How to remove the wheels from the scooter Xiaomi: tools, procedures and safety tips

Xiaomi electric scooters are some of the most popular vehicles in the city, but even they require periodic maintenance. One of the most common procedures is to remove the wheels, whether it's replacing the tire, repairing the camera, cleaning the bearings or diagnosing the engine. However, many owners face difficulties in the first dismantling - jammed nuts, unclear connectors or fear of damaging the wiring.

In this article, we will discuss how to safely remove wheels from Xiaomi models. M365, Pro, Pro 2, 1S You'll learn what tools you need, how to avoid common mistakes (like a break in the wires of the engine), and what to do if the wheel is stuck to the axle, and unique disassembly life hacks without special keys that you can use on the road.

Important: the procedure for the front and rear wheels is different because of the motor at the rear. We will look at both options with step-by-step photos and video examples (links to which you will find in the relevant sections). If your scooter is equipped with a disc brake, do not miss a separate unit with nuances!

What tools will be needed to remove the wheels

Before you start, prepare everything you need, and not even one tool can make a simple procedure an hour of pain.

• 🔧 The 14mm end key (or head with a collar) is for axle nuts. Xiaomi uses a non-standard size, so the carob key may not fit!
• 🔨 Hexagon by 5 mm - for unscrewing the bolts of the brake disc (if any).
• 🛠️ Flat screwdriver - for slashing the engine cover or wiring locks.
• 🧲 Magnet or bowl – so as not to lose small details (pucks, bolts).
• 🧴 WD-40 or similar spray - if the nuts are acidified (especially relevant after winter).
• 🔋 Multimeter (optional) – to check the integrity of the wiring of the motor after dismantling.

For models with disc brakes (Xiaomi Pro 2, 1S) You'll need a key to adjust the brake pads (usually with a scooter) if you don't have one, you'll need a flat screwdriver with a thin sting.

⚠️ Warning: Never use a hammer or a chisel to unscrew the nuts! This will warp the axle thread, and in the future the wheel will dangle. If the nut fails, treat it. WD-40 And wait 10-15 minutes.

Advice from the masters: if you plan to remove wheels often (for example, for seasonal rubber replacement), buy a special key for Xiaomi scooters with a magnetic holder for nuts. It is inexpensive (about 300-500 rubles) and will save you a lot of time.

Scooter Preparation: What to Do Before Removing Wheels

Take your time to grab the keys! Incorrect preparation can lead to damage to the wiring (especially on the rear wheel) or loss of small parts.

Turn off the scooter with the power button|Disconnect the battery (if possible)|Put the scooter on a flat surface.|Take a picture of the location of the motor wires (for the rear wheel)|Check if there are any visible damage to the axle or nuts-->

And you pay special attention to the rear wheel, which is connected to the motor, which is connected to the scooter controller, and if you pull the wires out without fixing, you can tear the connector off or damage the insulation. M365 and Pro wires of the motor are fixed with a plastic clip - it must be carefully screwdriver.

If the scooter doesn't turn on after the wheel is removed, chances are you forgot to fix the engine connector or mistook the polarity when you reverse assemble.

• 🔌 The state of the contacts on the connector (are they not bent).
• 🔋 The presence of voltage on the wires (using a multimeter).
• 🛠️ The correctness of the installation of washers and nuts (disturbances lead to closure).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Pro 2 and newer models, the motor connector has protection against reverse polarity (one of the contacts is wider than the others). If you force it incorrectly, you can break the controller board!

If you remove a tire replacement wheel, buy a camera that is the right size (usually 8.5" or 10" depending on the model). Note: Xiaomi tires come with a directional tread pattern - remember which way the old wheel was installed.

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Before removing the wheel, make markers on the tire and disk - this will help to maintain balancing during the reverse assembly.

Step-by-step: how to remove the front wheel

The front wheel is easier to remove than the rear wheel, because it has no motor and no wiring, but there are some nuances here, such as fixing the fork and the correct position of the nuts.

