Wheel frozen after being stuck in mud. Any suggestions?

[KevinB]

In Cincinnati today, the temp was in the teens all day. This made everything a frozen tundra. When I arrived at the job sight (a house under construction) in my 2001 E250, I attempted to pull up to the house via the frozen dirt driveway. Well, as soon as my front wheels went over the curb the van sunk in the still wet mud up to the frame. A 4x4 had to pull me out. No big deal! After I finished my work (about 5-6 hours later) I jumped in the van and tried to take off. The mud froze and the drivers side wheel was locked up! I took the wheel off and removed all the frozen mud that I could get to. Even after that work, the hub was still frozen. A friend had to pick me up from the job and take me home

Needless to say, my van is still there. Tomarrow I will have to somehow get it home. Any ideas? I was thinking about placing a torpedo heater by the rotor to heat up the mud and drive away (hopefully.)

Thanks
Kevin

 

[turbocody]

some hot water might do the trick

 

[MaxVO2]

I had something like that happen to me once - I thought the ground was frozen, and truck went right down to the axle. NO big deal, winched it out later, but it got real cold in between and froze it solid.

Do yourself a favor and use the torpedo heater, just be careful it isn't so close you burn something, or light the whole thing on fire..

Make SURE the ice is melted pretty well off the inner part of the wheel as once you get it moving, it is easy to get the thing to roll, but the ice left is still hard as a rock, and can tear the brake line right off the caliper when the wheel starts to turn. Don't ask me how I know this..

Billy
Montgomery Village, MD

 

[KevinB]

Thanks Cody and Billy,

I will try the torpedo because I will have a hard time trying to find hot water here I am at. I am not looking forward to this tomarrow. I will try to remember about the brake line.

Kevin

 

[jerrad]

maybe try a heat gun or hair dryer. not sure if it would work but its woth a try

 

[KevinB]

UPDATE:

Fixed it today. I took a propane torpedo heater and placed it by the rotor. A screw driver was then used to remove the mub. It took some time but it worked The only problem now is the
ABS light comes on, but I'll fix that when it warms up. Ya learn something new everyday.

Kevin

 

[gn85]

Congrats on getting back on the road. Chances are you prolly gummed up the ABS sensor sittin' right behind the rotor. Either that you possibly bent the sensor or ripped the wire from the sensor when trying to get it free. Should be too big a deal to get up and running again.