If you are like me you are independent and strive to live as free as possible. When you depend on others for a service, you are dependent upon them, which limits your freedom.
Independence goes much deeper than being able to financially afford the services offered by others. It's about doing it for yourself. The less you can do for yourself, the less freedom you possess.
This tutorial was going to be about replacing the brake pads, but once I began writing out the steps I realized how many there were just to remove a tire safely. For many of you that have done this for years, it may seem like a no brainer, but I'm not publishing this for you.
My intention is too teach those that have never done anything else to their vehicle, other than wash and wax it. For this reason I've gone into great detail, so there's no guessing on your end. No step or detail has been skipped.
Today I'm going to show you how to remove a tire from your vehicle. Don't fret if you feel you're not mechanically inclined. We are starting with an easy one that literally anyone can do, even your daughter with the right tools. This is true even if you think you aren't strong enough to remove the lug nuts on your tires. I'll show you how to easily remove any tough bolt.
First things first, which is safety. You need to have a working jack that is rated to lift the weight of your vehicle. Most vehicles come equipped with both a jack and a tire iron(lug nut wrench) that fits your vehicle.
Finding the Tools Supplied with Your Vehicle
In most passenger cars they are located in the *trunk under the carpet_ with your spare tire. For SUV's and trucks they'll either be under the hood, under the passenger seat or under the carpet in the back by the rear hatch.
Safety First
Once you found them it's time to find something to chauk your tires, so the vehicle doesn't roll when you raise the tire up off the ground. You can use most anything to do this. I've used bricks, logs , an actual chauk or even a 2x4. Pretty much anything that won't slide or roll when your vehicle rolls back a little as you jack it up.
You only need to chauk one tire at a time, as long as it's not the one being worked on. You should be on a flat surface and if you are, chauk both the front and behind the wheel. If you do not have a flat surface to work on, chauk it so it doesn't roll down the decline. You can set your parking brake as well, if you aren't working on the rear tires. The parking brake only locks the rear wheels.
Positioning Your Jack Safely
Position your jack behind the wheel you are working on. I like to find a good spot on the frame or rear axle, with the jack plate under a bolt so it doesn't slip. On the front under the Control Bar Link usually works well.
On the rear I usually position the jack under the axle where the shocks connect(for trucks). Depending on your vehicle, make sure it's a good strong spot. For passenger cars, never try to jack up your vehicle directly on the body. This will simply damage it and is not sturdy enough. I use the connection where the wheel stabilizer connects to the car.
Pump the jack handle until it's snug to the vehicle without lifting it off the ground. You'll need to break the lug nuts loose first or the wheel will just spin.
The key to breaking torqued nuts loose is leverage. Four way lug wrenches work well, but a two foot or longer breaker bar is best.
If you only have the stock single bar lug wrench or a ratchet and are having trouble, you can extend the handle and leverage by using a pipe to slip over it. These are unofficially called a cheater bar.😀 Always apply slow even pressure when removing or tightening any bolt or it can snap off.
Removing Your Tire
Once the lug nuts are loose, jack up the vehicle until the tire is off the ground(Note- to loosen 99% of all bolts or nuts, you turn them counter-clockwise and to tighten, clockwise). Now remove all the lug nuts and take the tire off the vehicle. You have now safely removed the tire from your vehicle.
Placing The Tire Back On
To replace the wheel, simply reverse these steps, but there is a specific routine to tighten the lug nuts back down, so they don't fall off while driving down the road.
Once you are ready to put the lug nuts back on, simply put them all on hand tight. If you have a torque wrench, great. If not, you'll be fine.
Now you lower the vehicle so the tire is touching the ground, but not all the way. Just enough to keep the wheel from turning while you are tightening the lugs, but not so all the weight in fully on the tire.
Choose one lug nut and tighten down snug. Instead of moving to the lug next to it, you are going to move to the one directly across from it. Tighten using this pattern until all the lugs are nice and snug.
If you have a torque wrench, set it to 90lbs of torque for cars and 110lbs for trucks. Tighten until you hear and feel* a click in the same cross pattern mentioned above. Once they are all tight, reset your torgue for *5lbs more than the first time and do it once more. You are now ready to hit the road.
If you are using a regular wrench, tighten them snug in the same cross pattern mentioned above until they are all snug. Grab your cheater bar and tighten them one more time applying smooth strong pressure for another 1/8 to 1/4 turn to torque them in. You are now ready to hit the road.
My Signature
Learning to do your own work, whether it's building a simple window planter to an addition onto your house, maintaining the fluids in your vehicle to pulling the transmission or even just creating something you need out of abstract materials that are on hand is the key to your independence and freedom.
If you can dream it, you can build it and if you can take it apart, you can put it back together. You just need to try and you'll amaze yourself!
*The key in the beginning is to take your time, be organized and always put your safety first. Living a Mindful Life is as applicable to inventing, carpentry and making mechanical repairs as it is to enjoying nature.
If you know there's a problem, all you need to do is look and the problem usually presents itself. Don't be intimidated and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Mastering these two simple things will help you in any situation you come across in life.
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