Step 1. Unscrew the axis nuts.

• 🔧 Use a 14mm end key (or a head with a collar).
• 🔄 Unscrew the nuts in turn (first one by 2-3 turns, then the other) to avoid axis skewing.
• ⚠️ Do not remove the nuts completely at once - leave them on several turns of thread so that the wheel does not fall.

Step 2. Remove the wheel from the fork.

• 👉 Carefully pull the wheel on yourself while holding the fork with the other hand.
• 🛑 If the wheel is not removed, check if there are washers or bearings on the axles.
• 🔧 If the axis is rusty, treat it. WD-40 And spin the wheel back and forth a little bit.

Step 3. Examine the bearings and axle.

• 🔍 Check if there is any backlash in the bearings (if any, they need to be replaced).
• 🧹 Clean the axis of dirt and old lubricant (use a degreaser).
• 🛠️ If you plan to put the wheel back together, apply copper lubrication to the axle – this will make it easier to dismantle the wheel in the future.

If you remove the tire to replace the tire, then you need to disassemble the tire. You better use special mounting blades (cost about 200 rubles). Don't try to do this with a screwdriver - there is a high risk of piercing the camera!

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The front wheel on Xiaomi is fixed with two 14mm nuts. Never unscrew them completely right away - first loosen both, then remove the wheel.

How to remove the rear wheel with the engine: features and risks

The rear wheel is the most difficult part of the scooter to dismantle, and it has a motor, wiring, and (in some models) a brake disc, and errors in removing it can lead to:

• 🔌 Motor wire break (solding will be required).
• 🛠️ Damage to the controller connector (the scooter will not go).
• 🔋 Short circuit (if you forget to disconnect the battery).

Step 1. Disconnect the motor wires.

• 📸 Take a picture of the location of the wires and connectors before disconnecting!
• 🔧 Carefully tuck the plastic clip of the connector with a flat screwdriver.
• 🛑 Don’t pull the wires – just take the connector!

Step 2. Unscrew the axis nuts.

• 🔧 Use the same 14mm end key.
• ⚠️ On the rear wheel, the nuts are often twisted harder - if the key slips, put a pipe on it to increase the lever.
• 🔄 Unscrew the nuts in turn, as on the front wheel.

Step 3: Remove the brake disc wheel (if any).

• 🔧 On the Pro 2 and 1S First, unscrew the disk bolts with a hexagon by 5 mm.
• 🛑 Do not lose the spring washers - they are responsible for fixing the disk!
• 👉 After removing the disc, carefully pull the wheel with the engine.

If the wheel is stuck to the axle, don't hit it with a hammer.

1. Process it. WD-40 And wait 10 minutes.
2. Weaving the wheel back and forth, gradually increasing the amplitude.
3. If it does not help - use a bearing removable (sold in auto parts stores).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models M365 In early releases (until 2019), the motor connector can be soldered to the wires, in which case, don't pull the connector - gently snack on the wires and then weld them again.

After removing the wheel, check:

• 🔍 The condition of the bearings (backlash or noise when rotating - a sign of wear and tear).
• 🧲 Motor magnets (no chipping or rust).
• 🔋 Wiring (the overlay should not be rubbed).

Nuances for models with disc brake (Pro 2, 1S, Essential)

Scooters Xiaomi Pro 2, 1S And the Essential has a disc brake, which adds to the difficulty of removing the rear wheel:

• 🔧 The brake disc is fastened with two bolts under a hexagon of 5 mm.
• 🛑 When removing the disc, you can not touch the brake pads - oil traces will worsen braking!
• 🔄 After installing the wheel back, you will need to adjust the pad gap.

How to remove the brake disc correctly:

1. Then, unscrew two bolts with a hexagon (do not lose spring washers!).
2. Take the disk off carefully and put it aside (do not put it on a dirty surface).
3. If the disk is “stuck” to the hub, do not knock on it – fly. WD-40 and wait.

