Sport/Premium/Cold/CSL's/M3 Spoiler Lip/Black Kidney's
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03-26-2012, 07:18 PM	#14
CJ421 Brigadier General 1559 Rep 4,109 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	Anti-sieze for sure. I use a power drill with a wire brush attachment thing on it to get any rust off first, then apply the anti-sieze. Best of luck. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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03-27-2012, 11:56 AM	#15
Bobble Major 56 Rep 1,232 Posts Drives: Whatever POS the wife leaves Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	If you are going to wire brush them, I'd respray them with some rust proof paint let them dry and then the anti sieze. I use anti sieze between my spacers and hubs for the same reason and I live in a dry warm climate and they can sieze just from heat. You would not believe the number of people who spray junk on their lugs. My son is a Hyundai tech and he just got a car yesterday where the freeway tow surface changed a tire for a lady and sprayed something on the lugs and she lost 3 of them. Of course it was the manufacturer's fault not the idiot tow service who lubed her lugs and then torqued them.
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03-27-2012, 03:34 PM	#16
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18032 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	When I do my wheels-off cleaning, I leave a layer of PB Wheel wax on the inside of the hub. Still neds some mule power, but not quite as much to remove.
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03-27-2012, 04:38 PM	#17
06E90Rostik 2006 join date crew 182 Rep 1,482 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, 2011 335i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA, Sacramento iTrader: (10) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	I will post some pics tonight of how I did mine.
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03-29-2012, 05:25 PM	#18
06E90Rostik 2006 join date crew 182 Rep 1,482 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, 2011 335i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA, Sacramento iTrader: (10) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	1st pic: Car had only 5,000 miles on it 2nd: Tools. Dremel with fine wire brushes, brake parts cleaner, masking tape and copper spray 3rd: After all rust is removed, spray cleaned, and masked for final step 4th: Copper spray applied. That stuff never dries, so don't bother waiting, just put your wheels back on. So I did that about a year ago as part of Spring 2011 clean up. Recently had to take off wheel for cleaning. Hub stayed the same. Very impressed and happy with results Attached Images
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