Pulled all five lug studs from the left front wheel to check the brake pads and as step one in a tire rotation.

Wheel doesn't want to come off. I'm guessing it's a question of breaking whatever loving bond the wheel and hub have developed, but want to make sure I'm not missing anything stupid.....

Gretel is a 91 300TE 4Matic. Any pointers (before I start waling away with the big rubber mallet) greatly appreciated.

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1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

5 lugs off, wheel should come off...probably bonded by rust.

You've removed what you need. I don't think the rubber mallet will do enough to break that "marriage"...you might need a sledge.

Put a block of wood between it and the wheel to prevent damaging the wheel.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

You're going to need some sort of huge hydraulic press, maybe a couple thousand dollars, plus installation. Or you could just sit on the floor and stomp on it, alternating left and right feet, and increasing speed and force as necessary. Shopping for the hydraulic press would be more fun.

Let it off the jack, and in your driveway just drive it back and forth a couple of times with out the lug nuts on. I suspect it will loosen up.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Well, apparently thumping it half a dozen times right/left, then leaving it sit in the sun for a period of precisely 1.75 bottles of Smithwick's was the right answer.

Went back out and gave a tug, and off she fell.

The left rear, on the other hand.......

Sheared my 3/4" to 1/2" drive adapter (my deep 3/4" sockets are out on loan at the moment) on the first stud. Pulled out the two piece MB lug wrench, and proceeded to do the stand on the lug wrench dance for all 15 of the remaining studs.

All done now. Tires rotated, pads checked (dang near new), and as much of the dried and crusty love juice between the rotor and the wheel removed as reasonably possible.

Mental note made to plan for replacing the rotors when the pads need doing. And to plan for enough time to do some serious clean up on the calipers.

__________________
1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

That happend on my SD, the wheels were probably on for oh 5 years.

I got out the old rubber hammer and gave thema good whack, did the trick. Never Seize was applied to the hub surface when I put them back on, worked.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200