When assembled back:

• 🔧 Tighten the bolts of the disc cross-to-cross to avoid distortion.
• 🛑 Check that there is a gap between the pads and the disc 0.3-0.5 mm.
• 🔄 After installing the wheel, press the brake lever 2-3 times to make the pads stand in place.

If after assembly the brake creaks or is not effective enough, adjust:

1. Relax the brake caliper mount bolt.
2. Tighten the brake lever and hold it in the pressed state.
3. Lock the caliper in this position by tightening the bolt.

If you’ve removed a wheel to replace brake pads, remember: Xiaomi uses size pads. EBC FA183 Don't buy cheap, non-original parts, because they wear out quickly and can damage the disk.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced scooter owners sometimes make mistakes when taking off wheels. TOP-5 The most common problems and how to prevent them:

• 🔌 Motor wires break, which happens when you pull the wires instead of the connector. Solution: Always use the plastic connector, not the cable.
• 🔧 Axle threads are broken if you pull the nuts or use the wrong key. Solution: use a dynamometer key (puffing moment 40–50 N·mm).
• 🛠️ Lost washers or bolts -- small parts are easily lost. Solution: work on a clean surface and use a magnet for fastening.
• 🔋 Short circuit: forget to disconnect the battery before running the wiring. Solution: always turn off the scooter and turn off the battery (if possible).
• 🔄 The wrong balance of the wheel is if you don't keep the tire position relative to the disc. Solution: label the marker before disassembling.

Another common mistake is to use the wrong tools, such as trying to unscrew the axis with a carob key instead of the end key often leads to the facets licking together, and if you don't have the right key, you better buy it in advance, which will save you nerves and money for repairs.

If the scooter vibrates at high speed after assembly, chances are you've got the wheel wrong.

• 🔧 Uniformity of nut tightening (they must be twisted with the same force).
• 🔄 Balancing of the tire (the marks on the tire and the disc must match).
• 🛠️ Condition of bearings (luft or rotating noise).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Pro 2 and later, reverse threading is used on one of the rear wheel nuts (usually on the left side). If you twist it clockwise and it doesn't tighten, try turning it backwards!

If you accidentally damage the motor connector, don't panic.

• 🔧 Replace (the cost of a new connector is about 200-300 rubles).
• 🔄 Re-silver (if you have a soldering iron and skills to work with it).
• 🛠️ Restore with conductive glue (temporary solution).

Remember: if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to contact the service. For example, replacing the engine connector in the workshop will cost 500-800 rubles, while self-repair with errors can lead to the combustion of the controller (and this is already 3-5 thousand rubles).

How often should you maintain the wheels of the scooter

Regular maintenance of wheels extends the life of the scooter and makes riding safer. Here is the recommended schedule for Xiaomi models:

If you drive on wet roads or in winter, you need to do more maintenance, moisture speeds up the corrosion of the axle and bearings, and salt on the roads breaks down the rubber.

• 🧹 Clean the axle and bearings of dirt.
• 🛠️ Lubricate the axle and nut carving.
• 🔍 Check the integrity of the motor wiring.

To extend the life of the wheels, follow these tips:

• 🚲 Avoid driving on gravel or sharp stones – this is the main cause of punctures.
• 🔋 Do not overload the scooter (maximum weight for most models is 100 kg).
• 🛑 Do not brake sharply at high speed - it wears out both tires and brake pads.
• 🔄 Turn the wheel over regularly (change the direction of rotation) so that the tread wears out evenly.

If you notice that the scooter has become slower to accelerate or discharge faster, one possible reason is the wear of the wheels. Over time, the rubber bluffs, the rolling resistance increases, in which case replacing the tires with new ones (cost from 1500 rubles per set) will help.

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Maintenance of the wheels of the Xiaomi scooter should be regular: pressure check - every 2 weeks, inspection of the tread and bearings - every 500-1000 km.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing wheels from the Xiaomi scooter