Car jacks & wheel changes

[voon]

So .... do you leave the car on the car jack when changing a wheel? Or actually lower it onto a rack first (as most jack manuals will probably tell you to for safety reasons and insurance claim fears)?

 

[Euljiro1ga]

i thought you only use the jack to lift the car up in order to put the jack stands underneath.

i dont get to work on my own cars anymore... to the delight of my wife. lol

 

[voon]

Hm? So where does this stand go to if I only need to change a wheel? I'm not sure where under a stinger this has to be as to not damage it? I can't quite see how you'd put an axle stand just where you have the jack ... there's usually no space to put both?

 

[Kazz]

I've not checked the Stinger yet. But usually there is a pinch weld that extends underneath the car on each side from the front wheel well to the rear wheel well. Again usually, there is a notch a few inches from each wheel well. This is a spot for a jack or jack stand. Generally, anywhere on that pinch weld is a good spot. However, you want to use something that has a notch in it so that you don't cause damage to the seam that's sticking straight down, bending it or what-not. I use a hockey puck I've cut a ridge in on the surface of my floor jack.

And, FWIW, I usually raise the car with the jack, put the jack stand where I want it, and leave the car suspended by the jack. If anything silly does happen, the jack stand will catch it. This way it's still safe and it's quicker than raising the car, fixing the stand, lowering the car onto the stand, changing the wheel, raise the car, remove the jack stand, lower the car.

 

[moinmoin]

usually no space to put both

You got to think outside your driveway
If you need to change a tire on the road, you do not have the luxury of an axle stand. Nobody I know carries on around in the trunk.

• Park the car and put the parking brake on.
• Find some material, (rocks, bricks, lumber etc) to block the wheels that are not affected by the tire change.
• Open the trunk and get the spare tire out.
• Loosen the nuts on the troubled wheel. Don't take the nuts off yet.
• Use the jack, place preferably on a hard surface to prevent it from sinking into the ground.
• When the wheel can be turned, remove.
• Put the spare on, hand tighten the nuts while jiggling the wheel.
• The cone part of the nuts should seat in the corresponding depressions of the rim.
• Lower the jack.
• Once there is weight on the tire, continue to tighten the nuts crosswise.
• Remove all blocking from the tires.

Axle stands, mobile ramps and such are generally recommended when there is work to be done under the car, and the jack could slip and crack your head or worse
Any of these procedures should be done on a level surface, stay away from slopes, especially in Switzerland..