Thread: Changing a Wheel - Disco 4

I use a 4 inch block of wood which I drive the flat tyre onto making it high enough to get my bottleneck under the wishbone.

I've got a small trolley jack that has it's own plastic case. It fits under the suspension (control arm/airspring point), and then lifts the vehicle enough to change a tyre.
It's rated at 2T (or 2.5T), from memory. I bought it after reading many posts on this forum - it's stable, safe, really easy to use - IMHO better than a bottle jack (and we shouldn't even be talking about the OEM item as a jack - it's terrible!).

I got the jack from my independent mechanic who does all my servicing - he recommended it specifically for the D3/4, due to capacity, overall height, ability to get under the suspension arm and lift height.
Also, I don't change the height of the vehicle to jack it up - although I do pull the fuse on the air suspension whenever i'm jacking the car (or getting underneath it)... I know people say "open the door", but I don't trust it!

In my view, this is the only jack to use!

This post has more info...

Enjoy!

Rob

I have only ever changed a D4 wheel once - to swap two fully-inflated wheels. I followed the manual and used the pristine jack and chocks. All went precisely to plan. I even correctly torqued the wheel nuts after refitting. The only surprise was 1) how easy it was, and 2) how high the vehicle has to be cranked to get a wheel off the ground - it seemed like metres!

After a couple of bad (stressful) experiences, including 1 LR Roadside Assist, I purchased a Kincrome K12158 bottle jack (10 tonne) - I chose this one because it sits comfortably in the cavity behind the middle row.

Last Sunday I had another flat tyre (rear) and followed my prepared plan which worked - I was on my own (and I'm 70 yrs old!)

Please note: this was a FLAT tyre!!

Lower spare to ground with a lot of extra length
Drive forward so that spare centre is just away from rear bumper
Remove cable
Raise car to full height
Place bottle jack under chassis rail - I have used white paint to highlight location of jack positioning holes
Lower car to normal height - chassis now sitting on the jack waiting to be lifted
Loosen nuts
Raise tyre off ground
Change tyre - (so bloody heavy!)
Lower jack to min height
Raise car to max height to remove jack
Lower car to minimum height to replace spare
Attach spare to cable
Reverse car over spare
Raise spare
Tighten wheel nuts
Wrap up and destress!

this is the first time I've had to use my prepared plan and it worked for me - the hardest part and most frustrating was lining up the stud holes and doing up the first nut!

The bottle jack details are

Min height 187mm
Max height 367mm
Lift height 120mm
Screw height 60mm

Kincrome bottle jack.jpg

Well done hiker - good to have a prepared plan of attack.

Having watched the old man change flat tyres on a truck I learnt the secret is to get the hub height right so you don’t need to lift the wheel at all.

Jack it up just enough to be able to move the flat tyre so you can “walk” it off, then increase the height a bit and “walk” the spare tyre on.

One of these guide pins makes it easier to 'walk' on!Guide Pin.jpg

Originally Posted by eddy

One of these guide pins makes it easier to 'walk' on!Guide Pin.jpg

Thanks for this idea eddy, I think this would help me, as I too struggle with aligning the stud holes when offering up the wheel. Can you please tell me the guide pin diameter and thread etc and if you can get that particular one on line.

Many thanks. Peter

By chance I had one made yesterday. Certainly makes the job easier. Note, the thread is metric 'fine'.