How to Pull A Wheel at a Junkyard: Tools & Tips

General guidance, not instructions for your exact car. Bolt sizes, steps and tools vary by year, make and model. Watch a video for your exact vehicle and follow the yard's safety rules.

Tools to bring

Breaker bar and the right lug nut socket (often 17mm, 19mm, 21mm or 13/16"), lug key adapter if the car has locks. No jacks: yard cars are already raised.

Typical steps

1. Check whether the yard sells wheels with or without tires, and whether you're allowed to remove tires there.
2. Loosen and remove the lug nuts. On raised cars the wheel may spin; some yards' cars sit on wheel stands that block this.
3. Pull the wheel straight off. Watch your feet.

Before you pay

Match the bolt pattern, diameter, width and offset to your car (stamped on the back of many wheels). Look for bends, cracks and curb rash. Wheel fit info for your car is in its owner's manual or on the door jamb tire sticker.

▶ Search YouTube for "how to remove wheel" Add your year, make and model to the search for the best match.

See also: What to bring to a U-Pull yard · Safety and etiquette.