Interesting problem – Hub-centric rings

[GJPinAU]

Had the rear brakes done last week, and when the car was returned by the shop, they began to bitch about having to use extra effort in getting the wheels off the car due to the hub-centric rings welding themselves to the wheels and the hub. In their words, it would’ve been a problem if I had a flat and had to remove the wheel.

Phil Sanderson said he had the same problem taking the wheels off his car at home. His thoughts are that the wheel cleaner we use is getting around the hub-centric ring and causing it to corrode.

Anyway, as the shop had not put the rings back on, the rear had a vibration. I thought I would need to get new rings for mine. Phil came over with the rings from his wheels (E39 M5 replicas) and seeing as I had the “same” ish wheels we would put them on my car until I could get some new ones but we found Phil’s wheels have a totally different hub circumference to mine. Mine uses a shim style ring where Phil’s are a solid ring. (see pics).

We are trying an experiment at the moment by coating the inside of the wheel and ring with Teflon grease and we’ll take them off in a month or so to see if they are stuck.

[Derek A.]

You can buy a big jug of anti-seize from most auto parts stores. Its what we use at the shop to coat the hubs of customer cars to keep the wheels from becomming permanently attached

[DueyT]

I have a little can of GM anti-seize that's lasted me for years...I coat the hub mounting point and also the surface of the rotor pad and wheel back.

,
Duey

[632 Regal]

before you pleasure yourself?

wheres all the unhappy smilies?

[DueyT]

No, Jeff...it has a neat little brush so I don't have to have any marks of manual labour on my mitts!

Cheers!
Duey