(We now resume with part 2 of our excellence in writing series…”to fix a flat”…)
Remember when you jack the car up to leave room to fit the new tire in. Then comes the hardest part: The removal of the nuts. There are a couple of different lug wrenches but they all work the same. One has one socket, another one has four. The four way wrench is the best, because you may not know what sized socket you need plus the 4 way provides great leverage when taking of the nuts.
Most cars have five lug nuts. Place the socket onto a lug nut and turn it counter clock wise. This is by far the most difficult part. The nuts can be on really tight and it can take a good bit of strength to loosen them. If they were put on by an electric wrench they can be very difficult to turn. Other factors, such as cold weather, can make them tighter as well. Check out used cars in Des Moines for a great deal today.
Loosen the first nut but do not unscrew it all the way. This is so you don’t put too much pressure on the other nuts. Loosen it just enough to release some pressure so that it turns easily. Now move to the opposite screw across from the one you just did. Loosen it like the other. Then move across to another one and loosen it. Keep going back and forth loosening them all until they are all done. Now you can finish unscrewing them all the way.
Remove all the nuts, but make sure you don’t lose them. They can roll away easily and you need them all for the spare. Pull the flat tire off and set it somewhere to the side for now. Take the spare tire and line it up with the screws. The holes should be facing inwards, not outwards. Slide the spare onto the screws.
Now you will put the nuts back on the same way you took them off. Screw one on till there is a slight bit of pressure on the tire. Then place the nut across from it on and turn until there is pressure as well, then the next across from it. Keep going until all the nuts are on but not tight. Now you can tighten them.
Tighten them as much as you can with the wrench and go back over them again to make sure they are on good. You definitely don’t want them coming loose while driving. Once you are sure they are tight enough. Make sure nothing is under the car and release the handle on the jack or crank it in the opposite direction to lower it. Check out Baltimore used cars for a great deal today.
Place all the equipment and the spare tire back in the trunk and close it. Get in the car. Don’t forget to turn off your hazards and remember to RELEASE the emergency break as well. Once you start the car you will probably want to drive to some place you can wash your hands. Otherwise, you are good to go.
Check out used cars in Milwaukee for a great deal today.