The car was jacked up and secured. All five wheel nuts were removed (including one with the use of the locking key). However, the wheel remained stubbornly attached to the hub!

The problem applies to all 4 wheels on the car.

On looking down the stud recess of the wheel casting from where the wheel nuts had been removed, it was noted that on two out the five studs, there is a spring lock washer fitted over the stud that acts as a second device for securing the wheel to the hub. No mention of this in the car handbook.

Is my car the only one in the world to have these spring lock washers fitted to the wheel studs?

Why is it necessary to have these spring lock washers?

How are these spring lock washers removed?

And how is a driver supposed to cope with an emergency roadside wheel change?

Terry Allman, February 2006

leave the nuts loose on the car drive forward a few feet and slam on the brakes problem sorted

caveman, July 2007

OK, to complete the picture, I am now able to answer my own question and help readers to avoid falling in to the same trap.

- The spring lock washers as descibed in the original question were in fact a "red herring". They actually secure the hub in place and not the wheel.

- The reason why the wheel rim remained tight on the hub after removal of all five wheel nuts was because of the corrosive reaction described by "bg" above. I was aware this could happen, but would never have believed it could result in such a stubborn seizure!

- The solution? - assertive action by an experienced tyre fitter, i.e. a good hard kick in the right place and right direction. Problem solved.

- Preventive measures for the future would be to remove all wheels on a regualr basis and keep the corrosion under control by wire brushing.

- Are alloy wheels worth all this trouble?

Terry Allman (originator of the question), February 2006

I had this happen on a cadillac and a olds ...had to physically beat one of the rims off from inside ....the others came off when I let the rack down with the lugs off and rocked the car
anytime alumium and metal come in contact theres a problem with a chemical reaction

bg, February 2006