Thread: Replacement Wheel Brace

I agree - both the jack and wheel brace are not fit for purpose.

Garry

I use a torque wrench and trolley jack at home, and a bottle jack on the road. I didn't get any instructions with the torque wrench - and figure it can handle the same pressure in reverse as forward.

Yes, I agree the trolley jack for home use makes life so much easier and enables me to change all 4 rims in about 30 minutes.

I hadn't thought about a bottle jack to carry in the boot. I think I'll investigate that one. Where do you store it? Does it fit under the floor tray in the boot?

I find that a breaker bar about the length of my torque wrench and a 6 point impact socket (all in 1/2inch drive) are just about right for wheel nuts. Too long a breaker bar and you can over tighten, too short and you can't get them off. The 6 point socket seems to resist rounding unlike other versions.

EDIT: Available most everywhere- better quality and value at tool stores rather than supercheap etc

What load rating does the bottle jack need to be? Can I get by with a 1850kg or would 4000kg be safer?

Also Langy, can you buy breaker bars from a normal auto shop like Autobarn or AutoOne or are they specialist tools?

I bought a breaker bar and 22mm socket from Repco - and I have a torque wrench for seating the nuts correctly, and store both on the floor behind my second row seating. Works for me.
cheers

If you get hold of one, then the bottle jack from a P38 can be made to fit in the polystyrene tray under the boot floor with a bit of cutting of the polystyrene. Try and get hold of an old kit out of the boot of a P38 if you can.

+ 1 vote for breaker bar & flat sided deep socket(same as impact sockets which like a lot of sockets can be cheaper in a small set!).