Wheel nut reminder

[Junosi]

Just a reminder to check your wheel nut torque if the last person to touch them was a tyre repair outfit - chances are they're on sooooooo tight that even with a persuasion bar they're hard to budge, let alone with the poxy tyre iron that the P38 comes with as standard.

Just been doing mine today to get at the brakes as I gave them a workout in the weekend (the brakes that is) - made the traction control earn its keep too Anyways, even with a 3ft shifter I had my whole weight on the end of the bar to get one nut to move. Tyrepower fitted my tyres about 2months ago and today is the first time I've tried removing them myself - glad I did it before I was in the middle of nowhere and needing a tyre off....

[33chinacars]

YES Do I know how you feel. Just after I bought mine tried to undo wheels to check air bags & get a better look underneath. First bent surplied wheel spanner then a proper wheel brace with a 3' extension. MY 1/2" rattle gun that has heeps of torque, wouldn't even look at it. Only had 1/2" socket set so wasn't going to try to hard . Didn't need to smash it too. O'h for an 1" or 3/4" drive set, something thats been on shopping list for awhile but keep putting off. All this for just 1 wheel, other 3 where easy. Took it back to dealer, no problem, what was I on about. So yes Junosi I can sympathize with you all the way.

[Keithy P38]

I've got a question for anyone willing to answer (sorry to steal your thread Junosi).

I'm yet to remove a wheel on my Rangie, and have noticed when washing the car that the chrome caps move a touch when prompted. My question is - do you chuck the wheel brace straight onto those caps or are they removable?? It looks like someone in the past has tried to take the nuts off with the wrong tool and some of the caps are semi-rounded!

I know it sounds dumb for someone who builds engines and all, but i've never seen this before!

Cheers
Keithy

[Junosi]

I'm not certain myself - but with both my P38 and my previous Discovery I just throw the brace straight on to the chrome caps and never had a problem

[PaulP38a]

the rattle guns used at tyre shops are the usual culprit of rounding off your lovely nuts

I've given up on the standard wheel brace and now carry a 460mm bar with 3/4" head and 27mm socket.

If your cars has factory lock nuts (identified by a indent in the cap) you should also have the cap removal tool. AFAIK this is the only removable cap.

Cheers, Paul.

[Blknight.aus]

correct place the single hax drive socket straight onto the covers. the one with the indent the cover comes off and you use the special adaptor.

these last about 5 tyre rotations and then go to pieces.

[Aussie]

I got stuck 2 years ago in the scrub, had a flat tyre hopped out too change it and snapped the crappy stock RR wheelbrace, then broke 2 ring spanners. I had air compressor so mannaged to limp to the camping ground and phoned my father inlaw who was coming up the next day. Asked him to bring a breaker bar up. Even using that they were super tight. I wasn't a happy camper

[Keithy P38]

Cheers for that fellas! They seem a bit flimsy, but there's no indent so i'm guessing it's straight on with the brace for me!!

Keithy