hello,

new problem today with my 2010 hhr, so yesterday it ran great and drove 2 hours no problem to my job, then today I come out to 7 degree temps and start it up and try to go in reverse out of my drive and notice my rear right wheel is seized and won't turn. The parking brake wasn't on and I engaged it and disengaged it to make sure it wasnt. I jacked that wheel up and it is stuck, won't budge.

what is this and why did it happen suddenly after driving fine and then sitting in my drive? seized bearing, or did Jack frost freeze my wheel last night?

it didn't get above 20 degrees today , but idk what or how the cold weather could influence this to happen. I've had bad bearings in vehicles that still turned but never a seized bearing that froze my wheel.

 

Did you park with a lot of snow packed around there ?

 

no it was more of a freezing rain at night, there was no real snow accumulation. I probably misspoke about the snow, as it was just a dusting.

Is there a possibility something is frozen and I could use a heat gun to thaw the wheel assembly?

 

I can't imagine ice not breaking free if it was moved forward or backward a bit. I can moved the vehicle but I don't want to at all due to the wheel being seized of course.

 

The only way to know is to try.

 

well did try and it won't brake free by trying to put it in drive or reverse.
is there a point in the rear wheel assembly where I should try and thaw with the heat gun? a spot that maybe freezing rain got into via the side of the rims?

 

The only place a freeze would make for problems is the shoes freezing to the drum. Pretty sure the hub gave up. Walk up behind the car look at the tires if they are canted outward it is def the hub.

 

I had this happen to a Pontiac 6000 back in the early 80's.

I went out to lunch from work and the car kept trying to spin the back end around. A motorist behind me told me my left rear wheel wasn't turning. The roads were snow covered and the wheel was just sliding. It had snowed the night before and I had driven through some deep snow that morning going to work. I think the brake heat melted the snow packed around the rear wheel, and then the water froze the shoes to the drum. I found a parking lot with a spot where there was no snow and went forward and back several times before it broke loose with a loud bang.

Steve

 

A small space heater blowing on it for about an hour. Then go try it.
( If it was frozen inside on the brake shoes, I would guess there would now be water dripping off)