Hi all,

Starting (again) my restoration work on my 62 Jensen 1800. I parked it in my garage maybe 5 years ago, and now the rear wheels are completely locked. I assume that it's the wheels that have frozen to the hubs w/rust, although the garage, while unheated, doesn't have water problems.

Any advice for freeing these wheels?

Best,
Erich

Usually what happens is the brakes are stuck.

Try jacking up the front and then the rear and see what is stuck.

If you're lucky, only the rears will be stuck and you can de-adjust those to make the wheels spin.
--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com

"If you smack the tires you'll need a heavy sledgehammer to effect some real force." I would advise against this method as the rebound force can do you severe mischief! I guess you left the handbrake on and are now suffering the consequences. They will lock up without that though. Remove wheels, loosen brake adjusters and the hand brake cable and use a copper/plastic/lead mallet or dead blow hammer to beat around the drum. A steel hammer can crack the drum or break the flanges off. If no joy, try some heat. You can also get quite good leverage with the wheel back on. Beware damaging the stud threads if using a long lever.
Fronts can be loosened by prying away the pads with a screwdriver or a wood chisel and mallet. Once the fronts are free you can then rock the car back and forth to hopefully free the rears.
If all stuck I'd start with the fronts first. The 3 puck callipers are very prone to seizing up.

If you mean the steel wheels are stuck to the front rotor/hubs and/or the rear drums give them a good soaking with your favorite rust bust stuff or ATF and allow a day or two for it to soak in. Then with the car jacked up (with jack stands supporting the car under the jacking points) loosen the lug nuts so there's a gap between them and the wheels (you don't want the wheel to come flying off). You'll need a hefty hammer to smack from behind. If you smack the tires you'll need a heavy sledge hammer to effect some real force. A block of 2x4 will protect the wheel rim edges where the force will be most effective.
If you mean the wheels will not spin due to the brakes being locked up you may need to drive a wedge (screwdriver) between the pads and the rotors to force the pads/pistons back. The rears may be more of a challenge if you had applied the handbrake and that's now seized.
Be sure to keep a few cold ones handy as reward for your hard work. -- Dave

When you say the wheels are locked does that mean they won’t rotate? I’m not sure if you mean the drums are stuck on the hubs or the shoes are stuck to the drums.
--
Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)

That's exactly what I'm saying - the wheels will not rotate.

Most likely the brake drums have rusted to the shoes. Remove the wheels & whack the drums with a plastic dead-blow hammer several times around the circumference. Usually works for me.