Tyre pressures

[kleanphil]

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!
BTW I run 38psi in my 19s.

you need to pair that insult with this image

 

[panhead]

I'm going to someone other than who did the last alignment, because apparently the person who did our last alignment did it with their eyes closed.

Open or shut is makes no difference as it all depends on if they know what they are doing or not to start with.

I've been going to the same tyre shop for years, it was originally a family owned concern but was eventually bought out by a corporation but is still manned by many of the old staff.

They know me when I drive in and they know I always like the same fellow to work on my cars.​

He's a car guy who also drag races and has a genuine interest in what he's doing.

We met when we were both in our 30's through mutual drag racing friends and he offered to fit 20 inch tyres for me back when it was hard to find a place who could do it without marking the rims.

He also would do my alignments but I now go to a suspension shop who specialises in track cars as he's close to where I live.

One of the worst things about cars and owners with modified cars would know this all too well, is finding someone who knows what they are doing and who you can trust to do a good job for you.

I tend to gravitate towards people who are in the car scene as they have a passion, it doesn't always mean they are good but the chances of them having the experience you're looking for is higher than a shop that only does log book services.




.

 

[Anthony121]

So I go to get my wheel rotation and balance today, and they call - where's the lock nut key ?
I said it doesn't have any.
Yes if fuc.ing does.
As second owner, car arrived with lock nut thing in glovebox. I looked at the wheels and couldn't see any difference - little did i know that the lock nuts have a screw on cover that disguises them.
Anyway, during a spring clean at home, i think it was thrown out.

The dealer last week during a service was meant to rotate. Did not. And didn't mention anything. Do they carry some sort of master tool or key? Im sure im not the first ******** to lose their key

How do you get your wheel nuts off. That's a pissa!

 

[kleanphil]

Depending on the type of lock nut , either a cold chisel to loosen it or an oversized socket smacked over the top of it can work

 

[Brown Dog]

i suspect they are the ones the dealerships sell from ac delco

 

[vc commodore]

So I go to get my wheel rotation and balance today, and they call - where's the lock nut key ?
I said it doesn't have any.
Yes if fuc.ing does.
As second owner, car arrived with lock nut thing in glovebox. I looked at the wheels and couldn't see any difference - little did i know that the lock nuts have a screw on cover that disguises them.
Anyway, during a spring clean at home, i think it was thrown out.

The dealer last week during a service was meant to rotate. Did not. And didn't mention anything. Do they carry some sort of master tool or key? Im sure im not the first ******** to lose their key

There is about 6 or 7 different key patterns per lock nut key manufacturer.

You are able to buy lock nut removers, which grab on the side of the wheel nut and undo it....Only problem is, it stuffs the lock nut, which requires replacement.

Another way I remove them, is punch an 18MM socket over the lock nut and undo it, via a breaker bar...Again, it stuffs the locknut, but it is still effective

The other option is, most tyre shops and possibly dealerships, have a "collection" of lock nut keys....It might be worthwhile calling into a few and see if you get lucky enough to find the correct one.

Finally, if you have to replace the lock nuts, with others, take note of the brand and the number on the lock nut key for future reference..If it happens to get lost, you are able to order another locknut key and save you the headache you are going through at the moment

 

[vc commodore]

The dealers dont rotate them alot of the time because they just try and smash as many vehicles through a day to turn profits so alot of what they are supposed to do does not get done.
Most of them just do oil and filters most of the time.

Also is there any reason you are getting a balance?
Once they are balanced they are normally good for the life of the tyre unless a weight manages to fly off.

Unfortunately this isn't the case.....As a tyre wears, it can wear a little unevenly, which then causes an imbalance, therefore require re-balancing....In saying that, it is very unusual, people notice the little imbalance, when they drive the car reguarly....It's when it hasn't been driven for a little while, people tend to notice it

 

[Brown Dog]

There is about 6 or 7 different key patterns per lock nut key manufacturer.

You are able to buy lock nut removers, which grab on the side of the wheel nut and undo it....Only problem is, it stuffs the lock nut, which requires replacement.

Another way I remove them, is punch an 18MM socket over the lock nut and undo it, via a breaker bar...Again, it stuffs the locknut, but it is still effective

The other option is, most tyre shops and possibly dealerships, have a "collection" of lock nut keys....It might be worthwhile calling into a few and see if you get lucky enough to find the correct one.

Finally, if you have to replace the lock nuts, with others, take note of the brand and the number on the lock nut key for future reference..If it happens to get lost, you are able to order another locknut key and save you the headache you are going through at the moment

Thanks !

 

[vc commodore]

Thanks I will start saving for new tyres they are about 7 years old but I don't do I lot of k's as I use too. I give Mycar a look, I got these tyres from B-Jane and 1 month later got a nail it the edge and couldn't be repaired cost me another 110 for a tyre so they wouldn't take care of me so never went back to them.

And yes to the gauge its my own, I tested it with the Servo digital one and it was correct so they lower the wheels to 36PSI every time.

The road hazzard warranty covers a few brands too, just in case you are going to branch out.....I know MYCAR, have it with Bridgestones, Continentials, Goodyears and another brand which I can't remember at the moment.

It is also worthwhile checking with places, to see whether they offer the road hazzard warranty, with a tyre, they are trying to sell to you, just so you're not limited to a single brand nor place

 

[Dayvo]

I made the mistake of getting a wheel alignment from Bob Jane after getting two front tyres . They were quite proud to announce that they had just had the latest in wheel alignment machines installed and it was state of the art blah blah blah yada yada . After it was done they showed me the print out of before and after specs . I got as far as the first set of traffic lights , done a u turn and went straight back as the steering wheel was off centre. So doesn't matter how good the equipment is if the guy using it it not trained up to use it .