Wheel Swapping

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:23

How much would a garage/kwik-fit charge to swap front and back wheels around?

I'd do it myself but don't have a torque wrench or a proper jack/stands (yet).

thecremeegg · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:26

Surely your car comes with a jack and a socket? In answer to your question however, not a clue

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:36

Yes a jack... Good for changing one wheel at a time. If i'm going to do something I like to do it properly.

I get around · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:41

thecremeegg said:
Surely your car comes with a jack and a socket? In answer to your question however, not a clue

I would NOT trust the crappy scissor jack that comes with the car for a start, they're awful and should only be used in emergencys.
Nor would I trust kwik fit to change a wheel.

As for the original question, not a clue, go out and buy the kit, thats what I did.

Matt82 · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:45

i think theyll charge one million dollars

Participant · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:47

NeverWinter said:
How much would a garage/kwik-fit charge to swap front and back wheels around?

I'd do it myself but don't have a torque wrench or a proper jack/stands (yet).

Probably a fiver for a new teapot.

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:48

Matt82 said:
i think theyll charge one million dollars

Aww man, I only have sterling!

DM · 16 Mar 2010 at 10:51

Ring them and ask. Probably a tenner.

paradigm · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:19

Why not take it as the opportunity to go buy a decent trolley jack?

Then do it yourself?

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:21

paradigm said:
Why not take it as the opportunity to go buy a decent trolley jack?

Then do it yourself?

Because right now £10-£20 I can afford. The money for a decent trolley jack, stand, wrench, socket... I can not. By the time I need to do it again I will do that though.

Janesy B · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:21

Get a trolley jack and use the spare to help you shift the wheels around if you are not that confident in securing the car safely with axle stands.

Saytan · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:24

2 ton trolley jack is 20 quid at toolstation
Draper telescopic wheel wrench, about a fiver at asda.

Felix · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:29

I didn't realise trolley jacks were that cheap these days. Might go and pick one up, certainly safer than the standard one.

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:40

Saytan said:
2 ton trolley jack is 20 quid at toolstation
Draper telescopic wheel wrench, about a fiver at asda.

I didn't realise they could be had so cheap. I take it the wrench isn't a torque?

Janesy B said:
Get a trolley jack and use the spare to help you shift the wheels around if you are not that confident in securing the car safely with axle stands.

I'm confident with using stands, I don't have any though and I didn't want to keep putting the spare on each hub

Dave M · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:45

who uses a torque wrench for wheel nuts?

I use a trolley jack because the scissor jack was missing it's bar, never bothered with it.

I've not done it myself but you should be able to life both front and rear on one side with one trolley jack, always thought it looked a little tough on the poor car being jacked up so high though.

Participant · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:45

Telescopi said:
who uses a torque wrench for wheel nuts?

Me, always.

paradigm · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:47

Robbie G said:
Me, always.

So, you always carry one in the car then?

I find a (decent) wheel brace and doing them up "tight" is enough.

Participant · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:49

paradigm said:
So, you always carry one in the car then?

I find a (decent) wheel brace and doing them up "tight" is enough.

No, if I need to change a wheel at the side of the road, I do so with whatever is in the spare wheel well. Then when I get home, I check that it's torqued up correctly.

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:50

Telescopi said:
who uses a torque wrench for wheel nuts?

I use a trolley jack because the scissor jack was missing it's bar, never bothered with it.

I've not done it myself but you should be able to life both front and rear on one side with one trolley jack, always thought it looked a little tough on the poor car being jacked up so high though.

Why wouldn't you use one? The torque rating for the wheel nuts is in the manual for a reason and I'd rather not end up damaging my car trying to lift the whole side up on one point.

Biohazard · 16 Mar 2010 at 11:51

paradigm said:
I find a (decent) wheel brace and doing them up "tight" is enough.

This. I personally just use breaker bar, until wheels starts to skip back a touch then done.

90% of garages will probably do it this way as well.