Two tire rotation questions

[Reinen]

Thanks to everybody for the replies!

Maybe one quick related follow-up... when changing my first tire last night, I was a bit dense and struggled a bit while I figured out the technique to cleanly get the new one on the studs. I ended up scratching up the interior perimeter of the wheel pretty good in a couple spots.

Apart from crushing my soul a little, is there any cause for concern here? I think these XR wheels are aluminum so presumably no rusting issues? From the exterior you can't even really see these at all unless you're looking for them.

Nobody will ever know but you. There's no rust issues.

But if you use the no jack stands method I described above, you only need to jack each wheel a 1/2" off the ground. When installing the tire just rotate the tire so the bolt holes are in a similar position to the bolts, scoot it up to the bolts and lift it the 1/2" onto the bolts.

It's a lot easier than lifting to jack stand height and you'll never scratch the wheel as it will always be within 1/2" from the bolts.

Sponsored

 

[slim_pickens]

Nobody will ever know but you. There's no rust issues.

But if you use the no jack stands method I described above, you only need to jack each wheel a 1/2" off the ground. When installing the tire just rotate the tire so the bolt holes are in a similar position to the bolts, scoot it up to the bolts and lift it the 1/2" onto the bolts.

It's a lot easier than lifting to jack stand height and you'll never scratch the wheel as it will always be within 1/2" from the bolts.

Thanks. After about 30 minutes of grunting & cussing with the first wheel, I realized that if I sat my butt on the floor and used my legs to hoist up the wheel onto the studs, this was far easier than trying to do this half-standing up. I also realized I jacked up that first corner a little too much. Once I figured these two things out, I did the other four tires in the same time I wasted on the first.

Other than that, I did exactly the approach you suggest last night: no jack stands, and just jacked up one corner at a time.

 

[Blacktip]

It is dangerous and risky to put a vehicle on 4 jack stands. The reason is, after you lift one end, the vehicle will be on an angle. When you lift the other end, the vehicle must shift forward, and that where the danger lie (sliding on the top of the jack stands)

To reduce the risk, the top of jack stands must not be flat, and must be positioned in a place where there is grip. Try to avoid the vehicle from sliding on the jack stands. Also, a rolling Jack is a must, so it can slide under the vehicle during lift operation to compensate for the change in the vehicle angle.

I have been putting my vehicles on jack stands for ever, but I am careful.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Thanks. After about 30 minutes of grunting & cussing with the first wheel, I realized that if I sat my butt on the floor and used my legs to hoist up the wheel onto the studs, this was far easier than trying to do this half-standing up. I also realized I jacked up that first corner a little too much. Once I figured these two things out, I did the other four tires in the same time I wasted on the first.

Other than that, I did exactly the approach you suggest last night: no jack stands, and just jacked up one corner at a time.

@slim_pickens

A good investment is a second floor jack.
Owning/having two quality, trust worthy, floor jacks can make life easier ...

 

[Reinen]

Thanks. After about 30 minutes of grunting & cussing with the first wheel, I realized that if I sat my butt on the floor and used my legs to hoist up the wheel onto the studs, this was far easier than trying to do this half-standing up. I also realized I jacked up that first corner a little too much. Once I figured these two things out, I did the other four tires in the same time I wasted on the first.

Other than that, I did exactly the approach you suggest last night: no jack stands, and just jacked up one corner at a time.

I sit cross legged in front of each tire and use my knees as leverage points to lift the tire with my hands. Once you see a jack fail (and they do) you want to minimize the amount of time any body part under the Jeep and be able to yank them out immediately if the Jeep makes even the slightest movement.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Hey guys, just did my first 5-tire rotation on the Jeep last night and had a couple questions.

First, I bought some jack stands with the idea of doing the approach a lot of guys talk about for tire rotations, where the Jeep is put on four stands and all the tires are rotated at once. However, I was surprised to see mentioned in my new jack stands' instructions the following: "Do not use automotive jack stands to support both ends or one side of a vehicle. Use only one (1) pair per vehicle."

Is this just overblown lawyer legalese talking here or is putting up the Jeep on four stands to do rotations a bada idea? I ended up just lifting one corner at a time last night.

Second, if I DO end up doing this four-stand approach in the future, I see people debate the pros & cons of jacking up by the pumpkin in the rear.

FWIW: I do not do 5 tire rotations or at least not in the past 69 years of car, truck, or tractor ownership. Its a choice, 4 or 5, I was taught by my dad driving since 1921 to do 4 the tire companies want you to do 5...just sayin.

Growing up on a ranch and living rural a good deal of my life and much of it as a rancher. I have 3 John Deeres, F 450 with 6 tires on the ground, and 2 Jeeps. All of this stuff requires maintenance. The tractor gets a flat and you jack up remove the wheel and take it into town. The same goes for the rest of my vehicles, yea I got a paved road from the main gate up to the house and barns, but the other roads are self-made so its off-roading everywhere else. Its an old cattle ranch going back to the 1890s and no shortage of nails, barbed wire fence in the ground, fencing nails on the ground etc.

Point is I need to lift vehicles often and safely. I have 4, 8-ton jack stands (my F 450 weighs almost 10,000 lbs. Then I have 8 2-ton jack stands.

