| Have you ever driven the highway at night and | | | | the jack under the car to jack it up so the tire will |
| heard a "hissing" noise and then felt the steering | | | | roll free.Now you can remove all the nuts and |
| wheel *shake*?Then the whole car started to | | | | then the tire so you can put the spare on.Where |
| tremble?Guess what?You probable just had a | | | | are you going to put the jack?That depends on |
| blow-out, or at least you were having a flat | | | | the vehicle.Newer vehicles have a *rib* in the |
| tire--that's what happens when all the air goes out | | | | body, just under the body. That is the best place |
| of a tire.Do you know how to change a tire?It's | | | | to put the jack.Now, if you have a pickup, or an |
| different on most cars.And then there's that little | | | | older vehicle that doesn't have that rib, you need |
| *toy* tire somewhere in the back that you have | | | | to put the jack under the rear axle (if it's a rear |
| to put on to get to where you are going (if it's | | | | flat), or under the lower control arm (where the |
| not too far).It all depends on the type of vehicle | | | | shock is bolted to) if you have a flat on the |
| you are driving.If it's a pickup truck, you're in luck. | | | | front.Jack the vehicle up just enough to replace |
| At least your spare will be either in the back of | | | | the tire. The higher you go the more risk you |
| the truck, or, underneath the bed near the rear | | | | take of the vehicle sliding off the jack.I could have |
| bumper.That could be good, or it could not be | | | | left that part out, uh?But seriously, you do want |
| good. It all depends on where you are and which | | | | to be very careful...several accidents have |
| tire went flat, the front, or the rear.Anyway, let's | | | | happened from a vehicle jacked up too high.Of |
| assume you can get to it on a pickup.Usually, the | | | | course the newer type jacks are more |
| manufacturer has it fastened up to the bottom | | | | stable...you do have the scissor type jack, |
| of the bed with a cable that has a crank or twist | | | | yes?Get all the nuts off, remove the flat tire, put |
| mechanism.If you are in a passenger car, or van, | | | | the spare onto the lugs, start all the nuts, and |
| or station wagon you will find the spare tire in the | | | | then run them up snug (with the wrench).Now |
| back, or in the trunk (where you store your | | | | you can let the jack down, and put it back in the |
| luggage when you go visit your in-laws).On my | | | | vehicle.Go back to your tire.Start with one of the |
| wife's Ford Taurus station wagon the spare is | | | | nuts and put some, not a lot, pressure on it |
| located in the back, on the left, behind a panel...the | | | | (turning it to the right).Next, go across from it and |
| *toy* tire.But, in the very back there is a flap | | | | tighten the next one (you want to tighten them in |
| you can pull up and get to the *real* tire if you | | | | a criss-cross fashion, top, bottom, left, right, |
| have one.Usually the jack is stored with the spare | | | | etc.).After you have all of them tightened slightly, |
| but sometimes, like hers, the jack is under the | | | | go back over them in the same (or close) |
| flap in the floor bed and the spare is stored in the | | | | manner and tighten them pretty good.You don't |
| side panel.This brings up another situation.Does | | | | have to *stand* on the jack, most vehicles only |
| your vehicle have *locking* wheel lug nuts?Hers | | | | torque around 80-100 pounds per square inch. |
| has them, and if you don't have the key (a | | | | That is not a lot.But, you don't want to |
| special lug nut looking thing with a funny-looking | | | | over-tighten them as most places do with the 1/2 |
| end on it, you can't get that locking nut off.Okay, | | | | inch impact wrench.Put everything back in the car |
| we have the spare, the lug wrench, the jack, the | | | | and you can go on your way feeling |
| locking lug nut tool.All we have to do now is break | | | | self-sufficient.You did do a good job though! |
| the lug nuts loose, while the vehicle is still flat on | | | | :-)Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since |
| the ground (no pun intended).Take the lug wrench | | | | 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers |
| and place it onto one of the lug nuts and turn it to | | | | Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your |
| the *left* (I don't think there are anymore | | | | vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, |
| left-handed nuts around, unless you own a | | | | while you save money and time...also, learn how |
| Chrysler product from the '60's). :-)After you | | | | to avoid shop rip offs. Don't be at the mercy of |
| break all the nuts loose (you did use the little tool | | | | the dealerships and auto repair shops...they will |
| to loosen the lock nut, didn't you?) you can put | | | | have more respect for you. |