URGENT help needed

AHarvey

AHarvey

AHarvey

Soldato
Joined
6 Mar 2008
Posts
10,085
Location
Stoke area
Right,

I have an extremely silly problem.

I have changed numerous wheels in my driving career on several cars yet never on a mk4 golf. Which is what I am trying to do now so I can change the brakes on it.

I have jacked it up, put and axle stand under it etc. removed the 5 wheel nuts including the one locking lock. Now normally, the wheel is practically falling off or needs very little assistance in coming off. However, this one is stuck fast.

Anyone know if I have missed something?
 
Get down and using the bottom of your foot hit the side or do it standing up, don't boot it just a slight bit of force from the bottom of your foot.

I've done it on mine, it's made by VAG and it can get real stuck sometimes.
 
If it's just stuck try:

  • Hitting it with a rubber mallet, or your foot, as zain mentions
  • Lowering the jack slowly to use the weight of the car to bring it off
  • Leaving the wheel nuts on but loose, then rocking the car backwards and forwards

One of those should work :)
 
Bash it side to side with the palms of your hands, or lay down and do the same with your feet - the wheel has just stuck to the hub face.
 
Start the engine, put it in 5th gear, rev it up until the wheel falls off, then go catch the wheel. :D

On a more serious note:
If you can't hit it hard enough without knocking the car off the axle stand; stick a bar through a hole in the wheel/alloy and pry till it snaps free.
 
When you refit the wheel put a smear of copper grease on the mating face of the wheel, that way it shouldn't stick the next time.
 
thanks that worked a treat, however i have hit another wall :(

The mechanic told me that the 2 bolts that hold it on can be removed with a basic socket set, however it seems that the head of the bolt is round and you need an allen key style attachment to remove it, which I don't have :( :(

Anyone know what size you need?
 
They're usually 8mm IIRC but I haven't worked on your model of Golf before. Screwfix and Halfords both do rails with these sockets in various sizes for around a tenner.
 
yep, looks like the wheel is going back on until tomoz :(

And to think I have 2 mechanics living down my road and neither have the bit I need :(

Thanks everyone

EDIT: Am i right in thinking that you do not need to bleed the brakes when just changing the pads? You just take the lid off the reservoir to release any pressure while pushing the pistons back in?
 
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Thats right take the lid off. If its like my brakes you may need a special tool as my rear calipers requiered a twisting push back action to retract.

Anyone knows what happens if you dont take the cap off? Forgot to do it to mine and i get a sound of fluid going somewhere (its not leaking) think a seal in the master cylinder is buggered? I only get this sound when i brake when moving and release the brake pedal... sorry for going off topic
 
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AHarvey said:
EDIT: Am i right in thinking that you do not need to bleed the brakes when just changing the pads? You just take the lid off the reservoir to release any pressure while pushing the pistons back in?
Click to expand...

I've read that doing this *can* cause damage to some ABS systems and that instead you should slacken the bleed nipple on the caliper to allow fluid to escape instead of being pushed back through the pipework, and then top up the fluid in the reservoir instead. This makes an easy job a messy one instead :p

I've never actually heard of a case of damage being caused though, so it may be manufacturers covering their asses or possibly just hearsay and rumours.
 
yeah the rears on VAGs need a tool to wind the pistons in but the fronts just push in.

if you dont take the lid off then I am guessing the build up of pressure makes it harder to move the pistons and when you do something might pop.

I am still learning the basics so I don't mind you going off topic, it means I will learn something else.

With all the knowledge in here perhaps we should start our own car wiki, from reviews to how to guides :D
 
I just used a long screw driver on mine were easy enough to push back just using that :)
 
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