Safety: I have about a dozen 4x4x12 treated lumber blocks scattered around in barns and shops. I almost have about a dozen treated lumber 4x6x12 blocks scattered around.

I strongly suggest you invest in these as Lumber is CHEAP, LIFE is NOT!

These blocks are used in addition to Jack stands to put a solid stack of support between the ground and frame or axle etc. I also use them to put my hydraulic jacks on, they made a good solid base...and no I don't use Hi Lift jacks except for fencing duties on occasion.

This is how I do it, you are welcome to do it your way...

 

[ABRubi]

After about 30 minutes of grunting & cussing with the first wheel

Saw a video of a maybe 100 lb. woman changing a giant truck tire. She used a crow bar under the tire to get it on the lugs. Can't wait for my next rotation to try this. Lifting the tires on is the worst part for sure.

 

[slim_pickens]

@slim_pickens

A good investment is a second floor jack.
Owning/having two quality, trust worthy, floor jacks can make life easier ...

Can you explain?

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Been using 4 jackstands for decades to do work now. Never had a problem with it. I prefer to lift all 4 corners then go around to all 4 wheels with the impact. Buzz all the lugs off then remove the wheels and then roll each wheel to the new location. Inspect everything I can at the time with the wheels off and grease fittings if needed. Put the wheels back on to their new location then tighten lugs. Drop it to the ground and then final torque with a torque wrench.

Having the whole vehicle lifted and secured allows me to get under and inspect as needed as well.

 

[zouch]

i wouldn't want to get that much of any part of my body i wanted to keep underneath a vehicle on a jack or jack stands.

jacks, jack stands, and even the concrete they're on can all fail, sometimes suddenly. i minimize the amount of time my vehicle(s) are off the ground, and keep myself ready and able to jump out of the way in case anything were to go wrong.

otherwise, i do the 5-tire rotation that was so well explained here, loosening the lug nuts before i lift a tire, and lifting only high enough to get the tire a fraction of an inch off the ground.

remember to re-check the torque every tank or so after having a wheel off until it's staying at torque spec; alloy wheels loosen up a bit after initial torque.

Thanks. After about 30 minutes of grunting & cussing with the first wheel, I realized that if I sat my butt on the floor and used my legs to hoist up the wheel onto the studs, this was far easier than trying to do this half-standing up. I also realized I jacked up that first corner a little too much. Once I figured these two things out, I did the other four tires in the same time I wasted on the first.

Other than that, I did exactly the approach you suggest last night: no jack stands, and just jacked up one corner at a time.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

I did my first 5-tire rotation in August myself and documented the details https://www.jeep392.com/threads/my-1st-5-tire-rotation.1593/ I used a 24" long reach floor jack and two 6-ton jack stands bought from Harbor Freight.

I decided to jack up under the frame near front passenger side and put the jack stand to hold (with a rubber pad). Then went back to the rear and jacked up the axle tube of the right side. This way I can change the two tires on one side first then move to the driver side.

I didn't use the pumpkin as @Rhinebeck01 explained. You can also see how thin the factory diff cover is from my picture.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Reinen is exactly right on the easy way to do it, less work and more efficient, not to mention far safer.

 

[Moblrn]

I worked in a Full Service Gas Station/Garage at age 16 for 2 years. Got very spoiled by having a hydraulic hoist or vehicles I could lift either the front or rear of them using a air powered jack on their bumpers. (Those were the days). I paid people to do oil changes and all sorts of other things so I didn't have to lie on the ground. Younger brother bought a shop a few years ago and I can now use his 4 post lift. Still pay the hired help to do the lifting, but I run the impact guns and the torque wrench.

Rod

 

[Mike_Hawk]

I am an older fruck (73 yo) .... For years and years, on various vehicles I used / would use the pumpkin.. Never an issue.. I have Jay Walked for years too, and so far have not been run over...

SURE, there are times, no foul if you use the pumpkin.... but to be honest when I teach/explain to young guys and gals these days, I tell them it is best to avoid the pumpkin as there are far better ways to do the deed..

See, problem is depending on the vehicle, you can get into real issues using the pumpkin, even if the vehicle has a pumpkin that is high enough up to get a floor jack under.. Also, there are lots of vehicles that you do not dare jack up using the pumpkin..

Anyway, I just tell guys/gals... in general.... that unless you really have a clue lets say .... just avoid using the pumpkin is best... .....There are better points use..

Last young guy I told this too, called me two weeks after I told him to avoid using the pumpkin... He decided to use the pumpkin and of course, somehow in the process... he really damaged the lip/bottom of the cover on his rear diff....

As for using 4 jacks stands for a tire rotation.... Not worth the effort of doing this... and there are valid reasons and concerns for the caveat the jack stand manufacturer gave. I know i would never tell someone to use 4 jack stands for a tire rotation.

CAREFUL...... The friggin vehicle can and will fall on you, regardless how you jack it up. Always, always keep this in mind... Lots of guys get killed each year ... or lose a leg(s) doing tire rotations and lifts and such.

What's this pumpkin you speak of?

 

[Valpo Jeep]

What's this pumpkin you speak of?

If the pumpkin is cast iron then its a safe lift point. Cast aluminum . . . NOPE.

Sponsored