wheel removal

[darkblue03]

Hello,

Getting ready to take a trip with 03 GT..Thot I would do the flat tire change drill, just in case it was needed..First, could not get lug nuts loose with the mini-wrench provided..Went out and bot a decent lug wrench (which I would advise everyone to do !)..Got the lug nuts off, wheel does not budge, is there something else? Or just pull harder on the wheel? does that little cap in the middle of the GT 17 inch wheel come off, or is that just decor?..Owners manual is vague..Glad this is all occuring in the driveway, not out in the middle of nowhere ! Advice appreciated
Thanks

[nisco]

ok listen... BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE STOCK JACK.... it been known to fall off the mounting points and come close to causing some major gamage...
damage to you of course....

i believe you pop off the cap.. probably with a flat head screw driver...

[darkblue03]

Originally Posted by nisco

ok listen... BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE STOCK JACK.... it been known to fall off the mounting points and come close to causing some major gamage...
damage to you of course....

i believe you pop off the cap.. probably with a flat head screw driver...

Thanks, I noticed that jack was not industrial strength ! Tryed it out, to see that it worked, then went to the floor jack..popped off that little center cap, all that came was the emblem, adhesive, et al, stayed there!

[tibby01]

you should not have to pop off the center cap. just pull harder on the wheel, or take a rubber mallet and bang on the back of the wheel. just got a little stuck on there is all.

[Rickna]

Screw the lug wrench. I've been using a Snap-On 1/2" drive breaker bar & deep socket for years.

[BigTDawg]

i use a husky 1/2 inch drive breaker bar with a 13/16 spark plug socket

[darkblue03]

Originally Posted by tibby01

you should not have to pop off the center cap. just pull harder on the wheel, or take a rubber mallet and bang on the back of the wheel. just got a little stuck on there is all.

Hey thanks for the reply..Before I saw your post I had called the dealer's
service department and he gave me the scoop..I haven't taken a wheel off of a car for quite a few years, glad to see nothing has changed..

One of the reasons to get wheels off was to install a product called "Quiet Car" in the wheel wells. It's an undercoating for road noise sound control.
Did the fronts, and it made things a bit quieter, will do the rears and as much of the underbody as possible and let everyone know if that helps..

By the way, don't have a torque wrench, is nice and snug on the lugs ok, or should it be torqued to strict specs.?

[Rickna]

80 ft/lbs. It's more important than some think. Uneven torque can warp rims, rotors, kill berarings, etc.