Rotate My Own Tires

[dach95]

OK, I'm new at this, rotating my own tires. A friend told me about a 12V impact wrench that just arrived. It's half an inche so it fits the rods used to crank the vehicle lift up. I've used it once when I had a flat, and it was hard work...now I have a motor to crank for me. :) Since I could only remove one tire at a time, I'm going to rotate with the spare (SP) tire. Here is the pattern I'm going to use....


***** /=====\****
***** =======****
(RL) (FL)===(FR) (RR)
****=========****
****| [ *****] |****
****|TRAILVOY|****
****|========|****
****|========|****
(FR) (RL)===(RR) (SP) (FL)
*****\======/****

Replace the following...
1) SP to RR
2) RR to FR
3) FR to RL
4) RL to FL
5) FL to SP
(Essentially, you are bringing the rear wheels straight forward, and the front wheels crossed backward.)

With the electric impact wrench, should be a snap. Be careful not to overtighten those nuts to avoid damaging the rotors. Finalize with a torque wrench to tighten the nuts to 100 lbs/ft. (Time for me to shop at Sears for one.)

Also, when loosening and tightening nuts, use star configuration.

***1*6
**3*** 4
***5* 2*
***

I'll post how it goes when I finish.

[Envoy Fan]

Let us know how you make out with the rotation. Will the 12V impact wrench have enough torque to loosen the lug nuts?

[ScarabEpic22]

Yea, if all goes well, where can I get this impact wrench? Would be great to leave in the TB for insurance on trips.

Maybe I should have got my spare tire replaced as well :undecided
Ohh, right, it still has full tread!!:D

Naww, its cool you can rotate with the spare, the tires wear better.:yes:

[dach95]

It's available all over... You can froogle for it. Search under "RoadPro Impact Wrench". I got mine less than $50.

Here is the link...http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=RoadPro+Impact+Wrench&btnG=Search+Froogle

[homertime]

you can also get a torque wrench at any auto parts store for about $10

[dach95]

Naww, its cool you can rotate with the spare, the tires wear better.:yes:

I don't plan to use the spare for driving. It's only for placement. Step 5 removes it and gets replaced with the front-left one. I don't think it's wise to throw off the natural wearing with a spare tire.

:eek: I've heard of people replacing only one side with a new tires and their car suddenly spinning out of control especially in the rain due to imbalance tires. So be warned.:eek:

You may frequently rotate with the spare in shorter interval. But why.........the spare hub is UGLY.

[Braves299]

It's not a wise idea to use an impact wrench on your lugs. You need a torque wrench so that all of them are torqued EVENLY. If you do this, you will prob. need new rotors in the near future.

[Flawsey_Bee]

You can use a impact wrench just to take off the lug nuts and then a torque wrench to put them back on and torque to specification. My buddy has a cordless rechargable impact wrench by Snap-On Tools but it cost him like $300 plus dollars .:m2:

[Braves299]

You can use a impact wrench just to take off the lug nuts and then a torque wrench to put them back on and torque to specification. My buddy has a cordless rechargable impact wrench by Snap-On Tools but it cost him like $300 plus dollars .:m2:

Well yeah, but from what I understood, it sounded like he was planning on using it for both processes. I was just trying to give him a heads up.

[Flawsey_Bee]

Well yeah, but from what I understood, it sounded like he was planning on using it for both processes. I was just trying to give him a heads up.

Understand where you are coming from,like in a emergency situation!
If a person was stuck on a busy highway and they had a impact wrench to just get that wheel off and put another one on . Then I say use the impact wrench for both on and off in that case. What is is the torque specification for the factory rims anyway ?:confused:

[Braves299]

Understand where you are coming from,like in a emergency situation!
If a person was stuck on a busy highway and they had a impact wrench to just get that wheel off and put another one on . Then I say use the impact wrench for both on and off in that case. What is is the torque specification for the factory rims anyway ?:confused:

I'm not sure.. I'm new to the TB crowd. I'd guess around 100. Even if you were stuck on a highway in a situation like that and you had to use it. It would be wise to torque it the right way when you got back home. Or you could even carry a torque wrench in the car.

Using impact wrenches to torque your lugs down WILL do damage. I found out the hard way.... My poor old Grand Am :(

[ieatglue]

:laugh: round lug nuts

[Braves299]

:laugh: round lug nuts

No, more liked warped rotors :(

[dach95]

Thanks for the feedback.

I've made an adjustment to how to the pattern.

Also, the user manual states the following....

Wheel Nut Torque: 100 lbs/ft. or 140 Nm

My 12V impact wrench is rated 240 lbs/ft. I gotta be careful not to overtighten my wheel nuts. At any rate, I don't think service stations observe this rule any how. They zip those nuts with their air-powered impact wrench.:undecided

[lt_xtrm]

I don't plan to use the spare for driving. It's only for placement. Step 5 removes it and gets replaced with the front-left one. I don't think it's wise to throw off the natural wearing with a spare tire.

:eek: I've heard of people replacing only one side with a new tires and their car suddenly spinning out of control especially in the rain due to imbalance tires. So be warned.:eek:

You may frequently rotate with the spare in shorter interval. But why.........the spare hub is UGLY.

Do NOT use the spare tire with your regular tires. If you must, put the spare tire on the front and don't use four wheel drive. If you have two different tread depths on a drive axle it can screw it up big time. I work at discount tire company. And yes, the correct torque for lug nuts is 100 ft/lbs. And Discount Tire Company atleast is not just some service station. We hand torque all lug nuts on all vehicles to proper factory specifications. I agree with dach95, if it's any kind of service work I can't do myself, I'm very picky as to where I take my tb.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/777128

[brianko]

They zip those nuts with their air-powered impact wrench.:undecided

This is so wrong on so many levels...on the rare occasion I take the truck in for tire/wheel work, I specifically ask them to write on the order "TORQUE LUGS BY HAND". And then I check the torque again when I get the truck home. Most of these places are trying to move vehicles through as fast as they can; they're not going to take the time to hand-torque 24 lug nuts.

Also, I'd suggest not using the vehicle jack to work on your truck. It's really intended for emergency use, and it doesn't take much of a shift to find your truck suddenly resting on a rotor (and hopefully not on you!). Invest in a good pair of jack stands and a 3-ton jack. Then you can save the $50 you would have spent on the impact wrench and buy a decent torque wrench.

--Brian

[jimmyjam]

I've actually had one of the lugs on my jag xj6 break off due to overtightening

[autotech]

Working as a mechanic, the pneumatic impact gun is essential. I use it for many, many things including removing and installing wheels. But I always use a torque-limiting socket or "torque stick" to install the wheels. I have yet to have a vehicle come back with warped rotors due to over-tightening. I would like to say that the Grand Am's are notorious for that concern though. You do need to be very careful when torquing those. It is much harder to warp the rotors on the trucks.

[dach95]

I finally got a chance to rotate my tires following the pattern I set forth on the #1 post here. Worked quite well... I got a torque wrench and tightened the nuts at a 100lbs./ft... which seem to still feel loose...but it's the spec...

However, I mentioned earlier post that I bought a RoadPro Impact Wrench for the job only to find out it does not work. It just does not have enough power to hammer the nuts tight... and takes forever to move those lug nuts. (I'm thinking it may be the 12V socket... I shoulda try using the battery clamps provided.) Oh, wells...I'll let you guys know next time I get around play with it... Just wanna forewarn anyone who runs out to buy one...

[Alfb]

The only issue I have not seen anyone bring up is that by doing it yourself, you do not balance each time. Balancing is an important part of the rotation process.

[Envoy Fan]

I finally got a chance to rotate my tires following the pattern I set forth on the #1 post here. Worked quite well... I got a torque wrench and tightened the nuts at a 100lbs./ft... which seem to still feel loose...but it's the spec...

However, I mentioned earlier post that I bought a RoadPro Impact Wrench for the job only to find out it does not work. It just does not have enough power to hammer the nuts tight... and takes forever to move those lug nuts. (I'm thinking it may be the 12V socket... I shoulda try using the battery clamps provided.) Oh, wells...I'll let you guys know next time I get around play with it... Just wanna forewarn anyone who runs out to buy one...

Thanks for the followup on the RoadPro Impact Wrench. Does it have enough torque to loosen a lug nut torqued to 100 lbs/ft?

[dach95]

Thanks for the followup on the RoadPro Impact Wrench. Does it have enough torque to loosen a lug nut torqued to 100 lbs/ft?
Will get back to you in a few days on this... I'm going to install mud guards and will attempt to use the RoadPro Impact Wrench again with the provided battery clamps. It was able to break look those lug nuts, just took a long time hammering. I don't know if it was under powered by the 12V port or not...

[dach95]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I used a friends hydrolic lift jack rather than using the cranking the bottle jack that came with our TrailVoys. I couldn't attach the rods to the impact wrench to crank it. I'm going to purchase a simily type hydrollic bottle jack to replace it, so I can lift faster manually.